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Tributes have been paid to the “original trailblazer” and broadcast icon Annie Nightingale – Radio 1’s first female DJ – who has died aged 83.

Nightingale started presenting on Radio 1 in 1970 and became its longest-serving broadcaster, hosting her show Annie Nightingale presents… until late last year.

She was awarded an MBE in 2002 and a CBE in 2020. In 2004, she became the first female DJ from Radio 1 to be inducted into the Radio Academy Hall of Fame.

In a statement, Nightingale’s family said she died at home in London on Thursday, following a short illness, and hailed her for “breaking down doors” throughout her career.

Zoe Ball and Annie Mac, who have both presented Radio 1 shows, led tributes from colleagues and friends, with Ball describing her as “the original trailblazer for us women in radio”.

Read more:
How Annie Nightingale changed the industry forever

“She loved music like no other… and could out last any of us at the party,” she said.

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“So grateful for all the love & support she offered me over the years. What a dame… rest well.”

Annie Mac, who hosted a variety of Radio 1 shows over 17 years, said Nightingale was a “trailblazer, spirited, adventurous, fearless, hilarious, smart, and so good at her job”.

Annie Nightingale arriving for the opening night gala for Exhibitionism: The Rolling Stones exhibition held at the Saatchi Gallery,

Nightingale’s family described how she became a role model for generations of young women.

“Her impulse to share that enthusiasm with audiences remained undimmed after six decades of broadcasting on BBC TV and radio globally,” Nightingale’s family said.

“Never underestimate the role model she became. Breaking down doors by refusing to bow down to sexual prejudice and male fear gave encouragement to generations of young women who, like Annie, only wanted to tell you about an amazing tune they had just heard.

“Watching Annie do this on television in the 1970s, most famously as a presenter on the BBC music show The Old Grey Whistle Test, or hearing her play the latest breakbeat techno on Radio One is testimony to someone who never stopped believing in the magic of rock ‘n’ roll.”

‘Thanks to Annie, things will never be the same’

A celebration of Nightingale’s life will take place in the spring, they said.

Radio 1 shared a photo of the renowned DJ on social media, saying the station was “extremely saddened” about her death.

Norman Cook and radio dj Annie Nightingale
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With Fatboy Slim, aka Norman Cook, in 2001

BBC director-general Tim Davie described her as “a uniquely gifted broadcaster who blessed us with her love of music and passion for journalism, for over 50 years”, as well as “a trailblazer for new music” and a “champion for female broadcasters, supporting and encouraging other women to enter the industry”.

Head of Radio 1 Aled Haydn Jones described Nightingale as “a world-class DJ, broadcaster and journalist”, who championed new music and new artists “throughout her entire career”.

He added: “We have lost a broadcasting legend and, thanks to Annie, things will never be the same.”

Greg James, Zoe Ball, Jo Whiley and more pay tribute

Nightingale first broadcast on the BBC in 1963 as a panellist on Juke Box Jury, before joining Radio 1 seven years later.

She remained the station’s only female DJ until 1982, which saw the arrival of Janice Long, and is credited with helping to pave the way for the likes of Sara Cox, Jo Whiley and Ball.

Whiley described her as “the coolest woman who ever graced the airwaves”.

Jo Whiley and Annie Nightingale
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Jo Whiley and Annie Nightingale


Sharing a black and white picture of the broadcaster in a radio studio on X, Whiley wrote: “She blazed a trail for us all and never compromised. Her passion for music never diminished.”

Over the years, Nightingale rubbed shoulders with stars including the late David Bowie and The Beatles, and was a guest on occasion at the band’s Apple Studios in London during the 1960s.

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Her life and achievements “were so extraordinary you couldn’t possibly sum them up on here”, wrote Radio 1 breakfast show presenter Greg James on X.

“It was such a treat if you happened to be in the building at the same time as her,” he wrote. “She was always so interested in what everyone else was up to. We’re going to miss her so much. She was just absolutely amazing.”

Glastonbury Festival co-organiser Emily Eavis also joined the tributes, sharing on Instagram how the DJ helped her when she was younger.

“Goodbye dear Annie, a female trailblazer and true enthusiast,” she wrote. “Annie gave me so much support when I was in my twenties, I always felt so grateful to have such a strong woman encouraging me along the way and I’m sure she has done the same for many others like me.

“She was an inspiration to so many women in music, broadcasting and beyond and just a lovely human being.”

Nightingale had two children, Alex and Lucy, from her first marriage to writer Gordon Thomas.

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Why are Kneecap controversial?

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Why are Kneecap controversial?

Irish band Kneecap have had a meteoric rise in the music industry, with tens of millions of streams on Spotify alone and widespread critical acclaim.

The trio’s genre-bending rap/hip hop tracks, performed in a mixture of English and Irish-language, have clearly resonated with a mainstream audience, but their many controversial moments – some of them seemingly intentional – have helped them hit such heights.

Here’s what you need to know about the band and their most notorious moments.

Who’s in the band?

The group is made up of three friends from Belfast: Mo Chara (Liam Og O Hannaidh), Moglai Bap (Naoise O Caireallain) and DJ Provai (JJ O Dochartaigh).

The latter is a former teacher who still wears a balaclava, initially to disguise himself from his students when the band started out in 2017.

Kneecap performing in Belfast last year. Pic: PA
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Kneecap performing in Belfast last year. Pic: PA

They were controversial from the get-go – and seemingly by design.

