Veteran DJs in radio hall of fame

John Peel has been at BBC Radio 1 since it started in 1967

DJs John Peel and Chris Tarrant were inducted into a broadcasting hall of fame on Thursday.

The hall of fame, set up by the Radio Academy last year, has already honoured DJs Kenny Everett, Tony Blackburn and presenter Alistair Cooke.

Peel has had a radio career spanning 40 years and is BBC Radio 1's longest-serving DJ.

Tarrant, the breakfast show host on London's Capital FM for 17 years, will leave the station next year.

Other broadcasters entered into the hall of fame on Thursday were BBC Radio 4's Sue MacGregor, former radio 2 drivetime host John Dunn and LBC presenter Douglas Cameron.

The five presenters were honoured at a lunch at London's Savoy hotel.

Collecting his award, Peel reflected on his career and said: "I would have to say the happiest time is now.

"The fact that listeners can communicate with you immediately all over the world is amazing.

"You play a record and someone contacts you from Sacramento and says 'Have you heard the B-side'. So you flip it over and hear the B-side - it's fantastic."

'More popular'

Radio Academy director John Bradford said: "These five names have set the standard to which others follow.

"Their voices have helped make radio today more popular than it has ever been, even as media diversifies beyond all recognition."

The academy's hall of fame has been created online, with biographies, photos and audio clips as a permanent reminder of their careers.

Tarrant said: "I'm going to take a while off and do a bit of television, but I love radio.

"Radio is the best because it has that urgency. I love it all, music and speech stations, so I'm sure I'll do some stuff in the future."