Gary Davies: Radio 2 Presenter – Age, Wife and Career

Gary Davies is a BBC Radio 2 presenter and former Radio 1 DJ, best known for the 1980s lunchtime show The Bit in the Middle and for hosting Top of the Pops. He presents Sounds of the 80s on Radio 2 and is one of the station’s most trusted cover presenters. In March 2026 he stepped in to present Scott Mills’ Breakfast Show. He was born in Manchester on 13 December 1957.

How old is Gary Davies?

Gary Davies was born on 13 December 1957 in Manchester, which makes him 68. He turns 69 in December 2026.

Is Gary Davies married?

Yes. Gary has been married to Joongjai “JJ” Bhumichitr since 2004. He was previously married to Lisa Tchenguiz from 1990 to 2001. He keeps his family life largely private.

Gary Davies on Radio 1

Gary started out managing and DJing at clubs in Manchester before joining Piccadilly Radio in 1979. He joined BBC Radio 1 in late 1982 with a Saturday night show and was soon presenting Top of the Pops on BBC One, along with his famous “Woo, Gary Davies” jingle.

In 1984 he took over the lunchtime show, The Bit in the Middle, which later became Let’s Do Lunch. He moved to weekend breakfast in 1992 and left Radio 1 at the end of 1993, after the station’s shake-up under new controller Matthew Bannister.

After Radio 1

Gary spent several years at Virgin Radio and later hosted a chart show for the Real Radio and Century network. Away from the microphone, he set up a music publishing company, Good Groove, whose first hit was All Saints’ “Black Coffee”. He later signed Corinne Bailey Rae. He also DJs at clubs and 80s nights around the UK and abroad.

Gary Davies on Radio 2

Gary returned to the BBC in 2017, covering Sara Cox on Sounds of the 80s, and became the show’s permanent presenter in May 2018. Since then he has become one of Radio 2’s most-used cover presenters, sitting in for Zoe Ball, Sara Cox, Vernon Kay, OJ Borg, Dermot O’Leary and Rylan Clark among others.

He presented the mid-morning show for two months in 2023 between Ken Bruce leaving and Vernon Kay starting, and hosted Pick of the Pops in 2024 after Steve Wright’s death, until Mark Goodier took over.

Gary Davies and the Scott Mills Show

Long before 2026, Gary was a regular on Scott’s shows, both as a guest and as a running joke. In May 2023 the Muppets’ Animal and Floyd Pepper performed his famous jingle. That August, pubs started displaying vintage portraits of Gary, which gave us “Beach Gary” and “Train Gary”. “Beach Gary” later turned up at the White Lion.

The joke ran all year. On his birthday in December 2023, Gary finally confronted the calendar picture Scott kept sharing.

Gary also covered for Scott regularly, including an extended 80s Mastermix in August 2025. On 23 December 2025, Scott handed over to Gary for Christmas.

Gary Davies on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show

On 24 March 2026, Gary stepped in to present Scott Mills’ Radio 2 Breakfast Show, and continued as stand-in host after Scott left the station. He presented Breakfast, with Ellie Brennan on travel, until Sara Cox took over the show in July 2026. He has since covered for Sara, including the week Erasure’s Andy Bell dropped in at the end of September 2026.

Gary Davies on Radio 2 Drivetime

Gary has been one of the presenters covering Drivetime since Sara Cox moved to Breakfast. On 28 September 2026 he was the one who revealed Angela Scanlon as the show’s new permanent host. Until she starts, Gary’s Drive shows have included the daily Pub Quiz, the jukebox feature and plenty of listener stories, like the dad who’s been pretending to be Rick Astley for 11 years.

Latest Gary Davies show recaps

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