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Pete Murray (DJ)

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Pete Murray (DJ)

Peter Murray James (born 19 September 1925), known professionally as Pete Murray, is a British radio and television presenter and actor. He is known for his career with the BBC, including stints on the Light Programme, Radio 1, Radio 2 and Radio 4. In the 1950s, Murray became one of Britain's first pop music television presenters, hosting the rock and roll programme Six-Five Special (1957–1958) and appearing as a regular panellist on Juke Box Jury (1959–1967) and a regular host on Top of the Pops (1964–1969). Murray was a recurring presence in the BBC's coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest. Murray retired in 2003, before he returned to broadcasting for a Boom Radio special on Boxing Day 2021, over 70 years after his career began. He returned to the station on Boxing Day 2022, presenting a two-hour show alongside his friend David Hamilton. Murray has influenced many other radio personalities. Presenter David Hamilton has credited him as an influence and disc jockey Kenny Everett was also influenced by Murray's "ad-libbing style and warmth".

Infobox

Born
Peter Murray James (1925-09-19) 19 September 1925 (age 100)Hackney, London, England
Occupation(s)
Radio and television presenter, stage and screen actor
Years active
1943–2003, 2008, 2021–present
Occupations
Radio and television presenter, stage and screen actor

Tables

· Filmography › Film
1943
Role(s)
Background extra
Notes
Uncredited
1944
The Hundred Pound Pillow
Role(s)
Office assistant
Role(s)
Chick
1946
Role(s)
Juan
Jane Eyre
Role(s)
The Reverend Wood
Notes
Television movie
1947
Role(s)
Lieutenant Fox
Laburnum Grove
Role(s)
Harold Russ
Notes
Television movie
Role(s)
Young officer
Notes
Uncredited
1948
Role(s)
Tony Dakers
Mas' Bit o' Brass
Role(s)
Photographer
Notes
Television movie
1949
Role(s)
Lieutenant Keith
A Pair of Spectacles
Role(s)
Dick Goldfinch
Notes
Television movie
1950
The Poltergeist
Role(s)
Bobby Ashley
1951
Role(s)
Radio operator
Notes
Uncredited
1956
Role(s)
Honeymooner
1958
Six-Five Special
Role(s)
Himself
Record Roundabout
1960
Alice Through the Looking Box
Role(s)
Red King
Notes
Television movie
Role(s)
Buzz
Role(s)
Robert Stanton
1961
Role(s)
Dave
1962
Role(s)
Lloyd Stanford
Behave Yourself
Role(s)
unknown
Role(s)
Himself
1963
Role(s)
Man in Boudoir
1969
Role(s)
Radio presenter
Notes
Voice only
1970
Role(s)
Fireman
Role(s)
Man at party
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1943
The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp
Background extra
Uncredited
1944
The Hundred Pound Pillow
Office assistant
Time Flies
Chick
1946
Caravan
Juan
Jane Eyre
The Reverend Wood
Television movie
1947
Hungry Hill
Lieutenant Fox
Laburnum Grove
Harold Russ
Television movie
Captain Boycott
Young officer
Uncredited
1948
My Brother Jonathan
Tony Dakers
Mas' Bit o' Brass
Photographer
Television movie
1949
Portrait from Life
Lieutenant Keith
A Pair of Spectacles
Dick Goldfinch
Television movie
1950
The Poltergeist
Bobby Ashley
1951
No Highway in the Sky
Radio operator
Uncredited
1956
A Touch of the Sun
Honeymooner
1958
Six-Five Special
Himself
Record Roundabout
1960
Alice Through the Looking Box
Red King
Television movie
Escort for Hire
Buzz
Transatlantic
Robert Stanton
1961
A Taste of Money
Dave
1962
Design for Loving
Lloyd Stanford
Behave Yourself
unknown
It's Trad, Dad!
Himself
1963
The Cool Mikado
Man in Boudoir
1969
Otley
Radio presenter
Voice only
1970
Simon, Simon
Fireman
Cool It Carol!
Man at party
· Filmography › Television
1956
Role(s)
Richard Hilary
Notes
One episode
Hit the Limit
Role(s)
Himself / host
Notes
Six episodes
1956—1962
