Local radio shows lost for four decades

Recordings of comedian Kenny Everett working on local radio stations have been unearthed after more than 40 years.

The archive includes sketches and jingles made for Portsmouth-based commercial station, Radio Victory, and BBC Radio Solent.

He found himself working for the local stations after being fired from Radio 1 in 1970 over a joke about the wife of the Transport Minister passing her driving test first time.

The anarchic DJ then started making programmes for his local station, Radio Solent, which is to broadcast the newly discovered footage in a programme next month.

Producer Richard Latto said:'We've managed to track down two of Kenny Everett's BBC Radio Solent shows. They haven't been heard in over 45 years so I'm digitising them so we can rebroadcast them.'

And he said that while researching his documentary he discovered that Everett also appeared on Radio Victory, a Portsmouth-based broadcaster that ran from 1975 to 1985.

Former presenter Andy Ferris discovered the recordings in a collection of tapes he brought from the station when it shut down.

He said: 'It was Kenny being funny and taking the mick and playing the music he liked at the time - he'd be very amusing and dropping in lots of sound effects.'

The new documentary also includes interviews with Everett's agent Jo Gurnett, writer Barry Cryer and ex-wife Lee Everett Alkin, who says she had the idea of getting her husband back on the BBC via syndication.

Footage from a 1971 press conference shows the comedian saying: 'Maybe I can approach Radio Solent, my local radio station, and say I've been on Radio Bristol. And they'll say "Ah, that must mean you're all right now, so we'll have you for a whole series."'

Everett recorded the shows from his studio at home in the 'Sussex money belt', and BBC producer Paul Rowley said: 'The listeners of Radio Solent got, in my view, the best radio in the business.'

The tribute to Everett will air on Bank Holiday, August 29, and be hosted by Richard Skinner. It will include the two full shows from the Radio Solent archive.

Here is a video Latto has made about the project:

Published: 20 Jul 2016