Ed Stewart - an appreciation - by Malcy B

ED "STEWPOT" STEWART

A milestone in radio history was set in April this year 2006

as Ed "Stewpot" Stewart broadcast his final programme for BBC Radio 2.

From Radio1 & 2’s Junior Choice in February 1968 to his final programme on Radio 2 on Sunday, 16th of April, 2006 broadcast live from Birmingham between 5 and 7pm. I am sure many of you will have fond memories throughout the 1970’s of his Saturday and Sunday morning Junior Choice Shows on Radio’s 1 and 2, a follow-on from Uncle Mac’s infamous Children’s Favourites from the days of the Light Programme.

 

BIOGRAPHY (with thanks to Radio 2, Radio ReWind and The Sterling Times)

Born in Devon in 1941, Ed Stewart broke into broadcasting whilst touring with his band abroad. When the other members of the band received their army postings, Ed went and got a job at Radio Hong Kong in 1961 working as a sports commentator, an announcer and finally, as a disc jockey.

On his return to Britain in 1965, Ed worked freelance for the Central Office of Information. He later joined the pirate station Radio London and on its demise joined BBC Radio.

He was one of Radio 1's original team of presenters, initially presenting the short lived Happening Sunday and also the What's New? record review show.

He then fronted the popular weekend Junior Choice programme from February 1968 for twelve years (which included the famous hello darling sound bite). (Leslie Crowther fronted the earlier Junior Choices in 1967) Although a Radio 1 show, it was also heard on Radio 2 until 1978, benefiting from the higher sound quality of the VHF network

The show included many popular singalongs such as My Brother by Terry Scott, Nellie the Elephant by Mandy Miller, You're a Pink Toothbrush by Max  Bygraves and Jake the peg by Rolf Harris. Pop records, which had always been featured in the show, became more frequently heard and requested in later years. The programme attracted 17 million listeners at its peak.

He was also the first presenter heard on Radio 1’s Newsbeat.

'Stewpot' also became a familiar face on television, presenting favourites such as Top of the Pops and Crackerjack, as well as guest presenting on Wish You Were Here.

In 1980 Ed moved to Radio 2, presenting the highly popular cross-country dedication show Family Favourites.

Hosting of Junior Choice was handed over to Tony Blackburn.

Ed  moved to Surrey's Radio Mercury from 1984 to 1990.

In 1991 Ed was heard again on Radio 2, firstly with a Saturday afternoon show, and from 1992 to 1999 he broadcast on weekday afternoons.

In 1995 the show made radio history when it was broadcast live from the summits of Ben Nevis and then Snowdon, in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. He also broadcast from the Falkland Islands just after the1982 conflict and on the 75th anniversary of the RAF.

In 1999, Ed left the weekday afternoon slot, moving to an early Sunday evening show from 5pm - 7pm on Radio 2.  His show included a blend of music requests, chat, listeners' letters and a 'where are they now' reunion feature.

Ed said on his final regular Radio 2 show 16 April 2006 that he had been touched by the many listeners letters telling him how much they would miss him and his music when he left. The last record played was Always Look on the Bright Side of Life by Eric Idle.

Ed Stewart's non-BBC career can read on his Wikipedia page

Although Ed presented his last regular Radio 2 show 16 April 2006 he returned annually to Radio 2 for Junior Choice on Christmas Day from 2007 to 2015

Ed's last show broadcast 25 December 2015

Ed died 9th January 2016

by Malcy B edited J Wright 3 Oct 2016

 

 

SUNDAY 16 TH APRIL 2006 - HIS LAST RADIO 2 PROGRAMME

RUNNING ORDER 5.00pm – 7.00pm

YOU'RE THE FIRST, THE LAST, MY EVERYTHING
BARRY WHITE
THE COLLECTION
UNIVERSAL=834 790-2

ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT (LAUGHING VERSION)
ELVIS PRESLEY
SINGLE
RCA=74321 485412

HOW TO HANDLE A WOMAN
RICHARD HARRIS
CAMELOT
WARNER=7599273252

OVER THE RAINBOW
EVA CASSIDY
SONGBIRD
HOT=G2-10045

MY BROTHER
TERRY SCOTT
CHILDHOOD DAYS
TELSTAR TV=TTVCD3367

LEAVE RIGHT NOW
WILL YOUNG
FRIDAY'S CHILD
BMG=82876557462

APRIL SHOWERS
AL JOLSON
THE GOLDEN YEARS OF AL JOLSON
THE SOHO COLLECTION=SOHOCD037

AND THE BIRDS WERE SINGING
SWEET PEOPLE
SWEET PEOPLE
POLYDOR=2311 008

THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC
ABBA
GOLD
POLYDOR=517 007-2