Role(s)
Spot the Tune
1957
These Are The Shows
Role(s)
Himself
Notes
Television special
Pantomania: Babes in the Wood
Role(s)
Television special
1957—1958
Role(s)
Six-Five Special
Notes
Himself / host
1959
Role(s)
Commentator
1959—1979
Role(s)
Juke Box Jury
Notes
Himself
1960
Role(s)
Haynes
Notes
One episode
Role(s)
Philippe
Dial for Music
Role(s)
Himself / host
Notes
Four episodes
Role(s)
Television special
Saturday Spectacular
Role(s)
Himself
Notes
One episode
The Tin Pan Alley Show
Role(s)
Himself / host
Laugh Line
Role(s)
Nine episodes
1960—1961
Role(s)
Summerhouse
Notes
Himself
1961
Role(s)
David Spencer
Notes
One episode
The Men from Room 13
Role(s)
Curly Elphick
Notes
Two episodes
Call me Captain
Role(s)
Himself / narrator
1961—1966
Role(s)
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Notes
Himself / host
1961–1964
Role(s)
Happily Ever After
Notes
Peter Morgan
1962
Role(s)
Flint Clarke
Notes
Two episodes
1963
Role(s)
Compere
Notes
One episode
Jezebel ex UK
Role(s)
Larry
Don't Say a Word
Role(s)
Himself
Music Match
Role(s)
Himself / host
1964
One Night Stand
Open House
Role(s)
Himself
Notes
One episode
Highlight: The Singing Cinema
1964—1988
Role(s)
Top of the Pops
Notes
Himself / host
1965
Role(s)
Himself
Notes
One episode
Cribbins
Is Your IQ Ok?
1965–1967
Role(s)
No Hiding Place
Notes
Frank Dorman (1965) Bobby Vowles (1967)
1965—1966
Role(s)
Glamour...
Notes
Himself / host
1966
SOS: The Record Star Show
Action
Role(s)
Three episodes
New Musical Express Poll Winner's Concert
Role(s)
Television special
Countdown
Role(s)
Himself
Notes
One episode
A Royal Gala
Role(s)
Television special
1966—1972
Role(s)
Quiz Ball
1967
The Record Star Show
Role(s)
Himself / host
How to Live with a Neurotic Dog
Role(s)
Himself / narrator
Carnival Time
Role(s)
Himself / host
Notes
Thirteen episodes
1968
Mum's Boys
Role(s)
Robin Fosdyke
Notes
Seven episodes
Role(s)
Himself
Notes
One episode
1969
Miss World 1969
Role(s)
Himself / host
1970
Role(s)
One episode
Mike and Bernie's Scene
Role(s)
Himself
Under the Table You Must Go
Time Out for Sardinia
Role(s)
Himself / narrator
1970—1971
Role(s)
The Golden Shot
Notes
Himself / host
1971
The Melodies Linger On
1972
Role(s)
Host
Notes
Television special
1972—1973
Role(s)
The Morecambe & Wise Show
Notes
Major Ivor Request (1972) Himself (1973)
1973—1995
Role(s)
This Is Your Life
Notes
Himself
1973—1978
Role(s)
The Generation Game
Notes
Two episodes
1973—1977
Role(s)
Whose Baby?
Notes
Three episodes
1973—1976
Role(s)
Password
1973—1974
Role(s)
Jokers Wild
Notes
Six episodes
1974
Role(s)
Panelist
Notes
One episode
Just a Nimmo
Role(s)
Himself
Danny La Rue: The Ladies I Love
Role(s)
Television film
Fifty Bighearted Years: The Variety Club of Great Britain's Tribute to Arthur Askey
Role(s)
Himself / host
Radio Wonderful
Role(s)
Himself
Notes
Short
1974—1976
Role(s)
Looks Familiar
Notes
Three episodes
1974–1975
Role(s)
Second Time Around
Notes
Disc Jockey
1975
Role(s)
Himself
Notes
Commentator
Role(s)
One episode
The Book Programme
Look Who's Talking
Role(s)
Two episodes
1975—1978
Role(s)
Celebrity Squares
Notes
Six episodes
1975—1976
Role(s)
Husband of the Year
1976
Saturday Night at the Mill
Role(s)
Himself
Notes
One episode
Nobody Does It Like Marti
1977
Role(s)
Himself
Notes
One episode
Role(s)
Commentator
Pop at the Mill
Role(s)
Himself / host
Notes
Six episodes
1979
Role(s)
One episode
1979—1985
Role(s)
Blankety Blank
Notes
Himself
1980
Night of One Hundred Stars
Role(s)
Himself
Notes
Television movie
1980—1982
Role(s)
Give Us a Clue
Notes
Three episodes
1981
Role(s)
One episode
1981—1983
Role(s)
Punchlines
Notes
Five episodes
1982
Pete Murray Takes You to Nottingham
Role(s)
Himself / narrator
Tuesday's Documentary
Role(s)
Himself
Notes
One episode
