Jimmy Young

Jimmy was born in Cinderford and was originally a singer with a number of hit records to his credit in the mid-1950s, including Too Young, Unchained Melody and The Man From Laramie.

He was booked for a two-week stint presenting the radio show Housewives’ Choice in 1960, which proved to be a turning point in his career, and he began to develop as a DJ.

Young was one of Radio 1‘s original DJs when the station was born in 1967 and became a mainstay of the on-air team until he transferred to the rarified atmosphere of Radio 2 in 1973.

Like all popular broadcasters, he soon became the butt of comedians everywhere with distinctive catchphrases like “TTT” (“through ’til twelve”) and “Orft we jolly well go”.

As well as filling the nation’s ears with cheery chat and merry music, he also filled the stomachs of his “MMMMFs” (many millions of mid-morning friends) with an avalanche of recipes which spawned several JY cookery books.

His recipe slot, always introduced by the sing-song question ‘What’s the recipe today, Jim?’ asked by the chipmunk-voiced Raymondo, ceased in 1976 when the show changed direction to become more substantial.

Jimmy Young died on 7 November 2016, aged 95.