FUNNY HOW TIME SLIPS AWAY
GEORGIE FAME
THE VERY BEST OF GEORGIE FAME & THE BLUE FLAMES
SPECTRUM=550 015-2

SUNDAYS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME
SPANKY & OUR GANG
GREATEST HITS
MERCURY=5463322

THE FOLKS WHO LIVE ON THE HILL
PEGGY LEE
THE VERY BEST OF PEGGY LEE
EMI=7243 5 27818 2 9

WON'T SOMEBODY DANCE WITH ME
LYNSEY DE PAUL
SINGLE
MAM=MAM60

I KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE SOMEWHERE
THE MOODY BLUES
BALLADS
UNIVERSAL=9811954

THE LAST WALTZ
ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK
THE LAST WALTZ
LONDON =820 572-2

UNFORGETTABLE
NAT KING COLE
THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION
CAPITOL=7243 4 99575 2 7

PORTRAIT OF MY LOVE
MATT MONRO
COMPLETE HEARTBREAKERS
EMI=7243 8 54010 2 2

IMAGINE
JOHN LENNON
WORKING CLASS HERO - THE DEFINITIVE LENNON
PARLOPHONE=0946 3 40080 2 0

SECRET LOVE
DORIS DAY
THE DORIS DAY HIT SINGLES COLLECTION
TELSTAR=TCD 2659

FOR THE GOOD TIMES
PERRY COMO
THE ESSENTIAL PERRY COMO
JIVE/RCA/BMG=82876560172

LIVERPOOL LULLABY
CILLA BLACK
CILLA IN THE 60S
EMI GOLD=0946 3 36989 2 5

MY WAY
FRANK SINATRA
THE BEST OF FRANK SINATRA
REPRISE=9362-46712-2

I WON'T SEND ROSES
ROBERT GOULET
AFTER ALL IS SAID AND DONE
LONDON =SHO 8498 (VINYL)

HE AIN'T HEAVY, HE'S MY BROTHER
THE HOLLIES
THE ESSENTIAL COLLECTION
7243 8 57468 2 6

MUSIC
JOHN MILES
REBEL
LONDON =8200802

YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD
THE LOOK OF LOVE
UNIVERSAL=9816495

ALWAYS LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE
MONTY PYTHON
WORLD CUP PARTY FEVER
VIRGIN/EMI=VTDCDX310


JUNIOR CHOICE THEME

MORNINGTOWN RIDE

Instrumental Version used played by Stan Butcher’s Birds & Brass

Original Version Performed by The Seekers (1966)

Words and Music by Malvina Reynolds.

Train whistle blowin', makes a sleepy noise
Underneath their blankets go all the girls and boys
Rockin', Rollin', Ridin', out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown, many miles a-way

 

Driver at the engine, Fireman rings the bell
Sandman swings the lantern to say that all is well
Rockin', Rollin', Ridin', out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown, many miles a-way

Maybe it is raining where our train will ride
All the little trave'lers are warm and snug in-side
Rockin', Rollin', Ridin', out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown, many miles a-way

Somewhere there is sunshine, somewhere there is day
Somewhere there is Morningtown, many miles a-way
Rockin', Rollin', Ridin', out along the bay
All bound for Morningtown, many miles a-way

 

AN A – Z BY TITLE OF SOME OF THOSE CLASSIC RECORDS HEARD THROUGH THE 1970’s ON JUNIOR CHOICE:

