Special shows for BBC radio 40th

The first and current breakfast DJs reunited on BBC Radio 1

The 40th anniversaries of BBC Radios 1, 2, 3 and 4 have been marked with a number of special programmes.

Tony Blackburn, who launched Radio 1 in 1967, returned to co-host the breakfast show with current morning presenter Chris Moyles.

DJ Paul Hollingdale returned to Radio 2 to talk about how he opened the network with Breakfast Special.

Paul Whitehouse and Harry Enfield revived spoof DJs Smashie and Nicey on Radio 2, hosting Pick of the Pops.

They played the hits of 1967 in tribute to the late Alan "Fluff" Freeman, who - along with Blackburn - was the inspiration for the characters.

A spoof edition of This is Your Life will recap the history of Radio 4

Also on Radio 2, Ed Stewart returned with Junior Choice and Kenny Everett's first Radio 2 broadcast, from 26 years ago, received a repeat airing.

On Sunday afternoon, Michael Aspel revived Family Favourites, which he hosted on Radios 1 and 2 in the 1960s.

Countdown replayed

Radio 1 kicked off its anniversary breakfast show by replaying the countdown which led into Tony Blackburn's first show in 1967.

"You know, 40 years ago, I was the saviour of British radio, and now you're the saviour of Radio 1," Blackburn quipped to his co-host.

"Forty years ago I drove to the studio in an E-type Jaguar, today I drove here in a Smart car. Where have I gone wrong?"

Radio 1's evening schedule saw Annie Nightingale - the station's first female DJ - present a one-off version of the Sunday night request show she hosted for 12 years from 1982.

Kenny Everett's first show for Radio 2 was transmitted again

Eddie Mair explored the history of Radio 4 in a retrospective, 4 at Forty.

Mair, who usually presents Radio 4's PM news programme, considers his network's "gradual transformation from a rather old-fashioned service to a cornerstone of British radio" in his programme.

That was due to be followed by a spoof This is Your Life of Radio 4's history, hosted by comedians Stephen Fry and Matt Lucas.

Radios 1 and 2 were created on 30 September 1967 to replace the Light Programme, while the Third Programme was rebranded as Radio 3 and the Home Service became Radio 4.

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