All this week on her BBC Radio 2 show, Jo Whiley has been looking back at her favourite sessions, interviews and moments to mark her incredible 30 years anniversary in radio. The show has covered The Evening Sessions, Live Lounges, Road Trips, Glastonbury, Sofa Sessions and more! Tonight’s programme included several surprises - Scott Mills turned up with pavlova and memories, REM’s Michael Stipe called in, and at the end there was a whole montage of lovely voicenotes from various artists and broadcasters who wanted to say thank you and congratulations to Jo.
During the programme tonight, fellow Radio 2 presenter Scott Mills dropped in to surprise her with a specially-made cake from all of her friends at Radio 2 and made by 2013 Bake Off winner, Frances Quinn. She baked Jo a pavlova (see image attached – credit BBC) which featured three tiers of meringue to represent each of Jo’s three decades on BBC radio (and fact she knows Jo loves meringue!), decorated with berries and fresh flowers as a nod to Jo’s other love, gardening. The meringue creation was also a nod to a previous celebration for Jo 10 years ago when Frances made a pavlova for her birthday, but it slide of the plate when Jo was holding it and it was eaten by her labrador... Thankfully this time it stayed on the plate!
Here are the messages played to Jo across this week and tonight from radio colleagues and artists:
Zoe Ball: “You don’t even know how brilliant you are and how important your shows are to so many of us who listen. You’ve introduced me to some of my favourite bands and I’ve loved listening to you grow older with the bands who’ve grown older and they’re such great friends of yours now. So keep doing what you do so well darling… bringing great music into our lives.”
Scott Mills: “You are, whether you like it or not, a broadcasting legend. One of the best to ever do it… So let’s all raise an imaginary toast to Dame Jo Whiley!”
Guy Garvey: “I can’t thank you enough for helping us up in the first place when nobody knew who we were… giving us a leg up…. And then supporting us for all these years and becoming a friend as well. I’m just so in awe of you. Who knows what the British music landscape would be like without you. Impossible. You’re too symbiotically entwined with the whole thing. And then aside from that… the lovely person you are, your wonderful family, and then the fierce lioness that you can be when its needed. And all that from somebody I know to be quite a shy and sensitive person. I’m really proud to be your friend.”
Coldplay’s Chris Martin: “Happy 30th BBC-versary. Thank you for being just wonderful with the artists you champion, the music you share, and above all your sparkling, warm-hearted, loving all people, make everyone’s day better, DJ style. We love you. Congratulations.”
U2’s The Edge: “Musicians have a real affinity for radio people. We really get each other… In the end though it’s about communication. Always striving to make that connection with somebody somewhere out there. Someone listening. And some of us spend our entire careers working at it… to get it right. And some are just born for it. And that’s Jo Whiley. She is a natural communicator, a skilled broadcaster and a veteran music lover. We’ve had a lot of fun over the years. Thank you Jo for all the memories. Thank you for the mischief. And most of all thank you for the music. Big Love The Edge and U2.”
Noel Gallagher: “ I can’t believe you’ve been sitting at that microphone for 30 years. Can’t believe your careers been as long as mine! Well congratulations and you must be due a massive pay rise at some point now. I would say here’s to another 30 years, but frankly neither of us need that.”
Liam Gallagher: “Congratulations on 30 years of being at the BBC. Here’s to another 30. Have a good one.”
Suede’s Brett Anderson: “Massive congratulations to Jo for 30 years on the radio and thanks for all your amazing support and amazing energy… always been there for us.”
Patty Lynn from Far From Saints: “I can’t imagine how many lives you’ve changed by just being your true self on the radio and you’ve changed my life as well.”
Manic Street Preachers’ James Bradfield: “You are one of the indelible BBC memories I have… you and Steve [Lamacq] were an indelible part of the BBC alternative music culture and also of that comfortable evening time slot where you feel like you’ve got a relationship with the DJ. You’ve been there for a long time but it doesn’t feel like too long… it feels like you should be there forever.”
Jessie Ware: “Best Taste, Best Chat… here’s to 30 more.”
Annie Nightingale: “Well done Jo. I know what it’s like. We have the best job in the world playing music to our audience and never ever taking it for granted. We know how lucky we are. Happy anniversary Jo.”
