DLT was lifeline, says Aung San Suu Kyi

Dave Lee Travis’ BBC World Music Service request show was a lifeline under house arrest, Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has said.

She mentioned the Magic presenter and former BBC Radio 1 DJ during an interview with Radio Times, who was sorry to hear about recent cuts to the radio service.

Ms Suu Kyi, who is due to give two of the BBC’s Reith Lectures, told the Radio Times: “I used to listen to all sorts of different programmes, not just classical music. I can’t remember… the name of that programme… Dave Travis? Was it?”

After Radio 4’s Eddie Mair asked if she meant Dave Lee Travis, Ms Suu Kyi said: “Yes! Didn’t he have a programme with all different sorts of music?

“I haven’t heard any music on the BBC World Service in a long time. Maybe I’m listening at the wrong times. But not one single piece of music. Am I wrong? Or have I been listening at the wrong times?”

“I would listen to that quite happily because the listeners would write in and I had a chance to hear other people’s words.”

DLT also told the magazine: “It was daft of the BBC to change the World Service. It was mainly for learning, but you do need fun, too.”

A Jolly Good Show had had “the single biggest postbag of the entire World Service”, he added