A half-hour Kenny Everett interview recorded 50 years ago will be broadcast nationally for the first time this weekend.
The conversation, originally recorded for BBC Radio Merseyside in February 1976, will feature during BBC Radio 4 Extra’s listener request weekend on Sunday March 22.
Journalist Iain Mann conducted the interview for the series Somebody In Particular, titled Whatever Happened to Maurice Cole?, using Everett’s real name. The programme explores the presenter’s early life, career and thoughts about radio during a period when he was hosting weekend programmes on Capital Radio.
In the interview, Kenny reflects on leaving school at 15 without qualifications and briefly training for the priesthood, joking: “Can you imagine me converting anybody?” He also recalls working in a bakery “scraping the gunk off sausage roll trays”.
Kenny discusses his passion for radio, from appearing on the BBC Home Service as a teenage tape enthusiast to joining the pirate station Radio London in 1964. He also talks about joining BBC Radio 1 at its launch in 1967 and leaving three years later after controversy involving remarks about a government minister’s wife.
The recording was rediscovered by former BBC Political Correspondent Paul Rowley, who digitised a reel-to-reel copy originally given to him by a colleague. Paul said the programme offers a revealing portrait of Everett’s personality and broadcasting style.
The interview will air at 7.30am, 12.30pm and 6.30pm on Sunday, with an additional broadcast at 2.30am on Monday.