Tony Blackburn gets OBE after 60 years of radio broadcasting

Tony Blackburn, Steve Wright, James Whale, Jeff Stelling and Ashley Tabor-King have all been named in the King’s New Year Honours List.

After 60 years of broadcasting, Tony was finally given an OBE for his services to broadcasting and charity. He says its “the icing on a very lovely cake”.

Helen Thomas, Head of BBC Radio 2, told PA: “Everyone at BBC Radio 2 is thrilled that Tony is receiving this wonderful recognition for his remarkable contribution to broadcasting, which goes back to the earliest days of pirate radio right through the decades to the present.”

MBEs go to Steve Wright (for services to radio), James Whale (for services to broadcasting) and talkSPORT’s new breakfast show presenter Jeff Stelling (for services to sport, broadcasting and charity), whilst Global Founder and Executive President Ashley Tabor-King gets a CBE to go with his OBE.

Ashley says: “Incredibly grateful to receive a CBE today in the King’s New Year’s honours list, for services to Media and Entertainment. This is for my incredible family, and of course for everyone at Global.”

Thanks for your many messages I’ll be with you at 5 am ⁦@BBCRadio2⁩ pic.twitter.com/cr3BInrr1T

— Tony Blackburn (@tonyblackburn) December 30, 2023