The Radio Luxembourg Story

Travel on an epic journey through the history of Radio Luxembourg - the ‘Great 208’. Nathan Morley traces the origins of Luxembourg, celebrating the early pioneering spirit and unearthing long forgotten characters and programmes. Featuring exclusive contributions from stars of the golden age of music and broadcasting, including Vera Lynn, Pete Murray, Teddy Johnson, Gerry Marsden, Desmond Carrington, David Jacobs, David Gell, Ray Orchard, Alan Freeman, David Attenbrough, Don Wardell, Shaw Taylor, Arthur Brown, David Hamilton and many others. The book looks at the brutal war-years and the transformation of the channel into a Nazi propaganda station, then as a US psychological warfare channel. It provides an insight into key events, personalities, programmes, internal problems and its magnificent successes. The Cold War years are recalled by songstress Connie Francis, who became a popular entertainer on the channel, which was banned in the Eastern block and USSR, but attracted over 35 million listeners. In one of his last interviews before his death and subsequent exposure as one of Britain’s most prolific sex offenders, Jimmy Savile spoke to the author about his Radio Luxembourg career, the station that had made him a legend; as he cascaded to fame as a purveyor of pop, spouting nonsensical catchphrases and innuendo. Faced with a hostile BBC and the pop pirates, Radio Luxembourg managed to survive the 60s and 70s. Personal memories are shared by Noel Edmonds, Paul Burnett, Kid Jenson, Roger Day, Benny Brown, David Symonds, Colin Nichol, Timmy Mallett, Tony Blewitt, Alton Andrews and Emperor Rosko, who all give their take on the era, in addition to contributions from pop stars including David Soul and Dave Berry, and former Controllers Alan Keen and Ken Evans. Read more