Ed Stewart
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Ed Stewart (born April 23, 1941 in Devon) is a radio broadcaster from England. He presented the Sunday early-evening show on BBC Radio 2 until his last show on 16 April 2006, at which point he retired from the BBC. His nickname is Stewpot.
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[edit] Early career
Ed's broadcasting career began in Hong Kong. While touring there with his band, he got a job on a local radio station as a sports commentator, then as an announcer and, finally, as a disc jockey. He remained at this station for 4 years. In July 1965 Ed became a DJ on the offshore station Radio London.
[edit] Later career with BBC Radio and Television
In 1967, Ed became one of the first DJs to join BBC Radio 1, presenting Happening Sunday and What's New. In 1968, Ed took over the weekend morning Junior Choice show, where he remained for 12 years. The show reached 17 million listeners. In 1972 he also presented Radio 1's Sunday Sport show.
Ed became a regular presenter of the BBC television programme Top of the Pops in 1971. He also presented the children's programme Crackerjack in the 1970s, and had a short-lived programme The Ed and Zed Show.
1980 saw Ed move to BBC Radio 2, presenting Family Favourites and the weekday afternoon programme from 2pm to 4pm.
[edit] Commercial Radio
Ed moved to the commercial radio station Radio Mercury (now Mercury FM), for six years, presenting their mid-morning show.
[edit] Back to the Beeb
Ed rejoined BBC Radio 2 in 1991, firstly presenting a series of shows & then a regular Saturday afternoon show throughout the summer. In 1992, he once again presented weekday afternoons. This time, the show was broadcast from 3.30pm - 5pm, before moving to 3pm - 5pm in 1996 and 2pm - 5pm in late 1998.
[edit] Notable broadcasts
In 1995, Ed made radio history when he broadcast his Radio 2 show live from the summits of Ben Nevis and Snowdon, in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. He also broadcast from the Falkland Islands just after 1982 conflict and on the 75th anniversary of the RAF.
[edit] Current programmes
In the summer of 1999, Ed left the weekday afternoon slot, moving to his Sunday evening show from 5pm - 7pm. At the time the official word was that Stewert had decided to go into semi-retirement, however he later revealed in his auto-biography that he was removed from the afternoon programme by then controller Jim Moir. Stewert was offered a new Sunday show & the Breakfast show when Terry Wogan was on holiday, as long has he went along with Moir's "story". His Sunday show was a blend of music and chat, plus listeners' letters and 'Where Are They Now?', a feature that attempts to re-unite old friends who have lost touch with each other.
In addition to his Sunday evening show on BBC Radio 2, in February 2005, Ed took over the weekday afternoon show on Spectrum FM, an English-speaking radio station that broadcasts to Spain.
Ed eventually retired from Radio 2 in April 2006, not long after releasing his auto-biography where he questioned the position of his colleagues Sarah Kennedy and Johnnie Walker (DJ) on the network. He was replaced on Sunday afternoon's by Johnnie Walker.
Ed was heard on Big L covering for David Hamilton on 18 December 2006, and presenting two special shows on Classic Gold on Christmas Day 2006 and New Years Day 2007.
[edit] Interests
Ed's two main interests are playing golf (he often met listeners of his programme who volunteered to caddy for him) and football; he is a supporter of Everton F.C.
[edit] Trademark
A trademark of Ed's was a recording clip of a young boy saying "'Ello dahlin'!" in a broad cockney accent, followed by a brief burst of laughter. This was first used on the Junior Choice programme, but remained with him ever since. Listeners often requested it as a greeting for loved ones.
