Brian Matthew facts for kids

Brian Matthew (born September 17, 1928 – died April 8, 2017) was a famous English radio and TV host. He worked for the BBC for 63 years, from 1954 until 2017!

He was known for hosting popular shows like Saturday Club and Sounds of the 60s. Brian Matthew had a calm and clear way of speaking that many people loved. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 88.

Early Life

Brian Matthew was born in Coventry, England, on September 17, 1928. His parents were very musical. His dad led the Coventry Silver Band, and his mom was a professional singer. Brian went to Bablake School in Coventry.

Brian Matthew's Broadcasting Career

Brian Matthew started broadcasting in Germany in 1948. He trained to be an actor at RADA. In 1954, he joined the BBC.

Early Radio Shows

On the BBC Light Programme, Brian introduced many shows. These included Take It From Here and Saturday Club. Saturday Club started in 1957 as Saturday Skiffle Club. It changed its name in 1958.

He also hosted Easy Beat, which began in 1960. Brian also had a regular show on Radio Luxembourg in the 1960s. At that time, there wasn't much pop music on BBC Radio. So, these shows were very popular with young people.

Many famous bands appeared on his shows. These included the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Cream, and the Who. You can hear Brian Matthew's voice on some of the Beatles' live albums.

Television Work

On television, Brian Matthew hosted Thank Your Lucky Stars. This show was on ITV from 1961 to 1966.

Changes in Radio

After 1964, Easy Beat became less popular. This was because of new "offshore radio" stations. In 1967, the BBC launched new radio stations like BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2. Easy Beat was then stopped.

Saturday Club was taken over by another host, Keith Skues. It was eventually stopped in 1969. In 2008, Brian celebrated 50 years of Saturday Club. He did this on a special Sounds of the 60s show. He played old recordings and shared memories.

In 1972, Brian narrated The Beatles Story. This was a 12-part documentary series on BBC Radio 1 and 2.

Later Radio Shows

In 1973, Brian Matthew hosted a new show called My Top 12. It was on Radio 1. Later, other hosts like Bob Harris and Noel Edmonds presented it.

From 1978 to 1990, Brian hosted Round Midnight on BBC Radio 2. This was a show about arts. In 1990, he started hosting Sounds of the 60s on Radio 2. He played many of the same records he played on his earlier shows.

Health and Awards

In 2006, Brian took a break from Sounds of the 60s due to health issues. Johnnie Walker and other guest hosts filled in for him. Brian returned to the show in 2007.

In 2008, Brian won a Sony Gold Award. This award celebrated his amazing career of over 50 years in radio. In 2016, he became the oldest regular broadcaster on BBC Radio.

Leaving Sounds of the 60s

In late 2016, Brian had a fall at home and was in the hospital. In January 2017, the BBC announced he would not return to the show. Brian disagreed with this decision. He said he was ready and able to go back.

His last show was on February 25, 2017. It was a collection of his favorite songs and moments. A week later, Sounds Of The 60s became a live show. It was then hosted by Tony Blackburn.

Personal Life and Death

Brian and Pamela Matthew in Chelsfield Players' production of Charley's Aunt, March 1962

In 1951, Brian Matthew married Pamela Wickington. They had one child, a son named Christopher, born in 1954. Brian and Pamela enjoyed amateur theatre. They were active members of the Chelsfield Players in Kent. Brian even built a theatre in his home and started his own drama group.

Brian Matthew died in London on April 8, 2017. He passed away from pneumonia. A few days before his death, the BBC mistakenly reported he had died. They later corrected it, saying he was critically ill. He is survived by his wife and son.