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The Queen re-opens 91Èȱ¬ Broadcasting House
Her Majesty The
Queen today visited
91Èȱ¬ Broadcasting House to mark the 80th anniversary of the granting
of the Corporation's
Royal Charter.
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The Queen officially re-opened the original Broadcasting
House in Portland Place, which had recently been refurbished as
a part of a redevelopment of the site.
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The Queen was met by the Director-General of the 91Èȱ¬ Mark
Thompson and was introduced to the following 91Èȱ¬ Radio breakfast presenters:
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- Radio 1 - Chris
Moyles
- Radio 2 - Sir
Terry Wogan KBE
- Radio 3 - Penny
Gore
- Radio 4 - John
Humphrys and James Naughtie
- Five Live - Nicky
Campbell and Shelagh Fogarty
- 1Xtra - Jason and Iyare
- Asian Network - Sonia
Deol
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At a reception held in the Council Chamber, The Queen
also met Chris Evans, Sir Clement Freud, Richard
Briers CBE, David Jacobs CBE, Paul
Merton, Nicholas Parsons OBE, Prunella
Scales CBE, June Whitfield CBE and Timothy West
CBE.
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After meeting The Queen, Radio 2's Terry Wogan said: "She was
a 'Togg' which I'm very proud of. She was probably trying
to butter me up.
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"We had a good chat but John Humphrys kept interrupting
as usual. She asked me how long I'd actually been at the 91Èȱ¬;
I said I'd never worked there, but then admitted I've been here
for 40 years.
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"I actually met her three times today - I met her
in the line-up in reception and then I met her in the council chamber
with Sir Timothy West, and then I was shoved into a crowd of
Radio 4 people in a line-up, and I told her that I thought she could
have too much of a good thing - and I think she agreed!"
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Radio 1 DJ, Chris Moyles, said: "I
had such a weird morning - we had Take That singing live on the
programme this morning. I then met The Queen - what am I going to
do tonight? Maybe I'll go skydiving or take Wogan out for a drink."
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Jason Mitchell, from Radio 1Xtra,
said: "She has soft and squidgy hands. My mum's brought me up well
so it was nice.
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"We
had a 30 second chat and I couldn't believe it when she said, 'You
two are the new ones, aren't you?'
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"I couldn't believe she was
so up on her stuff - and it proved she knows what is going on in the
91Èȱ¬ and the digital radio."
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Sonia Deol, from 91Èȱ¬ Asian Network, said: "I asked
The Queen what she wanted for her birthday. She said 'Ooh, I don't
really think I want anything, just a sunshiney day tomorrow'.
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"I was
hoping she might say an iPod but she just wants a sunny day!
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"I was standing next to Chris Moyles in the line-up
and we both remember The Queen laughing at a joke Chris had made
although he couldn't remember what he had actually said.
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"However,
my favourite moment was whilst I was standing next to Jo Whiley
and Chris Evans in the reception in the Council Chamber.
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"As she
was about to leave the room, Chris Evans got her attention
and said 'Your majesty, what do you think is the vital ingredient
of a good radio show?' and she said 'I don't actually listen to radio
that much but I do listen whilst I'm busy doing other things'!
That told us!
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"It was a day that we will never forget."
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About meeting The Queen at Broadcasting House, Timothy
West commented: "Two
great British institutions - and it was great that they were brought
together today."
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June
Whitfield said:
"I admire her so much. All week and all day
she's been on her feet meeting and greeting. I just hope she has some
time to relax on her birthday.Ìý
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"It's
always a
privilege. I'm full of admiration."
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91Èȱ¬ Press Office
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