Desmond Carrington celebrates 30 years

BBC Radio 2 presenter Desmond Carrington will be celebrating 30 years of his weekly show, The Music Goes Round, with a special edition.

The brithday show will air on Friday 7 October from 7-8pm, as 85 year old Desmond will be revisiting the playlist from his 1981 debut.

Bob Shennan, Controller of Radio 2 and Radio 6 Music, said: “Desmond is a fine broadcaster and I am so proud of his incredible heritage on Radio 2. Listening to his show is a highlight for his legions of fans. And at a sprightly 85 years of age, Desmond is one of very few elder statesmen in the radio world today whose experience cannot be surpassed.”

When the Radio 2 series, All Time Greats, began on Sunday 4 October 1981, Desmond was chosen as its first presenter. He fully expected to be replaced after three months but the series took off and, three decades on, he remains on the air.

Desmond’s closing words at the end of the very first All Time Greats in 1981 were: “Funnily enough I have felt a little bit today like Roy Plomley must have felt all those years ago when he sat down to do the first programme of Desert Island Discs – you don’t know what it’s going to lead to!”

Reflecting back today, Desmond says: “Well I certainly didn’t think it would lead to 30 years of weekly broadcasts and some 1500 programmes. I’m so very grateful to BBC Radio 2 and to my many listeners who have always been supportive and involved in the vast range of music – which is still going round!”