Tony Blackburn addresses Radio 2 future and thing he 'hates'

Tony Blackburn on his future career plans
-Credit: (Image: BANG Showbiz)


Tony Blackburn discussed his future career plans and said he hates "the idea of retirement". The radio legend, 81, and original king of the jungle on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! said he has no desire to hang up his microphone but doesn't want to become an embarassment.

The DJ said he does not want to step back from broadcasting adding: "No, I hate the idea of retirement. I said to my wife and to the head of Radio 2, I won't be an embarrassment to you. If I can't do it as well as - hopefully! - I'm doing it at the moment, I'll pack it in. I'm doing it now because I want to, not because I have to. And Sounds of the 60s is Radio 2's number one show on [BBC] Sounds."

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Tony said fans will not be seeing him on Strictly Come Dancing any time in the near future "because I'm no good at dancing". Chatting to Metro's 60 Seconds column he said: "My wife was an actress and a dancer and she tried to teach me and gave up. She said, 'You've got no rhythm in your body'."

Tony added: "I have rhythm but it doesn't seem to go into the rest of my body. I can give no hip action. And they've never asked." As for his own fitness and youthful looks, Tony attributes it to good fortune more than an active lifestyle, saying: "Am I? I don't think so. Just lucky. My dad, who was a doctor, said don't do too much exercise because it's bad for you."

DJ Tony Blackburn won the first series of I'm a Celebrity
DJ Tony Blackburn won the first series of I'm a Celebrity -Credit:Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

Though he favours relaxation and television over intense workouts, Tony said: "I do quite a lot of walking but I'd rather sit down in front of Coronation Street with a nice cup of tea." And reminiscing fondly about his early days on Radio 1 and Top of the Pops when "DJs were built up like pop stars" and were "mobbed" wherever they went he added: "I loved being mobbed. I haven't had a good mobbing for years."