Kenny Everett on Radio Merseyside

Available for 25 days

**** This programme was suggested by Paul Phippin, Alan Galliott and Adrian Dayne as part of BBC Radio 4 Extra’s All Request Weekend **** A revealing interview with arguably Britain’s most creative broadcaster first heard on his local station, BBC Radio Merseyside. Thanks to 4 Extra, this is the first national airing of an episode of the weekly series 'Somebody In Particular', subtitled 'Whatever Happened to Maurice Cole?' (Kenny Everett’s real name). The “wireless wizard” talks to Iain Mann about leaving school at 15, training to be a priest and joining pirate radio. Kenny joined BBC Radio 1 for its opening in 1967 - but was sacked three years later after insulting the wife of a Government Minister. He joined Capital Radio at the launch of Independent Local Radio in 1973. He had to give up the breakfast show after collapsing and saying he hoped to end his career on Radio 3 “drinking tea and slapping disc-jockeys’ wrists” as “the naughty young old boy of the BBC”. At the time of the interview, Kenny was still broadcasting on London's Capital Radio at weekends having seemingly turned his back on TV after what he called “an awfully disastrous series” on London Weekend Television which “tore my soul apart”, insisting “I’m a radio chap”. The Kenny Everett Video Show ran until 1981 before he returned to the BBC later that year for the Kenny Everett Television Show and a Saturday morning programme on BBC Radio 2. Kenny moved back to Capital, helping relaunch the full AM only service of Capital Gold in 1988. He was still working there shortly before his death from an AIDS-related illness on 4th April1995, at the age of 50. Presenter: Iain Mann Audio supplied by Paul Rowley First broadcast on BBC Radio Merseyside in February 1976. **** To nominate a programme from the archives that you would like to hear again, please email radio4extra@bbc.co.uk ****