Simon Dee has died from bone cancer at the age of 74.
Simon's was the first voice to be heard on Radio Caroline over the Easter Weekend of 1964. For me, he epitomised the "Swinging Sixties" sticking two fingers up at the establishment. About a year later, he jumped ship and joined the BBC, presenting the Light Programme's "Mid Day Spin".
He really hit the big time with his BBC TV show "Dee TIme" which was one of the most popular pop-music based TV shows of its time, commanding huge audience figures. The opening announcement, "It's Siiiiiiimon Dee" became one of the 60s catchphrases. He stayed with BBC TV for two years. After contract negotiations broke down when he demanded an increase in his fees and the BBC refused, he moved to London Weekend Television. Unfortunately, he lost out in a political battle with David Frost, whose show followed Simon's - Frost was a shareholder in LWT and felt his programme, which had a similar format to Simon's, would suffer. Exit Simon Dee. His career never recovered.
But for Offshore radio fans, he will be remembered fondly as the man who fronted Caroline's airwaves in the early days.
BBC obituary
Wikipedia
Cyril Nicholas Henty-Dodd, known as Simon Dee, born 28th July 1935, died 29 August 2009. RIP Simon.
About Me
- soulman1949
- Manchester, NW England, United Kingdom
- Born: Warrington, August 1949 to Polish refugee parents who came over here after WW2, met and married. Moved to Manchester in 1952 - apart from my student days at Liverpool University, I have lived in or near Manchester since then. I think of myself as being Polish but born in the UK. I'm a bigotted Northerner, proud of my city and a champion of the NW of England. Divorced with a grown-up son, Si. How would I summarise me? Passionate, enthusiastic and caring.
1 comment:
Hi soulman1949, I'm a soulman from 1948! - and like you, I vividly remember Easter Sunday 1964, when mid-morning, on holiday from school, I stumbled on Radio Caroline at the bottom of the medium-wave band and listened agog until closedown. Without getting too Python-esque about it, I don't think 'the youth of today' (!) can begin to imagine the sheer visceral thrill of hearing pop records being played on the radio during the day - and all the way through too, unlike dear old Radio Lux, who always faded down the record just as the sax solo kicked in, and anyway only came on in the evening... It's amazing to think of now.
The late Mr Henty-Dodd may perhaps not have been a prince among men, nor, truth be told, was he much of a DJ either, having just been an acting mate of Ronan O'R's, but for gentlemen of our distinguished vintage (and it is only blokes!) his short-lived role at the start of pirate radio will forever eclipse any of his other achievements. RIP.
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