16 September 2024 , 19:42
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It’s been revealed that the late Annie Nightingale left more than £1million for her children in her will, following her death earlier this year.
The legendary BBC radio DJ, who was the first female presenter on Radio 1, died at her home in London in January, aged 83, after suffering with a short illness.
At the time of her death, a tribute read: ‘Annie was a pioneer, trailblazer, and an inspiration to many.
‘Her impulse to share that enthusiasm with audiences remained undimmed after six decades of broadcasting on BBC TV and radio globally.’
A radio and TV presenter for the broadcasting corporation for more than 50 years, Nightingale was the longest-serving host in Radio 1’s history.
Now it’s been revealed in newly released probate records that she left more than £1 million to her two children, Alex and Lucy, whom she shared with her first husband, journalist Gordon Thomas.
According to The Sun, Alex and Lucy have also been tasked with spreading and distributing Nightingale’s possessions amongst her friends and family.
Her estate is reported to be worth a sum of £1,061,543 in total after a stellar career, which saw her become synonymous with the pop music of the 1970s and 1980s.
Nightingale first came to the BBC in 1963 when she appeared as a panelist on Juke Box Jury, which saw presenters and guests critiquing pop music of the day.
When Radio 1 launched in 1967, it was decreed that no women would present, and Nightingale’s first application to be a presenter was thoroughly rejected.
Thanks to a favour from The Beatles, she was eventually given a trial run of six broadcasts in 1970 which resulted in a friendship with presenter John Peel and further opportunities.
Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, Nightingale remained the sole female presenter on Radio 1 until Janice Long joined the line-up in 1982.
She continued working in BBC radio through the 1990s and 2000s, with her weekly show eventually running for a total of 52 years – she eventually moved to Radio 2 and Radio 4.
On TV, she became the host of The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1978, taking over from main host Whispering Bob Harris. She ushered in new styles of music on the programme until her departure in 1982.
Among the artists she introduced to BBC TV were the likes of The Ramones, Talking Heads, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Gang of Four, Blondie, X-Ray Spex, The Specials, Madness, and U2.
On Radio 2, she hosted Eternal Jukebox through the 2010s and produced several radio documentaries too. Her final appearance on Radio 1 was in December 2023, just a month before her death, when she hosted a Best of 2023 review show.
Nightingale was married twice in her life – first to journalist Gordon Thomas, whom she divorced in 1968 after having two children with him, and then to Anthony ‘Binky’ Baker, whom she later divorced.