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Bryan Adams: Radio 2 - A Birthday Portrait

As part of Radio 2's 50th birthday celebrations, Bryan Adams (yes the Bryan Adams) has shot a collection of photos of our presenters for his latest photography project. As he toured the world with his music, spare time behind the scenes led him to take pics of what really goes on when rock stars are on the road.

He later began shooting his own album covers and even shot Hillary Clinton for a Calvin Klein collection in the early 00's.

Our beloved Radio 2 stars loved the experience of working with such a prolific star and artist, and here we discover what happened on the shoot itself! All quotes are taken from the documentary .

"This is quite special - because Bryan is doing it," says Chris Evans, who jokes that he needs "more of a magician than a hairdresser" for photoshoots.

"His connection with Radio 2, his connection with rock and roll - it is the perfect fit."

"Sometimes I think it's dangerous to see photographs of people on the radio," says Clare Balding, after being shot for Radio 2's 50th anniversary by Bryan.

"I remember when I was young seeing photos of voices I’d heard for ages and them not looking how I’d imagine them to.

"I came wearing casual clothes but brought a whole load of things in a bag but they wanted me in the shirt I'd been walking the dog in this morning.

"I like the fact the photo will be very me."

In fact, Trevor Nelson believes the only reason all the biggest names for Radio 2 gathered together in one place for this iconic shoot was because they would be in the presence of one of the world's most iconic rock stars.

"If it was just a regular photographer, I suppose half of these guys would be late - probably say 'I can't make it that day,'" he says.

"But it's Bryan Adams and he's a musician and that's just what our station's about."

And the star-struck presenters of Radio 2 will be pleased to know that Bryan Adams was equally thrilled to work with them as they were with him.

"It's kind of like the who's who of British radio," says Bryan.

"One of the nice things about working in photography is that you get to meet an extraordinary cast of people.

"I love the art of it and I love creating something from nothing - which is something musicians do as well."

Radio 2 was launched on the 30 September in 1967 and has evolved from one of the 91热爆's earliest stations to one of the biggest in Europe. And some of the longer-running on-air voices have been with the station as the evolution of the media has changed everything about broadcasting.

"When I started doing DJ programmes on Radio 2 you had a box of records and a bunch of postcards wrapped up with an elastic band - and that was the extent of listener participation," recalls Ken Bruce.

"If you said anything on the radio, it would take at least four days until the response came back from the public."

But social media and the various wonders of internet access aren't a blessing for everyone, are they Alan Carr?

"A lot of the time it's what we say off air that makes us giggle," he says about his shows with co-host Melanie Sykes.

"There's a webcam in there now and it's the bane of my life because I just like turning up in Ugg boots and a slanket and now you've got to dress up because people are like: 'Look at his disgusting jumper.'"

Radio 2 listeners love to get involved - whether it's commenting on Alan's outfits or inundating Claudia Winkleman with recipes.

"What blows my mind about the Sunday night show is the amount of feedback we get," she says.

"As a casual aside, I said I wasn't quite sure how to make flapjacks and I’m still receiving thousands of recommendations."

The Radio 2 audience know how to bake, but more importantly they know what they want from us.

"They want to know what's going on, they want to be kept abreast of current affairs and they want to listen to the news," says Vanessa Feltz.

"But they also want some kind of recreation, some kind of beautiful music, some kind of light-heartedness which to replenish themselves and to find some kind of refuge."

Jeremy Vine, who has hosted Radio 2's lunchtime show since 2003, says he's seen the role of the audience change greatly during his time with the station.

"My job is to listen to their lives, not the other way around," he says.

"So the news is what they tell me, not what I tell them.

"That is the model for journalism now, we say 'this is what we think is going on but you tell us what's really going on.'"

But for others, the experience is far more informal.

"It's really just me sitting there talking to myself actually," says Elaine Paige.

"I try and imagine there's someone sitting across a kitchen table."

Bryan Adams' photos are part of a series of 50th birthday celebrations for Radio 2 and no one is more thrilled about making this milestone than the voices on air.

"Radio still thrives. I'm filled with joy when I say that to you," says Jeremy Vine.

"There's always a place for Radio 2." says Craig Charles.

"When you get to Radio 2 the haircuts are a bit calmer and there aren't as many good trainers," says Sara Cox, who first made her name on Radio 1.

"However, there's a real breadth of knowledge."

But despite the lack of 'good trainers' Radio 2 is undeniably a friendly and welcoming place for both its stars and listeners.

"It's the biggest radio station in Europe, but when you're there it doesn't feel like the biggest radio station in Europe," says Dermot O'Leary.

"It feels like a very compact family that is a national institution."

We say, Happy Birthday Radio 2! Here's to the next 50...