John Dunn

Educated at Christ Church Cathedral Choir School and The King's School, Canterbury. Following that he undertook National Service with the Royal Air Force in Germany. Deciding to pursue his interest in broadcasting, he joined the BBC in 1957. His first job was as a studio manager for the Home Service's Nine O'Clock News. He was especially inspired by the professionalism of newsreaders Alvar Liddell and Frank Phillips and became a newsreader himself. He worked as a presenter for BBC Radio 2 from its inception, building a loyal audience for the early evening weekday show he occupied from the mid-1970s until his retirement in 1998. Its attractive mix of interviews, quizzes and music won him the accolade of Radio Personality of the Year on three occasions and a Gold Sony Radio Award for the best Drivetime Music Programme. On his retirement he made no secret of his disdain for BBC Director General John Birt and his policies, which Dunn said had reduced the atmosphere and morale at the corporation in his final years.