Profile: Dave Lee Travis, disc jockey
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.What's this about the Hairy Cornflake's fan club?
Dave Lee Travis, the former Radio 1 DJ, also nicknamed the 'hairy cornflake', presented the request programme A Jolly Good Show on the BBC World Service for 20 years until 2001.
It seems the show had an unlikely fan in the shape of Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. "It made my world much more complete", she admits to the Radio Times. Well, that's nice.
Wow. How flattering!
Travis modestly admits "I'm not surprised that Aung San Suu Kyi listened to my show but I'm touched she remembered it," while pointing out his show had the single biggest postbag of the entire World Service in most of its 20 years.
The DJ who began his Radio 1 career in 1968 and resigned on-air in 1993, in protest at controversial attempts to modernise the station with more youthful presenters, insists changes to the World Service have been "daft" and that we all need more fun.
So he's a music man through and through?
Quite. He has presented numerous radio shows, provided commentary for the Eurovision Contest and famously released that silly song 'Convoy GB'. He was also, alongside some of his 80s Radio 1 cohorts, the inspiration for Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse's parody DJ duo, Smashie and Nicie. He currently hosts The DLT Show on Saturdays and Sundays on the Magic Network, a group of eight radio stations across the north of England. It's not clear whether Aung San Suu Kyi is able to tune in.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments