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Business News Media Obituaries
Terry Wogan 1938-2016
By Andy Malt | Published on Monday 1 February 2016
Broadcasting legend and former UK Eurovision host Terry Wogan died yesterday, following a short period of treatment for cancer. He was 77.
Born Michael Terence Wogan in Limerick in 1938, he was a fixture on the BBC for more than four decades. However, his career started with Irish broadcaster RTÉ in the late 50s. When the organisation opened its own TV station in 1961, he was recruited into the light entertainment department, hosting popular gameshow ‘Jackpot’ for several years.
His first work for the BBC came in 1969, standing in for Jimmy Young on his radio show. He quickly began working on Radio 1 and 2, eventually taking on the Radio 2 breakfast show, a job that would span much of his career and earn him his loyal fanbase. Eventually, when RTÉ tired of his trips back and forth between Dublin and London, it gave him an ultimatum, which led to him moving full time to the BBC.
Wogan will also be remembered as the voice of the Eurovision Song Contest, on which he was commentator for the BBC from 1980 to 2008. His cynical quips at the expense of the acts, presenters, voters and audience made the show unmissable viewing for many in the UK.
As well as commenting on and playing other people’s music, Wogan himself dipped into the world of the novelty single, with his 1978 recording of Cornish folk song ‘The Floral Dance’. It reached number 21 in the UK singles chart.
There were numerous other hosting gigs, of course. ‘Blankety Blank’, his chat show ‘Wogan’ and ‘Children In Need’, the latter of which he hosted every year from 1980 to 2014, continuing to do so after he had otherwise retired from TV. Last year was the first time he did not present the annual fundraiser, with an announcement shortly before the event stating he was too ill to attend. He also stepped down from his weekly Radio 2 show in November, replaced by Richard Madeley, which it had been hoped would only be a temporary hiatus.
Terry Wogan is survived by his wife Helen and their three children.
