Category: Northern Ireland
Date: 01.12.2005
Printable version
91Èȱ¬ Radio Ulster and 91Èȱ¬ Radio Foyle presenter Gerry Anderson received the ultimate accolade for his services to broadcasting today when he was inducted into the UK Radio Hall of Fame.
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Attending the prestigious Radio Academy Patrons' Lunch ceremony at the Savoy Hotel, London, Sony Award-winner Gerry Anderson became the first broadcaster from Northern Ireland to be inducted into the UK Radio Hall of Fame.
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In its four year history, other inductees have included Tony Hancock, Kenny Everett, John Humphrys and John Peel.
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Gerry Anderson said: "I think the most significant thing about it is that, as far as I'm aware, I'm the only person from Northern Ireland to have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, which is quite an honour. Other than that I've no idea why I've been chosen.
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"I hope they know that I'm not the Gerry Anderson who created The Thunderbirds. It wouldn't be the first time that has happened."
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The hall of fame was instituted four years ago and honours and celebrates a combination of past broadcasters and those who continue to enliven the airwaves and engage and entrance the imagination of listeners.
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It is managed by the Radio Academy on behalf of the radio industry throughout the UK.
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Nominations are encouraged from all Academy members and from the wider listening public. Selection is made by a sub-committee of the Radio Academy Trustees and endorsed by all the trustees.
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John Bradford, Director of the Radio Academy, said: "The Radio Academy recognises the crucial importance of locally centred broadcasting.
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"It is delighted that this year the trustees have selected a candidate with a reputation that, while stretching far beyond the confines of Northern Ireland, it is here that he honed his broadcasting skills and here that he continues to entertain his listeners on a regular basis."
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Susan Lovell, Managing Editor of Radio Ulster, said: "Gerry brings a touch of genius to the beautiful game that is mid-morning radio. He is a once in a lifetime broadcaster and we are proud and delighted that his talent has been recognised in this way."
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Anna Carragher, Controller, 91Èȱ¬ Northern Ireland, said: "Gerald Michael Anderson, as he often introduces himself to listeners, really is a broadcasting phenomenon; listeners to Radio 4 and Radio 2 know him for brilliantly incisive - and often excoriating - talks, for clever and insightful feature making, for eclectic and encyclopaedic knowledge of musical highways and byways.
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"In Northern Ireland, especially in his native Derry/ Londonderry which he has single-handedly renamed Stroke City, we know him also for his wit, his unique ability to deflate pomposity and to draw listeners into the parallel universe that is Anderson World.
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"I'm delighted at the trustees' choice of Gerry as an entrant into the Radio Academy Hall of Fame."
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Gerry Anderson started his broadcasting career at Radio Foyle in 1984 and soon went on to present on Radio Ulster.
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He has been presenting on both Radio Ulster and Radio Foyle ever since - with the exception of spending a year at 91Èȱ¬ Radio 4 - and can be heard from 10.30am to noon every Monday to Friday delighting listeners with his eponymous mid-morning programme which he presents alongside his 'side-kick' Sean Coyle.
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Notes to Editors
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Other inductees this year were:
Douglas Adams,
Paul Gambaccini,
Henry Hall,
Derek McCullough,
Ray Moore,
Norman Painting,
Johnnie Walker,
David Rodigan and
Tommy Vance.
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