Any Dream Will Do (from Joseph/Amazing Dream Coat) - Joe Cuddy

Any Old Iron – Peter Sellers

Aqua Marina – Barry Gray Orchestra

Back In My Childhood Days – Max Bygraves

Ballad Of Davy Crockett – Tennessee Ernie Ford

Bangers And Mash – Peter Sellers And Sophia Loren

Barbados – Typically Tropical

Beep Beep – The Playmates

Bee Song – Arthur Askey

Bimbo – Suzi Miller

Big Rock Candy Mountain – Burl Ives

Boom-Oo-Yatta-Ta-ta – Morecambe & Wise

Bridget The Midget – Ray Stevens

Bring Me Sunshine – Morecambe & Wise

Buckingham Palace – Anne Stephens

Captain Scarlet – Barry Gray Orchestra

Carnival Is Over – The Seekers

Champion The Wonder Horse – Frankie Laine

Clair – Gilber O’Sullivan

Combine Harvester – The Wurzels

Deadwood Stage (Whip Crack Away) – Doris Day

Does Your Chwing Gum Lose It’s Flavour? – Lonnie Donegan

Dominique – The Singing Nun

Donald, Where’s Your Trousers? – Andy Stewart

Don’t Stop The Carnival – Alan Price Set

Down Came The Rain – Mister Murray

Ernie, The Fastest Milkman In The West – Benny Hill

Fireball XL5 – Don Spencer

Flash Bang Wallop – Tommy Steele

Funky Gibbon – The Goodies

Galloping Home (Black Beauty Theme) – London String Chorale

Georgy Girl - Seekers

Gilly Gilly Ossenfeffer Katzenellen Bogen By The Sea – Max Bygraves

Gimme Dat Ding - Pipkins

Goodness Gracious Me - Peter Sellers And Sophia Loren

Grandad – Clive Dunn

Grandma (There’s No One Quite Like…) – St Winifred’s School Choir

Hello My Darlings – Charlie Drake

Hippopotamus Song – Flanders & Swann

Hole In The Ground – Bernard Cribbins

How Much Is That Doggie In The Window – Lita Rosa

I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly – Burl Ives

I Taught I Taw A Puddy Tat – Mel Blanc

I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing – New Seekers

I’m Henery The Eighth I Am – Herman’s Hermits

In The Middle Of The House – Alma Cogan

In The Summertime – Mungo Jerry

I’ve Lost My Mummy – Rolf Harris

Jake The Peg – Rolf Harris

Joe 90 – Barry Gray Orchestra

Just Like That – Tommy Cooper

Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas

Laughing Gnome – David Bowie

Laughing Policeman – Charles Penrose

Lightning Tree (Follyfoot) – The Settlers

Lily The Pink – The Scaffold

Little Arrows – Leapy Lee

Little Boy Fishing – Shirley Abicair

Little Donkey – Nina & Frederick

Little White Bull – Tommy Steele

Little White Duck – Danny Kaye

Liverpool Lullaby – Cilla Black

King’s New Clothes – Danny Kaye

Matchstalk Men & Matchstalk Cats & Dogs – Brian & Michael

Me And My Teddy Bear – Rosemary Clooney

Messing About On The River – Josh MacRae

Mexican Whistler – Roger Whittaker

Mister Custer - Charlie Drake

Move Over Darling – Doris Day

My Boomerang Won’t Come Back – Charlie Drake

My Brother – Terry Scott

My Old Man’s A Dustman – Lonnie Donegan

Nellie The Elephant – Mandy Miller

Nursery School – Joyce Grenfel

Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (Life Goes On) – Beatles

Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da (Life Goes On) - Marmalade

Out Of Town – Max Bygraves

Paddy McGinty’s Goat – Val Doonican

Pop Goes The Weasel – Anthony Newley

Puff The Magic Dragon – Peter Paul & Mary

Pushbike Song – The Mixtures

Que Sera Sera – Doris Day

Ragtime Cowboy Joe – The Chipmunks

Remember You’re A Womble – The Wombles

Right Said Fred – Bernard Cribbins

Robin Hood – Dick James

Runaway Train – Vernon Dalhart

Runaway Train – Michael Holliday

Rupert The Bear – Jackie Lee

Save Your Kisses For Me – Brotherhood Of Man

She Wears Red Feathers – Guy Mitchell

Simon Says – 1910 Fruitgum Company

Sparky’s Magic Piano - Alan Livingston and Billy May

Strawberry Fair – Anthony Newley

Sixteen Tons – Tennessee Ernie Ford

Stingray – Barry Gray Orchestra

Sun Arise – Rolf Harris

Sugar Sugar – Archies

Sugartime – Alma Cogan

Supercar – Mike Sammes Singers

Teddy Bear’s Picnic – Henry Hall

Thank U Very Much – The Scaffold

That Noise – Anthony Newley

They’re Coming To Take Me Away Ha-Ha! – Napoleon X1V

Three Wheels On My Wagon – New Christy Minstrels

Thumbelina – Danny Kaye

Thunderbirds March – Barry Gray Orchestra

Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ol’ Oak Tree - Dawn

Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport – Rolf Harris

Tip Toe Thru The Tulips – Tiny Tim

Tubby The Tuby – Danny Kaye

Two Little Boys – Rolf Harris

Ugly Bug Ball – Burl Ives

Ugly Duckling – Danny Kaye

Ugly Duckling – Mike Reid

When I See An Elephant Fly – Clive Peterson

When You Come To The End Of A Lollipop – Max Bygraves

Where’s Me Shirt? – Ken Dodd

White Horses – Jackie Lee

Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf – Henry Hall

Windmill In Old Amsterdam – Ronnie Hilton

Wombling Song – The Wombles

Woody Woodpecker – Mel Blanc

World Is A Circle – Lost Horizon Soundtrack

Yellow River – Christie

Ying Tong Song – The Goons

You Need Feet – Bernard Bresslaw

You Need Hands – Max Bygraves

Young Girl – Gary Puckett & The Union Gap

You’re A Pink Toothbrush – Max Bygraves

Y Viva Espana – Sylvia Vrethammer

Acknowledgements:

this page first published 24 June 2006
last updated 24 June 2006

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