Annie Nightingale dies aged 83

Her family have issued a statement.

She was such a legend - her six decades at the BBC were a testament of that. So many of those was working at Radio 1.

A trailblazer as a female broadcaster. 

Statement from Aled. 

Here's how Radio 1 announced it: https://unofficialmills.co.uk/download/radio-1-announces-death-of-annie-nightingale/ 

So sad to hear of the death of a national treasure and the greatest broadcaster the station a true achievement to have such a longevity of a career at radio 1 being at the forefront of new music for over fifty years. I can assume all the presenters who have been and gone over the past fifty years count Annie as an inspiration. The First Lady who will be remembered for generations to come. Seems rather timely and fitting that Annie Nightingales 6 Music series is being re-played on Radio 6 Music midnight Monday. No feels a timely tribute. 

Such a shame. A massive trailblazer in the industry. They're paying tribute to her on Radio 1 now. 

Beautiful tribute by Matt and Mollie on R1 right now (1.40 pm 12 January)

What amazes me is how little she did for Radio 2 compared to Radio 1. She was one where she wasn't ever going to be pushed into moving there.

When was she last on-air? November?

23 minutes ago, IamNotFromUK said:

Beautiful tribute by Matt and Mollie on R1 right now (1.40 pm 12 January)

Toned-down start for Scott Mills' show on R2. No opening link. R1 was also playing more chill music for 20 minutes or so after the announcement. 

Just now, onlyME said:

When was she last on-air? November?

Her last show was on 19 December: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001t6tn

29 minutes ago, NathanS said:

Such a shame. A massive trailblazer in the industry. They're paying tribute to her on Radio 1 now. 

Very nice words and it is good that the tone has remained upbeat as that's exactly what she would have wanted.

It would be nice if they did a tribute show in the next week.

9 minutes ago, AndyK77 said:

Very nice words and it is good that the tone has remained upbeat as that's exactly what she would have wanted.

It would be nice if they did a tribute show in the next week.

Hopefully. I imagine Radio 2 may well dig deep into the archive as well and air something in tribute. Lovely tribute from Scott on his show just as well.

7 minutes ago, Jono said:

What amazes me is how little she did for Radio 2 compared to Radio 1. She was one where she wasn't ever going to be pushed into moving there.

I think she always wanted to played the music she loved, which she did. I admired hips she defied her age and always kept exploring new music in ways that you rarely see of elder broadcasters. Think its to say that if you enjoy what you do, and you good at it keep on doing it and that should mean no matter what age you are if you like music no matter of what genre or what era play it and that’s what she did. It’s with respect of the stations controllers that they never looked at her age and age of presenters as a barrier to bringing new music to generations younger than they are. It would’ve been a shame if she wasn’t allowed to continue when she was still at her finest. 

9 minutes ago, AndyK77 said:

Very nice words and it is good that the tone has remained upbeat as that's exactly what she would have wanted.

It would be nice if they did a tribute show in the next week.

I know they before the announcement of her death weeks previously had scheduled her series of programmes that ran on 6 Music around the 50th anniversary of Radio 1 on midnight Monday on 6 Music overnight. Quite possibly they maybe on demand early. Can imagine there will be varying tribute programming with some of the best mixes, interviews and moments across the BBC over coming days.

Very sad news. I remeber being i think around 16yrs of age totally obsessed with Radio 1 and would wake up during the night just to hear her shows because i knew how important she was to the station. Years later worked nights and it became a real treat to have her on. Beautiful tribute from Matt and Mollie earlier.

Very very sad news. There will never be another like Annie, cool and cutting edge from start to finish. Lovely words by Aled too. It really feels like the end of an era there.

21 minutes ago, IamNotFromUK said:

Her last show was on 19 December: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001t6tn

Most seemed to be 'best of', wonder when they were recorded.

2 minutes ago, onlyME said:

Most seemed to be 'best of', wonder when they were recorded.

Well I mean all of her recent shows were prerecorded with very few links and guest mixes.

https://dl.sndup.net/jhvc/Mark Radcliffe, Anne Nightingale.mp3

Just recall this with Mark Radcliffe talking to Colin Murray years ago, and him mentioning Annie was one of the only two people who checked on him during his first day at Radio 1.

Only recently on the chatbox we were in agreement Annie would never "leave" Radio 1.  I would say "sadly" we have been proved right but I am sure that's exactly what she wanted.

One of her appearances on Scott's show here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C2AVHvOICxr/ 

How Radio 1 announced her death here:

https://unofficialmills.co.uk/download/radio-1-announces-death-of-annie-nightingale/

I think it will be a while before a replacement is annoceed it will take a lot of planning 

20 minutes ago, Darren m said:

I think it will be a while before a replacement is annoceed it will take a lot of planning 

 

Respectably, I expect it won’t be something the station would be thinking about right now.

I remember when Peel died in 2004. I think they put Rob Da Bank onto his slot for a while, it was nothing to say 'here's a replacement'. Was just to basically fill the two hours really and see how it went.

25 minutes ago, BBCAaron said:

Respectably, I expect it won’t be something the station would be thinking about right now.

They can easily keep the slot as it has been lately for a while without saying much.

It would be nice to keep the spirit of Annie by placing an innovative up and coming female DJ in that slot.