On what makes radio broadcasting special…
It’s the anonymity, the ability to just be one part of yourself and communicate only in one way with someone who’s just listening to you, it’s a very direct communication. That’s the thing that appeals most.
On the secret to his popularity…
If I knew that, I would’ve done it a lot earlier than this. I don’t think you can ever analyse why something is popular. It becomes popular without you noticing or trying, and the more you try the less it will happen. A good relationship between broadcaster and listener is just something that grows and develops naturally.
On what he finds most difficult…
Getting up in the morning. Once I’m up and heading to work I’m fine. I’m on air at 9.30, finish at 10 and I’ve often said I feel better at the end of a programme than I did at the beginning. I’m sorry that it’s finished.
On how he’ll end the show…
It’ll just be a quick goodbye, I will not be tugging at heartstrings, mainly because I don’t want to tug at my own. I’ll just be saying that’s the end of this particular era of my life, but there’ll be a continuation. I love daily broadcasting, it’s what I’ve done for years and years. I’ve been on BBC radio five days a week since 1977 so it’s going to be different, it’s going to change me a bit but I still want to be on the air every day.
On whether he’ll be emotional…
No, I’ll be looking at the clock thinking get out on time…maybe a touch, but I’m a hard bitten old Scot.
On whether he knows what he’ll say…
I don’t, it will come to me at the time, I might jot a note or two but I don’t like to write anything in sentences I just like to write a couple of ideas and I’ll say what comes to mind in the moment.
On if he knows what his last song will be…
I do now but I’m not going to reveal that until the last moment.
On his departure…
It’s entirely within the BBC’s right to ask me to step away a little early. Gardening leave is a known concept in broadcasting and many other areas but for the sake of 17 days which was all that was remaining it seems a shame but you just adapt your timetable. Instead of three weeks, it’s one week, that’s been fine. My belief is when I’m given a contract I work to it and complete it. Over the last 46 years I haven’t had very much time off ever, I’ve attempted to turn up whenever I’m required to turn up so my natural feeling as a broadcaster is if I’ve got 17 days to do, I want to do them.
On his best moment…
Talking to you, Gary. I can die happy now. I can’t actually pick out a moment. I’ve loved everything I love every day, just a normal day. Meeting special people, someone like James Taylor or Carole King when they came into the studio. These were more nerve-wracking than everything so I didn’t enjoy them in the moment because I was thinking I must get this right and not say something stupid to James Taylor, for goodness sake. Nut I love just doing a normal daily programme, trying to make myself laugh and other people.