Dave Lee Travis

Born in Buxton, Derbyshire, on 25 May 1945, Dave Lee Travis (born David Patrick Griffin) began his career spinning discs at the Oasis Club in Manchester on a part-time basis.

Proving extremely popular, DLT went on an extensive tour of clubs, ballrooms and theatres, presenting and promoting his own shows with the aid of his specially built stereophonic record-player system.

He was asked by Peter “Herman” Noone to accompany The Hermits on their American tour. This led to radio and TV broadcasts in many states, and on his return to Britain, he continued to promote his own shows in Blackpool, Bury and surrounding areas.

DLT joined Radio Caroline in September 1965 and broadcast from the Southern ship. He was on board when the ship ran aground during gales.

He also co-presented the German music television show Beat Club.

From Caroline, he returned to Manchester and began his Radio 1 career by presenting Pop North, gradually expanding his experience until the advent of his first daily show in 1971. He made many appearances on Top Of The Pops, and in 1976, he teamed up with fellow DJ Paul Burnett and – under the name Laurie Lingo and the Dipsticks – released a record called Convoy GB, which was a big hit on the Radio 1 Fun Thirty.

On 8 August 1993, Travis – known as “The Hairy Cornflake” – resigned on air during his Sunday morning show, stating that he could not agree with the changes being made to Radio 1.

In October 2013, Travis was charged with 14 allegations of indecent assault and one of sexual assault between 1976 and 2008, relating to 11 female complainants. He was found not guilty on twelve counts, and the jury failed to reach a verdict on the remaining two counts.

In 2014, Travis faced another charge and was found guilty of indecently assaulting a female researcher working on The Mrs Merton Show in 1995. He was sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for two years.

Dave Lee Travis returned to radio in 2018.