I'm 82 and doing more shows than Sir Cliff!

IT all began at 7am one September day in 1967. Tony Blackburn, then 24, took to the airwaves and said: "And good morning, everyone... welcome to the exciting new sound of Radio 1." They were the first words ever spoken on the station.

- BY TOM BRYANT

Fast forward nearly 60 years and the same man is still ruling the airwaves at the Corporation.

Tony's Sounds of the 60s programme is the most popular on-demand music show on BBC Sounds.

And as he gears up for a star turn at this weekend's Radio 2 in the Park in Chelmsford, Essex - as well as continuing on his sellout Sounds of the 60s live tour - it's clear Tony is as in demand as ever.

"I'm 82 now and travelling around the country and doing more shows than Cliff Richard. Who knew I would become a theatre luvvie so late in life," Tony says with a laugh as he speaks from the home he shares with his wife Debbie.

"But I am just delighted to be doing what I'm doing."

As well as radio, Tony is a hit on TV, and has been carrying out presenting duties for BBC1's Morning Live show.

He jokes that getting older has its advantages when it comes to subjects to discuss on air.

Tony says: "I wear a hearing aid now to stop tinnitus, so I can talk about that. I had an eye test last week too. If I find something else on my body that isn't working quite well, I'll do a film on that too. I'm a gift for Morning Live."

He is also known for his stint on I'm a Celebrity in 2002, winning the first series of the ITV show. As the channel gears up for a new all-stars version of the programme, reuniting former contestants, Tony says he has no desire to revisit it.

He says with a laugh: "I talked to one or two people who won it, and what's the point in going back and losing?