Tony Blackburn to present Pick of the Pops
Veteran DJ to replace Dale Winton on Radio 2's Saturday afternoon retrospective chart rundown show
Tony Blackburn is to take over from Dale Winton on BBC Radio 2's long-running Pick of the Pops, 43 years after he presented the first programme on BBC Radio 1.
Blackburn, who presents the weekend breakfast show on Smooth Radio, will join the Saturday afternoon retrospective chart rundown show on 6 November.
The DJ's career enjoyed a revival after he won ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here reality show in 2002.
Pick of the Pops was first broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1955 before switching to Radio 1 and then Radio 2. Previously fronted by Alan Freeman, Winton has presented the show since 2000.
Blackburn, who was the first DJ heard on Radio 1 when it began broadcasting in 1967, described Pick of the Pops as "one of radio's most iconic and famous shows".
Radio 2 head of programmes, Lewis Carnie, said: "I'm delighted to welcome Tony Blackburn to Radio 2 on a permanent basis. He is one of this country's legendary broadcasters and brings a wealth of knowledge of popular music spanning the years.
"I'd like to thank Dale for being such a tremendous host of Pick Of The Pops for the last decade, and I look forward to continuing our relationship with him on future Radio 2 projects."
Blackburn also presents a Sunday soul and Motown show on BBC London 94.9. Smooth Radio is owned by GMG Radio, part of Guardian Media Group, which also publishes MediaGuardian.co.uk.
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