The Royal Variety Performance 1982
Role(s)
Television special
1983
The Time of Your Life
Role(s)
One episode
Pete Murray Takes You to Coventry
Role(s)
Himself / narrator
Pete Murray Takes You to Hastings
1984—1992
Role(s)
Fotry Minutes
Notes
Himself
1985
Vintage Quiz
Role(s)
Himself
Notes
Three episodes
1986
Chasing Rainbows - A Nation and Its Music
Role(s)
One episode
1987
1988
A Question of Entertainment
1989
Role(s)
Himself
Notes
One episode
Scene
Role(s)
One episode, uncredited
1989—1999
Role(s)
Arena
Notes
Three episodes
1990
Dors: The Other Diana
Role(s)
Television movie
1991
The Happening
Role(s)
One episode
1995
Role(s)
Himself / dictionary corner
Notes
Four episodes
2002
Jukebox Heroes
Role(s)
Himself
2004
Rove Live
2005
Favouritism
Role(s)
One episode
2006
The Story of Light Entertainment
Role(s)
Two episodes
2007
Children's Trial on TV
Role(s)
One episode
2015
The David Hamilton Show
Role(s)
One episode
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1956
ITV Play of the Week
Richard Hilary
One episode
Hit the Limit
Himself / host
Six episodes
1956—1962
Spot the Tune
1957
These Are The Shows
Himself
Television special
Pantomania: Babes in the Wood
Television special
1957—1958
Six-Five Special
Himself / host
Fifty-seven episodes
1959
Eurovision Song Contest 1959
Commentator
1959—1979
Juke Box Jury
Himself
Seventy-eight episodes
1960
Man from Interpol
Haynes
One episode
Maigret
Philippe
Dial for Music
Himself / host
Four episodes
This is Bobby Darin
Television special
Saturday Spectacular
Himself
One episode
The Tin Pan Alley Show
Himself / host
Laugh Line
Nine episodes
1960—1961
Summerhouse
Himself
Two episodes
1961
Boyd Q.C.
David Spencer
One episode
The Men from Room 13
Curly Elphick
Two episodes
Call me Captain
Himself / narrator
1961—1966
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Himself / host
Thirty-three episodes
1961–1964
Happily Ever After
Peter Morgan
Twelve episodes
1962
Winning Widows
Flint Clarke
Two episodes
1963
Hancock
Compere
One episode
Jezebel ex UK
Larry
Don't Say a Word
Himself
The Larkins
Music Match
Himself / host
1964
One Night Stand
Open House
Drama 61-67
Himself
One episode
Highlight: The Singing Cinema
1964—1988
Top of the Pops
Himself / host
One hundred and two episodes
1965
Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium
Himself
One episode
Cribbins
Is Your IQ Ok?
1965–1967
No Hiding Place
Frank Dorman (1965) Bobby Vowles (1967)
Two episodes
1965—1966
Glamour...
Himself / host
Eleven episodes
1966
SOS: The Record Star Show
Action
Three episodes
New Musical Express Poll Winner's Concert
Television special
Countdown
Himself
One episode
A Royal Gala
Television special
1966—1972
Quiz Ball
1967
The Record Star Show
Himself / host
How to Live with a Neurotic Dog
Himself / narrator
Carnival Time
Himself / host
Thirteen episodes
1968
Mum's Boys
Robin Fosdyke
Seven episodes
The Dickie Henderson Show
Himself
One episode
1969
Come Dancing
· Discography › Singles
1960
1960
Year
1960
Label
Decca Records
A-side
"What's It All About Eh?"
B-side
"Gee Ma I Wanna Go Home"
1978
1978
Year
1978
Label
Columbia Records
A-side
"Forever Young"
B-side
"I'll Be Alright"
Year
Label
A-side
B-side
1960
Decca Records
"What's It All About Eh?"
"Gee Ma I Wanna Go Home"
1978
Columbia Records
"Forever Young"
"I'll Be Alright"
· External links
Preceded byMichael Aspel
Preceded byMichael Aspel
Preceded byDavid Vine
Preceded byMichael Aspel
Eurovision Song Contest UK Commentator 1975
Eurovision Song Contest UK Commentator 1977
Succeeded byMichael Aspel
Succeeded byTerry Wogan
Preceded byDavid Vine
Eurovision Song Contest UK Commentator 1975
Succeeded byMichael Aspel
Preceded byMichael Aspel
Eurovision Song Contest UK Commentator 1977
Succeeded byTerry Wogan

