12 January 2024 , 15:07
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BBC Radio 1 legend Annie Nightingale, who has died at the age of 83, held the Guinness World Record for the longest career as a female radio presenter. Annie paved the way for new and underground music as well as women working in a traditionally male-dominated industry. She was also loved by many of music's greatest names - here are six of the best stories from the inspirational star...
Paul McCartney's joke proposal
The Beatles musician asked Annie to marry him when she interviewed his protégée, singer Mary Hopkin but the presenter maintained it was said in jest. "I don't think he was that serious," laughed the radio presenter, who was good pals with Paul's first wife Linda. Annie was a huge Beatles fan, saying: "They opened the doors for young people to do what they wanted to do. Nobody has changed the world like they did.”
Annie, pictured with Paul McCartney, said The Beatles "changed the world" (Fremantle Media/REX/Shutterstock)
The broadcaster has died at the age of 83 (Getty Images Europe)Losing a bet with The Clash
When the music expert first heard London Calling she was so blown away she bet The Clash's lead vocalist Joe Strummer the track was a Top 10 record. "He said: 'No it isn't'," she said told colleague Nick Grimshaw. "'I bet you a Cadillac that it won't go Top 10'." The song went to Number 11 and a Radio 1 listener stepped in to help Annie, donating their broken-down Cadillac which she presented to Joe.
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Taking David Bowie to the pub
Annie saw David Bowie open for another band when he was just 22 and took him for a drink at the pub across the road to tell him he was a star in the making. "I said: 'You are the future’,” she said. Three years later, Bowie created Ziggy Stardust and become famous around the world. “He always stayed ahead of the game and that’s why everybody thought so much of him,” said one of his earliest champions.
Annie lost a bet with The Clash over their seminal track London Calling (Getty Images)
The DJ spotted David Bowie's potential straight away (Getty Images)Keeping secrets for The Beatles
A frequent guest at The Beatles' Apple Studio Sessions, Annie was privy to secrets including the fledgling relationship between John Lennon and Yoko Ono. "I knew about John and Yoko before it was announced," she said on Desert Island Discs, explaining that spilling the beans would have destroyed her relationship with the group. "You let them down, you break that trust and that’s it, it’s over."
Breaking protocol with the Queen
Awarded an MBE in 2001, Annie spoke to the Queen before she was spoken to in a break of royal protocol, laughing: "I thought I'd make it a bit easier for her!" The DJ chatted to the late monarch about her then-teenage grandson Prince William's ambitions to be a DJ. She was later upgraded to a CBE, which was a problem as she couldn't remember where she had put her MBE which needed to be returned.
Annie with singer Liam Gallagher (Getty Images)
The broadcaster was awarded an MBE before being upgraded to a CBE (Popperfoto via Getty Images)Missing Eric Clapton's wedding
Guitar legend Eric wed Pattie Boyd at his country estate in 1979, with Annie invited alongside a host of music legends including Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Elton John and three Beatles. Many performers took to the stage after the ceremony and it would be one of the last times Harrison, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr would appear together. Sadly presenter Annie missed the lot as her car broke down.