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Ed Stewart, PBR
Rat Register Number: 704, initiated 16th November 1975
Born Edward Stewart Mainwaring in Exmouth, Devon, Ed's broadcasting career began by chance in the Far East in the early 1960s when he travelled to Hong Kong for an engagement as bass player in a jazz trio. The gig was cancelled however, so he was forced to seek other work; consequently finding it at a local radio station, first as a sports commentator, then announcer and disc jockey, roles at which he naturally excelled.
Returning to the UK in 1965, he became part of the blossoming pirate radio scene, along with other famous presenters of the era such as Tony Blackburn, Kenny Everett and Dave Cash (who dubbed him with the nickname "Stewpot"), joining the offshore Radio London as a DJ until the station's closure in August 1967.
That same year he became one of the first DJ's to join BBC Radio 1, presenting various shows for the corporation and making his name on 'Junior Choice' in 1968, a show he made his own until transferring to BBC Radio 2 in 1980 to present 'Family Favourites', a show on which he championed novelty records, along with a catchphrase recording of a cheeky cockney boy chirping out "ello darlin!".
He was also the first presenter of Radio 1's Newsbeat.
In 1971, following his role as a regular presenter on BBC television's Top of the Pops, Ed swiftly became a well known face guesting on numerous TV shows.
Singer Lyndsey De Paul featured his voice as a cameo on her 1973 single 'Won't Somebody Dance With Me?'.
Dropped by the BBC in 1983, Ed joined commercial radio with a mid morning show for Radio Mercury (later to become Heartbeat FM).
There were many other radio appearances for various stations, but he was invited to rejoin the BBC (Radio 2) in 1991, making radio history in 1995 by broadcasting live from the summits of the mountains Ben Nevis and Snowdon in aid of charity.
He left Radio 2 in 2006, shortly after the publication of his autobiography 'Out of the Stewpot'.
Ed continued hosting Christmas Day editions of Junior Choice from 2008 until 2015, shortly before he suffered a massive stroke from which he failed to recover.
A keen golfer and a highly active charity fundraiser, Ed and his wife, Chiara, produced a son and a daughter (Mario and Francesca).
Scribe Rat Mike Martin
Ed Stewart
PBR
Ed Stewart, PBR
Rat Register Number: 704, initiated 16th November 1975
Born Edward Stewart Mainwaring in Exmouth, Devon, Ed's broadcasting career began by chance in the Far East in the early 1960s when he travelled to Hong Kong for an engagement as bass player in a jazz trio. The gig was cancelled however, so he was forced to seek other work; consequently finding it at a local radio station, first as a sports commentator, then announcer and disc jockey, roles at which he naturally excelled.
Returning to the UK in 1965, he became part of the blossoming pirate radio scene, along with other famous presenters of the era such as Tony Blackburn, Kenny Everett and Dave Cash (who dubbed him with the nickname "Stewpot"), joining the offshore Radio London as a DJ until the station's closure in August 1967.
That same year he became one of the first DJ's to join BBC Radio 1, presenting various shows for the corporation and making his name on 'Junior Choice' in 1968, a show he made his own until transferring to BBC Radio 2 in 1980 to present 'Family Favourites', a show on which he championed novelty records, along with a catchphrase recording of a cheeky cockney boy chirping out "ello darlin!".
He was also the first presenter of Radio 1's Newsbeat.
In 1971, following his role as a regular presenter on BBC television's Top of the Pops, Ed swiftly became a well known face guesting on numerous TV shows.
Singer Lyndsey De Paul featured his voice as a cameo on her 1973 single 'Won't Somebody Dance With Me?'.
Dropped by the BBC in 1983, Ed joined commercial radio with a mid morning show for Radio Mercury (later to become Heartbeat FM).
There were many other radio appearances for various stations, but he was invited to rejoin the BBC (Radio 2) in 1991, making radio history in 1995 by broadcasting live from the summits of the mountains Ben Nevis and Snowdon in aid of charity.
He left Radio 2 in 2006, shortly after the publication of his autobiography 'Out of the Stewpot'.
Ed continued hosting Christmas Day editions of Junior Choice from 2008 until 2015, shortly before he suffered a massive stroke from which he failed to recover.
A keen golfer and a highly active charity fundraiser, Ed and his wife, Chiara, produced a son and a daughter (Mario and Francesca).
Scribe Rat Mike Martin