Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
DAVID ATTENBOROUGH turned down the late broadcaster Terry Wogan for a job in the BBC over 50 years ago, according to newly uncovered letters.
The letters, published in the Radio Times, reveal how in 1965 a then 27-year-old Wogan wrote a letter asking for a job in the BBC, only to be rejected by the Controller of Programmes – David Attenborough.
Wogan, who was working as a senior announcer with Radió Éireann (RTÉ) at the time, dated the letter 16 August 1965. He said in it that he wanted to “extend the sphere of my television activities.”
“At 27, I am Senior Announcer with, among other duties, responsibility for programme production and presentation, and announcer training,” Wogan wrote, before listing his full radio and television experience.
He then ends the letter with a plea, asking to be considered for a job in spite of the fact that he was relatively unknown in England at the time.
While fully realising that since you are familiar with neither my name nor my work, the above litany can carry very little weight, I am hopeful that you are receptive enough of new ideas and personalities to give me the opportunity of substantiating these claims.
Rejected
In spite of the charming tone of the letter, however, it would appear that Attenborough wasn’t impressed enough to give Wogan the job he wanted.
In a response letter dated 19 August 1965, Attenborough – now famous as a presenter of nature documentaries – said that there was no room at that moment for a man of Wogan’s “particular talents and experience”.
-and as one of our chief announcers on BBC-2 is also from Dublin, we would feel, other things being equal, that we should look for someone from a different part of the country, if we were to make an additional appointment.
Attenborough was referring to the chief announcer of BBC 2 at the time – Denis Tuohy – who was from Dublin.
Not to shoot-down poor Wogan completely, Attenborough said that he would “pass on your letter to the Head of Presentation and if a suitable vacancy should occur he will get in touch with you directly”.
When approached Radio Times got in touch with Attenborough about the letters, he said that he didn’t remember the letter at all.
“Good Lord! He wrote asking me for work? I don’t remember this at all.”
The BBC reports that Attenborough stood by his decision, however.
“I think it was a perfectly reasonable answer. To have had two Irishmen presenting on BBC Two would have looked ridiculous,” he said.
This is no comment whatsoever on Terry Wogan’s talents. It’s just that I couldn’t have had two Irish presenters.
All’s well that ends well
For anyone thinking that Wogan’s career ended there – don’t worry! He was offered a job in 1966 presenting Midday Spin on the BBC Light Programme, before going on to front the massively successful BBC Radio 2 breakfast show.
He had a lengthy and illustrious career at the BBC that spanned five decades. Wogan passed away on Sunday 29 January at the age of 77 after a short battle with cancer.
We can only speculate on what the legendary broadcaster’s career would have been like if Attenborough had taken him on.
… but will the banks pass on the rate cut?
Yes they will. They must increase the rate first for a few weeks before the cut kicks in reducing the rate to the same level it was last month. Only difference is banks get to borrow cheaper money.
Have not our banks already announced an increase?
so far AIB has , not sure about the rest of them
Watch ebs and their mates will bang up their rates again once this happens, absolutely sickening
What’s a tracker mortgage!
I don’t understand APR
A rate cut will hit tracker mortgages pushing them further below cost which our banks will have to compensate for with more current account fees, higher variable rate mortgages and will further increase the time until the taxpayer sees any bailout money… It’s giving with one hand and taking away with the other at this point.
But doesn’t it mean the rate is lowered for our banks paying back loans to the ECB? Maybe I’m wrong on this….
That was my understanding, although happy to be corrected.
Funny that got my letter today from ebs saying rate has gone from 4.33 to 4.58 . This country can go and f€€k itself .
Here’s a novel idea; the ECB should keep printing money; but rather than using it to shore up structural problems ( which doesn’t cause inflation ), they should print enough to maintain a EZ inflation rate of just over 2%. Inflation is too low in the EZ, it is hampering consumer spending and the probability of growth, and isn’t regulating inflation to stay at the most beneficial level one of the main functions of a Central Bank?
Inflation is TOO LOW???
You have to be kidding me. You must only care about the bankers and elite, not the poor and middle class.
Disgusting
Stop reading those Keynesian/Neoliberal econ books.
@ Michael – get away from the “me too”-ism and look at the bigger picture.
In times of very low inflation, there are very few incentives to spend your money, and a load of incentives to hoard your money. Normally, in times of low inflation, it makes far more sense to buy on credit rather than with cash.
Currently, however, there is a very understandable aversion to credit, both from people who would normally seek credit, and, more importantly, from those who supply credit.
So, low inflation + lack of credit sources = economic stagnation.
A higher level of inflation ( not a high level, but higher than the disastrously low level we have no ) would have the dual effect of getting money moving and reducing the weight of the debt.
High inflation will benefit debt-laden countries.
Absolutely none of the above has to do with Keynes, so I’ve no idea where you pulled that out of ( although I could be crude and suggest from where you pulled it ).
Low inflation is good for some ie people on fixed incomes, reduced pensions, reduced social welfare, those who have lost on bank shares and property. High inflation is good for the retail trade etc. Lets. keep inflation under control for the sake of those less fortunate with limited resources because they will suffer the most in times of high inflation. There has to be another solution to the problems being experienced by the retail trade which will be solved by growth and rising employment levels.
No inflation? Ok, let’s keep trying our current deflation approach. See you in a few million years when you’ve got that sorted.
@ Maurice – to be fair, we’re not talking about having high inflation. Two per cent is not high. While inflation would damage many people’s finances in one respect, I do believe a lot of the damage would be offset by the benefits in he mid-term.
As it is, we’ve seen a rise in the cost of living at the same time as the rate of inflation has been dropping, so, in this case, cost of living and inflation are not directly in proportion to each other.
Low inflation is a kiss of death for growth, and growth, including the jobs that go with it, what we desperately need.
Much as it makes me squeamish to agree with Censored, he’s on the money with his comment.
@ Censored – don’t worry, I won’t be making a habit of it :-)
So the answer to my original question is yes. I’ll use isms in context like I always have.
I don’t need to hear regurgitated rubbish from Krugman anymore please.
Tell me why deflation is a bad thing? Because it strengthens the value of money? Because it gives people induced incomes a chance? Why must we always crush the poorer amongst us?
You’ll come back at me with some academic answer, but the truth is that you logic is what is getting us deeper into this mess. 2007 is going to happen again soon
@ Michael – you’re a bit of a strange bird. You name-drop academic economists when it’s irrelevant, and then dismiss “academic”replies. Seems to be a low self-esteem issue going on.
I wrote above why I think low inflation is dangerous and a higher rate of inflation would be beneficial. You’re asking for an answer, but you don’t ask a question, so my original comments still stand.
Chucking insults and being snotty does not a convincing economic argument make. Maybe actually read up a little on the economists and economic movements you name drop?
Already have mortgage going up 40 euro a month from June
should legislate on a max difference between variable /tracker…at the moment people are paying up to 4or 5 points over.2 should be about fair..
what ya think.
When did the cost of living steadily decline? I must have missed that **RAGE**
have your say