91Èȱ¬

The DJ explains how a Radio 2 documentary on her career is really just the story of music

"People seem to like an anniversaries, don't they?" says Annie Nightingale, as if her 50 years in broadcasting is something for other people to celebrate. In fact, the record-breaking DJ (first female Radio 1 presenter, longest-serving Radio 1 presenter, longest career as a female presenter anywhere) is keen for a two-part Radio 2 documentary, On Air With Annie Nightingale (broadcast on July 15 and July 22), to be thought of as much more than a look back at her history on radio and TV.

Annie explains: "It's a way of telling the story of music - it's not me, me, me! I'm just the hook. What fascinates me is how music constantly changes, but, yes, my personal story is weaved through."

Here, with clips from the documentary, Annie talks us through the last 50 years...

I was in TV first - starting in 1965. The music that year was incredible: wall-to-wall good songs that have now become classics. Everyone got their act together in 65, 66 and 67 - those three years were unbelievable. I desperately wanted to be involved. If I could have played an instrument, I would have been in a band, but I couldn't, so I managed a band instead. I wanted to get them on Ready, Steady, Go!, which was the best music show on TV. I bumped into the editor, Vicki Wickham, tried to get my band on the show and Vicki said, "Actually, we're looking for a presenter for a new TV show, That’s For Me, would you be interested?"

I got to interview The Beatles many times and one thing we talk about [in the documentary] is Apple. In retrospect, it was ridiculous - it wasn't just a record label, it was an invitation for anyone creative to get involved, whether they were a sculptor, or a playwright, or filmmaker. They had this utopian dream that everybody could be like The Beatles. And, as you can imagine, it was complete chaos.

There weren't any other female presenters when I started - I had no role model. In fact, my role model was David Frost! He seemed to be having a terrific time doing a TV show. He had everything going for him - he was a journalist, but also had his comedy side. I liked that, and wanted to be a part of it. But you don’t set out to become the first female presenter on Radio 1 or The Old Grey Whistle Test - you just do what you think would be an interesting thing to do. Then you have to hang in there and ride out the times when you fall out of favour.

Marc was great - very bright, very funny, knew how to take the p*** out of himself. This interview is from my personal archive - from the days when you did interviews across the whole afternoon, getting drunk with the star. People would come in and out, and it was fun. Things weren’t managed like they are now and no one had media training. God, they do now - you have to break them down, and try and not hear just about when their tour starts. Sometimes it’s very hard to get beyond that.

Prog rock had become pomp rock. It took itself far too seriously - long guitar solos, ridiculous lyrics, big shows. The DIY culture of punk brought things back to earth. We were going through very difficult times - as we are now - meaning people weren't getting signed to record labels, so they had to make their own way. And that went for putting on gigs, wearing clothes and all the rest of it. People made themselves felt and got their voices heard. I thought it was great.

Acid house was brilliant! In the late 80s and early 90s, I recognised something special was going on - another youth revolution. Punks had been very nihilistic - they didn't want anyone to come to their party - whereas the acid house scene was more like, "Come and join in!" I remember thinking, "I’ve been around the block a few times, I’m not of your generation," but they [ravers] were having none of it. I was reborn through acid house and got really into dance groups like Basement Jaxx [above]. I think I was the first person to play them on Radio 1.

Karl [Hyde] from Underworld came in to do a new interview for the show [above], which was great. I knew Underworld from before they formed Underworld. They were in a band called Freur and I went on the road with them - as a touring DJ. I remember falling in a gap between stages at Loughborough University and banging my back on a fire extinguisher. Ended up in hospital. But then I was allowed to sit in the front of the van for the rest of the tour - instead of Karl! They’re great people who will forever mean so much to me.

It's easy - you can't be if you’re always interested in where music is going next. And I stay interested with both my journalistic head on and as a fan of music. Music is evolving all the time - especially in the UK. People do guest mixes for me and it's almost like I study them: "Ah! I see where you’re going with that!" Then three weeks later, someone else moves things on a bit further and that's what’s interesting. What's the point of music if it doesn't move forwards?

I never thought about it as being my thing. The first time I went was in 1990 and only because the Happy Mondays were playing. The next year I drove there - drove right into the middle of it and slept in my car. You wouldn't dream of doing that now! But it's still an open-minded crowd. I DJed this year and played a trap and bass set. I thought it wouldn't work, but it did. On the fringes, everything is still evolving and people are allowed to do their own thing. I haven't watched a headliner there for years.

I really like trap music, although people in the UK are a bit suspicious of it. It comes from hip hop and metal, which might put some people off, but that's what makes it interesting to me. It's also very joyous. Favourite recent mixtape? Flosstradamus [above] from the end of last year was a really good one. And of course I love grime. I don't think of what's going on now as a revival. Grime has always been going on and at last it's getting recognised. It's great British music - I'm incredibly proud of it.

I've had such a great time and I want other people to have a great time too. Enjoy your youth culture. People say to me, "You were so lucky you were around in the 90s," and I go, "Yes, but now is your time. If you want to make culture exciting, be a part of it. You have to go to that gig when it's raining and you've got no money to get home. Because if you don't help to make culture, you won't get anything back from it. Don’t wish! Do something! Like that Slaves song says: "Do something!" Everything's possible. The Beatles took over the world, and so can you.

• 91Èȱ¬ Radio 1 - Annie Nightingale
• 91Èȱ¬ Radio 2 - On Air With Annie Nightingale
• 91Èȱ¬ Newsnight with Annie Nightingale