Officially the oldest swinger in town, Tony Blackburn will have more candles on his birthday cake when he turns 83 on Thursday than any DJ on Radio 2. Or he would, if he hadn’t banned them.
He says: “There’s so many candles these days, it’s a fire risk.”
And he’s not bothered about tucking into a slice, either, confessing to The Mirror: “I don’t really like food very much. I’m not mad about food.
“I would really love to just get a pill that I can take in the morning that will keep me going and I’d be quite happy with that.”
It’s a sober revelation from a man renowned for his infectious enthusiasm for most things in life.
But, married to wife Debbie since 1992 and with two children – Simon, 53, and Victoria, 29, from his previous marriage to Tessa Wyatt – he will still be dining out on his birthday. He says: “It’s dinner at an Italian. I’m a vegetarian If I go out, I normally go to an Italian restaurant and I eat spaghetti with tomato sauce and minestrone soup, and that’s about it. I have the same thing over and over again.”
Shattering the usual preconceptions about older folks’ reluctance to embrace change, in a second confession, he says: “I love technology, I absolutely adore it, and have always embraced it. If I heard a song that’s been made using AI and thought it was catchy, I’d play it on my show. I don’t think AI will ever replace the actual artists. But if a song is good, it’s good.”
While he does worry about AI taking jobs, he remains pragmatic, saying: “It’s something that we’ll have to learn to live with. And it’s got a lot of good uses, I think – medically and things like that. It will do a lot of things to make our lives better.
He also believes people have always been suspicious of new technology, recalling: “I had one of the first satellite dishes in the country actually, and in Kensington, it was a 1.9 metre dish. When I put it up, it revolved and I got reported by the neighbours because they thought I was a spy. “
Despite his advancing years, Tony – whose new Radio 2 show Sounds of Soul launched on New Year’s Day – has lost none of his drive. It means he’s spent 62 years at the top of his game, helping launch pirate station Radio Caroline on a ship in 1964 and progressing through numerous stations from Radio 1 to Smooth, Capital and Classic Gold and with TV accolades including regularly hosting Top of the Pops.
He laughs: “I’m the oldest at Radio 2. I’ve got a contract with Radio 2 for a couple of years so, you know, it’s a lifetime contract for me. Bob Harris is just behind me, I think. I’m not mad about it. I mean, I don’t see any advantage in getting older. I’d much rather be younger, but that’s not going to happen, so you just live with it. And as long as you’ve got your health, that’s the main thing.”
Again, with an unfamiliar sombre tone, he reflects: “The world has gone mad. It’s a weird place now, isn’t it? We’re ruled by a load of very odd people. I’ve never known an era like it in my lifetime. I think it’s very dangerous and sad. I mean, it’s just crazy who’s governing us now. It’s madness. You look at the news and you think that can’t be real. That must be AI. But it’s not, unfortunately.”
This seldom seen subdued side to Tony may result from his near-death experience in 2023. He says:“I was doing too much and I ended up with sepsis. I didn’t realise how unwell I was until my family were all around my bed. I got bacteria in the heart, so it was a bit touch and go. I thought, ‘Good God I don’t want them to get my money yet’.”
Back to the fun-loving persona we’re used to seeing, he reveals how he was happy to much on disgusting jungle fare, winning the first ever I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! show in 2002, but turned down Mastermind, He says of I’m a Celebrity: “I enjoyed it very much. But I’ve turned down Mastermind on a couple of occasions. I’d be awful at it. I love watching Mastermind because I love quiz shows. But I’m dreadful on them, I can’t remember the answers.
“I was asked a little while ago to do Big Brother, but I wouldn’t want to do that sort of thing. And Strictly Come Dancing – I’ve never been asked to be on, because I’m the world’s worst dancer. However, I love The Traitors. That’s great. If I was asked to do The Traitor’s, I’d probably do that.”
Tony’s made no secret of being a Corrie superfan either, and is still touting for a role. He says: “My main love in life is Coronation Street. I’ve hardly missed any episodes since it started. I’d love a cameo. I’d just like to sit in the Rover’s Return with a glass of beer and not say anything. I loved the Corriedale episode. God, they put everything into it, didn’t they?”
But he has no full-time plans to leave his beloved radio career just yet – especially not to retire. Still waxing lyrically about music, he says: “The best decade for music was the 60s. It was an era that I’m really glad I grew up in because it was exciting. But the best album ever is Marvin Gaye, What’s Going On? Now I love Jill Scott, Alicia Keys and Bruno Mars. But I wouldn’t say we’re in a brilliant era for music…”
Tony, who met Debbie when they were both starring in panto back in 1982, says if he hadn’t found radio, he would have been a salesman. He explains: “I like selling things. Basically, radio and television is selling an item. I used to sell ice creams along the Bournemouth seafront when I was at college – vanilla tubs. That’s all we had in those days. For probably about six pence or something like that. I did it really well. I started off with a tray and ended up with a big barrow.”
Now living comfortably in Berkshire, he puts much of his career success and personal happiness down to luck. He says: “Radio Caroline came along when I was 21, just as I was looking to go into it. If I’d been born two or three years later, I’d have missed the chance. I am happily married and have grandchildren, and my daughter and son. So I’ve been very, very lucky and I realise that.”
Buzzing with irrepressible energy, in March he will embark on the UK-wide Tony Blackburn’s Sounds of the 60s Live Tour 2026. Tony, who has a seaside holiday home in North Devon, says: “I don’t want to retire, I’ve never had a wish to. What’s the point in retiring if you’re enjoying what you do? It keeps your mind active as well.
“That said, I don’t want to be someone who staggers in at 101 not knowing where they are. Hopefully Radio 2 will escort me out if that happens. When the time comes, I’d love to grow old – well, older – by the sea. “
There seems little chance that he will be tuning out of his busy radio career any time soon.
Tony Blackburn’s Sounds of the 60s Live Tour 2026 will begin in March and run throughout the year, tickets are on-sale now via ticketmaster.co.uk/
