Keith Fordyce 1928-2011



It has just been announced that the broadcaster Keith Fordyce died last week. Keith will be well known to many for his work on Radio Luxembourg, The Light Programme and Radio 2 as well as his TV work, most notably Ready, Steady, GoI

After leaving the RAF Keith worked for BFBS in Hamburg before joining Radio Luxembourg in 1955, working alongside Barry Alldis, David Gell and Don Moss. He soon became Chief Announcer but returned back to the UK in 1958, though he continued to provide taped shows for the station.

From 1963 to 1965 he co-presented, with Cathy McGowan, ITV’s Friday night live music show Ready, Steady, Go!

On the BBC Light Programme Keith was one of the hosts of  Easy Beat and Pop Inn, later also presenting it on Radio 1. In the late 60s and early 70s he presented Late Night Extra and was quizmaster on Radio 2’s Town and Country Quiz and Support Your Local. This clip of Town and Country Quiz dates from 21 December 1982.

In 1983 Keith became the first presenter of Sounds of the 60s. Here’s one of those early shows broadcast on 5 March 1983 (with apologies for the sound quality):

In the late 80s Keith took over the helm from Don Davis on Radio 2’s telephone music quiz Beat the Record. Here’s the last ever edition from 1 August 1992:

In 1983 Keith briefly returned to Radio Luxembourg and here he is co-presenting the General Election coverage with Rodney Collins. This recording demonstrates the famous ‘208 fade’.

Keith Fordyce (front, second from left) with other BBC Light Programme presenters posing
for the 1965 pantomime. Back row: Simon Dee, David Gell, Alan Dell, David Jacobs.
Front row: Don Moss, Keith, Pete Murray, Bill Crozier and Brian Matthew