Icons: Radio 2 Presenter Picks
For National Album Day Emma Willis invites over 20 Radio 2 presenters to share which music icons have inspired them. Hear from Sara Cox, Elaine Paige, Trevor Nelson and more.
To mark the theme ‘Icons’ for National Album Day, Emma celebrates the definitive artists and songs that have shaped popular music and truly stood the test of time. Joined by more than 20 of the Radio 2 line up, she’ll discover which icons have moved Radio 2 presenters from Sara Cox to Elaine Paige to Vernon Kay. It’s a diverse soundtrack as icons come from any era, any country and any genre.
Hear how Paul Gambaccini interviewed his icon Elton John on several occasions and now proudly calls him a friend. Find out how Jo Whiley felt interviewing her idol Robert Smith from The Cure when he did an ‘In Concert’ performance for Radio 2.
Legends like Elvis Presley, Madonna and Paul McCartney all make the list but we’ll also hear how Mark Radcliffe discovered Karen Carpenter’s music in the back of his parents' car and how he now thinks of her as a ‘siren of pop perfection’. Plus, Trevor Nelson describes how Nina Simone’s song ‘I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free’ can speak to and for us all.
It’s an iconic personal musical journey we can all share, with Emma as our guide.
On radio
Broadcast
- Sat 17 Oct 202613:00BBC Radio 2
