Radio 1 to mark Nightingale's 40 years

BBC Radio 1 has confirmed plans to run a special night of programmes in September celebrating DJ Annie Nightingale's four decades at the station.

Since becoming Radio 1's first female DJ in 1970, Nightingale has consistently promoted cutting-edge music on the station, from punk rock to acid house to modern breaks.

Over her career, she has also been on the road with British bands, such as The Rolling Stones, The Who and The Police, and presented BBC TV show The Old Grey Whistle Test.

She was awarded an MBE in 2002 for her services to music and was inducted into the Radio Academy Hall of Fame in 2004. Nightingale, who is now Radio 1's longest-serving presenter, currently hosts a weekly show on the station every Friday from 2am to 4am.

On September 9, Radio 1 will air A Night With Annie Nightingale from 7pm, starting with two-hour profile documentary The Story Of Annie Nightingale, presented by fellow Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe.

The biographical programme will feature contributions from Irvine Welsh, Cassius, Primal Scream, Underworld, Shaun Ryder, Andrew Weatherall and Beth Orton.

The celebration will continue at 9pm with a three-hour tribute concert from Maida Vale studios, featuring a lineup of artists personally selected by Nightingale.

Contributors will include Fatboy Slim, Tinchy Stryder, Professor Green, Sub Focus, I Blame Coco, Bookashade, DC Breaks, Freestylers and special guests Primal Scream.

From midnight till 4am, The Decade Mixes will showcase the wide variety of music played by Nightingale over the last 40 years.

Nightingale said that working in the "best job in the world" at Radio 1 has meant that the last four decades have "flown by".

"Being able to bring exciting new music to listeners every week is a joy and Radio 1's role in discovering and championing new music continues to be crucial to bringing enjoyment and appreciation to our listeners and maintaining the UK's reputation of nurturing some of the most innovative, exciting and original new music in the world," she said.

"I'm always looking forward, planning the next show, the next guest mix, the next festival broadcast. So this night will be a chance to celebrate some awesome milestones and the truly amazing musical soundtrack of my life at Radio 1."

Radio 1 controller Andy Parfitt added: "I have been a long-term fan of Annie's since I worked with her as a Radio 4 producer many years ago.

"She has prodigious energy and enthusiasm for music-making that grows stronger over the decades - truly open-minded and never puts herself as DJ above the music or the artists - she is an inspiration to many of our DJs and a much-loved member of our BBC family."

BBC Four will also celebrate Nightingale's broadcasting career with an hour-long documentary, with more details to follow shortly.