References

  1. "Pete Murray"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120722160310/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b9fcb3346
  2. Express.co.uk
    https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/672935/BBC-Radio-2-DJ-Pete-Murray-where-is-he-now
  3. The Times
    https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/radio-station-booms-with-platinum-haired-dj-royalty-t3wxjczks
  4. RadioToday
    https://radiotoday.co.uk/2025/09/pete-murray-returns-to-airwaves-on-his-100th-birthday/
  5. History Project
    https://historyproject.org.uk/interview/pete-murray
  6. Twitter
    https://twitter.com/BoomRadioUK/status/1571833688803135488
  7. A story about the Brit who gave BBC a run for its money
    https://bourgmeisterin.com/all-stories/f/a-story-about-the-brit-who-gave-bbc-run-for-its-money
  8. On The Radio
    https://ontheradio.co.uk/2022/10/bbc-radio-2-to-celebrate-the-career-of-pete-murray-in-his-own-words/
  9. Online profile from website, October 2009
  10. www.rada.ac.uk
    https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles/pete-murray/
  11. Beat Magazine
    https://www.beat-magazine.co.uk/2024/behind-the-mic-sir-pete-murray/
  12. 20150308 Big Centre TV The David Hamilton Show - Pete Murray
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmbARsy50g4
  13. www.radiorewind.co.uk
    https://www.radiorewind.co.uk/radio2/pete_murray_page.htm
  14. BBC Annual Report, noted in The Times (London), 13 November 1970
  15. The Times (London), 1 January 1973; The Times, (London), 20 April 1976
  16. "Pete Murray is dropped from BBC shows", The Times (London), 18 October 1983.
  17. Media Network blog Archived 15 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine
    http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/uk-light-radio-begins-24h-test-broadcasts-on-the-internet
  18. "Pete Murray is back!"
    https://www.boomradiouk.com/pete-murray-is-back/
  19. "Channel 5 look at Top of the Pops' secrets and scandals"
    https://www.atvtoday.co.uk/207520-ch5/
  20. "Three leaving cast of Six-Five Special", The Times (London), 26 March 1958
  21. Born Brilliant: The Life of Kenneth Williams
  22. RadioLuxembourg.co.uk
    http://www.radioluxembourg.co.uk/?page_id=37
  23. The Paul McCartney project
    https://www.the-paulmccartney-project.com/concert/1966-06-16/
  24. The Daily Beatle
    https://webgrafikk.com/blog/uncategorized/lost-top-of-pops-footage-found/
  25. Smooth
    https://www.smoothradio.com/artists/beatles/top-of-the-pops-lost-footage-video/
  26. NME
    https://www.nme.com/news/music/full-tape-beatles-only-top-of-the-pops-performance-found-attic-2503011
  27. Pete Murray - born 19th September 1925
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjHtToDFcIw
  28. tech-ops.co.uk
    http://tech-ops.co.uk/next/jimi-hendrix/
  29. Selling the Sixties: The Pirates and Pop Music Radio - Rob Chapman 1992
  30. Disc & Music Echo, 2nd September 1967 p.2
  31. "Scapa! – Adelphi Theatre – 1962"
    https://londonwestendtheatreprogrammes.code.blog/2020/02/05/scapa-adelphi-theatre-1962/
  32. "Disc Jockey in BBC1 Comedy Series", The Times (London), 6 February 1968
  33. BFI
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160520055153/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6ad6702e
  34. British Comedy Guide
    https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/hancock/episodes/1/12/
  35. My Fair Lady
  36. Billboard, December 12th, 1960 p.6
  37. www.radiorewind.co.uk
    https://www.radiorewind.co.uk/radio1/pete_murray_page.htm
  38. "A suicide in the family", The Times (London), 1 June 1983.
  39. The Sydney Morning Herald
    https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19830620&id=Nf9jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5OYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6946,7020935
  40. www.gowr.co.uk
    https://www.gowr.co.uk/all-water-rats/petemurray/
  41. Solihull Libraries
    https://solihull.spydus.co.uk/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/ENQ/WPAC/BIBENQ?SETLVL=&BRN=75842
  42. www.gowr.co.uk
    https://www.gowr.co.uk/latest-news/
  43. Pete Murray turns 100 and we hear from him today (UK) 17/Sep/2025
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX6i_o9V-FA
  44. connect.notrecinema.com
    https://connect.notrecinema.com/?h=en&type=star&src=pro&idx=77756
  45. IMDb
    https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2840214/
  46. British Comedy Guide
    https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/pete_murray/
  47. 45cat
    https://www.45cat.com/artist/pete-murray
  48. Vinyl Tap
    https://vinyltap.co.uk/products/forever-young-0726834
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