Alan Freeman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alan Freeman MBE
Born	Alan Leslie Freeman 6 July 1927 Melbourne, Australia
Died	27 November 2006(2006-11-27) (aged 79) Brinsworth House, London, England
Years active	1952–2000
Career
Station(s)	Radio Luxembourg BBC Light Programme (1960–1967) BBC Radio 1 (1972–1978, 1989–1993) Capital Radio (1979–1989, 1994–1997) BBC Radio 2 (1997–2000)
Country	United Kingdom Australia
Previous show(s)	Pick of the Pops The Rock Show Their Greatest Bits

Alan Leslie Freeman, also known as "Fluff", was a famous Australian-born British disc jockey and radio personality. He worked in the United Kingdom for 40 years. He was best known for hosting the popular radio show Pick of the Pops from 1961 to 2000. Alan Freeman was born on 6 July 1927 and passed away on 27 November 2006. He was awarded the MBE for his services to broadcasting.

Early Life and First Steps

Alan Freeman was born and grew up in Melbourne, Australia. After finishing school, he worked as an assistant accountant for a large timber company. He once dreamed of becoming an opera singer, but he felt his voice was not strong enough.

A Career in Radio

Starting in Australia

In 1952, Alan was asked to try out as a radio announcer. He began working for 7LA in Tasmania, which was known as a station for teenagers. His jobs included being a continuity announcer, playing music like opera and classical tunes, being a DJ for the top 100 songs, reading the news, hosting quizzes, and reading commercials.

In 1957, he moved to another radio station, 3KZ, in Melbourne. He then took a nine-month trip around the world. He arrived in London and decided to stay, even though he had promised to return to his old job.

Moving to the UK

Alan Freeman started his career in Britain as a summer DJ on Radio Luxembourg. He continued to host late-night shows there until the early 1970s. He got his famous nickname "Fluff" because he often wore a fluffy jumper.

In 1960, he joined the BBC Light Programme. He hosted the Records Around Five show. His signature tune, "At the Sign of the Swingin' Cymbal", became very well known. In September 1961, he started hosting Pick of the Pops. This show became very popular and Alan presented it until 1972.

TV and More Radio Shows

During this time, Alan was also one of the first presenters for BBC TV's Top of the Pops. He was also a regular guest on the Juke Box Jury TV show. In 1968, he had his own music TV show called All Systems Freeman.

In April 1972, Alan joined BBC Radio 1. He took over the 3–5 pm show. He used "Soul Bossa Nova" by Quincy Jones as his new theme song. He also hosted The Rock Show on Saturday afternoons. This show was known for playing a wide variety of music, especially heavy and progressive rock. It also shared the current album chart. This show ran until 1978.

From 1975 to 1977, Alan presented a musical game show on BBC Radio 2 called Free Spin. He also lent his name to several rock and classical music collections, like By Invitation Only in 1976.

Return to Radio 1 and Capital Radio

Alan left the BBC to work for Capital Radio from 1979 to 1989. He brought back Pick of the Pops (sometimes called Pick of the Pops Take Two). He also revived The Rock Show in 1980. He returned to the BBC and Radio 1 in 1989 to host The Rock Show and Pick of the Pops again. This run of Pick of the Pops ended in 1992, and The Rock Show finished in 1993.

In 1987, he was the subject of the TV show This Is Your Life. He also appeared as a guest on the TV series You Bet! in 1990.

In the mid-1990s, he hosted shows on Capital Gold, Virgin Radio, and Classic FM.

Final Years in Radio

He returned to the BBC on Radio 2 in 1997, bringing Pick of the Pops back to its original home. He continued to host it until 2000. He also had a show called Their Greatest Bits, which showed his love for classical music and opera.

Throughout his career, Alan was famous for his unique jingles. These often mixed short pieces of classical music with hard rock. He also had many well-known catchphrases, like:

• "Hi there, pop pickers!" (at the start of Pick of the Pops)
• "Greetings, music lovers!" (for his classical and rock shows)
• "All right? Right, stay bright!" (when signing off)
• "Not 'arf!" (often said during his shows)

In April 2000, Alan had to stop hosting Pick of the Pops. This was because arthritis in his hands made it too hard for him to use the studio equipment. Dale Winton took over the show.

Acting Roles

Alan Freeman also had some acting roles. He appeared in the horror film Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965) and the rock musical Absolute Beginners (1986). He often played himself or a similar character in films like It's Trad, Dad! (1962) and Just for Fun (1963). He even played God in two episodes of the TV show The Young Ones in 1984. He also appeared in TV advertisements.

How He Was Remembered

Alan Freeman's unique style was sometimes made fun of by comedians, like Harry Enfield's character Dave Nice. However, Alan was a good sport and even appeared on Enfield's show. Many fellow broadcasters respected him greatly. John Peel, another famous DJ, once said that Alan Freeman was "the greatest out-and-out disc jockey of them all."

After Alan's death, Robin Gibb wrote a song called "Alan Freeman Days" as a tribute. The band Black Sabbath also dedicated an instrumental song called "Fluff" to him on their album Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. This was because Alan was one of the few radio hosts who would play their music on air.

Awards and Honors

In 1998, Alan Freeman was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his contributions to broadcasting. In May 2000, he received a Lifetime Achievement award at the Sony Radio Academy Awards. He was also part of the Grand Order of Water Rats, a show business charity, and was even elected "King Rat" in 1986.

Later Life and Passing

From the early 1990s, Alan Freeman suffered from arthritis and asthma. He used a Zimmer frame to help him walk. From 2000 until his death, he lived at Brinsworth House. This is a retirement home in London for actors and performers.

Alan Freeman passed away on 27 November 2006, at the age of 79, after a short illness. His funeral was attended by many famous singers and DJs who had worked with him.

Filmography