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Their debut track – CEARTA – is based on how band member Bap was stopped by police for spray-painting cearta, the Irish word for rights, on a bus stop.

Before fame, Bap and Chara, who have known each other for around 15 years, transformed a former youth club into party hub, where they would play their favourite tracks.

And it was through this venture into the club space that they later met DJ Provai.

The group called themselves Kneecap in reference to kneecapping, a common form of paramilitary punishment in Northern Ireland during The Troubles which sees someone shot or hit repeatedly on both knees.

From cult heroes to mainstream success

Kneecap released their first mixtape, 3cag, in 2018 to critical acclaim, and their 2019 single HOOD is their most streamed single to date.

But their success reached new levels in 2024 with the release of their 18-track album, Fine Art, which culminated in a headline-worthy crowd attending their early-morning timeslot at Glastonbury.

Kneecap played a headline-worthy set at Glastonbury
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Kneecap played a headline-worthy set at Glastonbury

The band then ventured into the film industry with a self-titled biopic about their rise to prominence, set in post-Troubles Belfast, starring themselves alongside Irish actor Michael Fassbender.

Before its full release last summer, it had been the talk of various film festivals, including Tribeca in New York.

Speaking to Sky News at Glastonbury last year, the band said the reaction had been “crazy”.

Since then it’s got crazier, with the film getting six BAFTA nominations and earning its writer and director Rich Peppiatt a win for Outstanding Debut.

Kneecap on the BAFTA Film Awards 2025 red carpet. Pic: PA
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Kneecap on the BAFTA Film Awards 2025 red carpet with film director Rich Peppiatt. Pic: PA

The band cracked the UK and are now following suit in the US, having sold out several shows there.

Court battle with the UK government

It would take a long time to cover all of Kneecap’s controversial moments; much of it is a part of their music itself.

They have been banned from Irish public service broadcaster RTE for their references to drug-taking.

But there have been some particularly high-profile incidents since 2024.

Kneecap fans during the Electric Picnic Festival in 2022. File pic: PA
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Kneecap fans during the Electric Picnic Festival in 2022. File pic: PA


The first was their legal battle with the then-Conservative UK government, who blocked a grant for the band which was initially approved by the British Phonographic Industry.

The group’s application to the Music Export Growth Scheme, which supports UK-registered artists in global markets, was for £14,250, but Kemi Badenoch, then business secretary, stopped it.

At the time, a government spokesperson said it fully supported freedom of speech, but that it was “hardly surprising” it did not want to hand out UK taxpayers’ money to those opposed to the United Kingdom.

One of their most famous tracks had been 2019’s Get Your Brits Out, which had been criticised for being anti-British.

The trio have always denied this being the case.

Chara told Sky News after their Glastonbury set: “This is a thing that people love to spin, like we’re some anti-British band.

“We have English family. We have loads of good friends who call themselves British. It’s the British government we don’t like.”

Kneecap won a discrimination case against the UK government in November, earning them the same amount that the grant was worth.

File photo dated 14/02/25 of (left to right) members of Kneecap, Liam Og O Hannaigh (Mo Chara), JJ O'Dochartaigh (aDJ Provai) and Naoise O Caireallain (Moglai Bap) attending the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) Awards Ceremony at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has demanded the prosecution of rap trio Kneecap for allegedly calling for the death of Tory MPs. Video emerged of the group at a November 2023 gig appearing to show one member saying: "The on
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Left to right: Band members Mo Chara, DJ Provai and Moglai Bap. Pic: PA

DJ Provai said the band’s motivation was “equality”.

“For us, this action was never about £14,250; it could have been 50p,” he said, after the band said it would donate the funds to two Belfast charities.

“This was an attack on artistic culture, an attack on the Good Friday Agreement itself and an attack on Kneecap and our way of expressing ourselves.”

Calling for deaths of Conservative MPs

Police say they are assessing a video of a Kneecap performance from November 2023, in which a member of the trio allegedly called for the death of Conservative MPs.

The member is alleged to have said: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”

Two British MPs have been murdered in the past 10 years – Labour’s Jo Cox in 2016 and Conservative Sir David Amess in 2021.

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MPs daughter calls for Kneecap apology on The Sarah-Jane Mee Show

In a statement, Kneecap said they rejected “any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever.”

They added: “An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action.

“To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt.”

Pro-Palestinian messages at gigs

The investigation into the MP comments was announced several days after the Met said it had referred a different video from a Kneecap gig to be reviewed by counter-terror police.

Footage from that gig, at London’s Kentish Town Forum last November, appeared to show one member of the group shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”.

Hamas and Hezbollah are both proscribed as terrorist groups in the UK. Under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000, it is an offence to express “an opinion or belief that is supportive of a proscribed organisation”.

The police say they are “assessing” both clips to “determine whether further police investigation is required”.

Kneecap have said they are facing a “co-ordinated smear campaign” after speaking out about “the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people”.

Kneecap fans at one of their concerts in 2022. File pic: PA
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Kneecap fans at one of their concerts in 2022. File pic: PA

In their statement, they said: “Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation’s history.

“Kneecap’s message has always been – and remains – one of love, inclusion, and hope. This is why our music resonates across generations, countries, classes and cultures and has brought hundreds of thousands of people to our gigs.”

Investigation comes after Coachella fallout

Just days before the police investigations were announced, TV personality Sharon Osbourne called for Kneecap’s US work visas to be revoked after accusing them of making “aggressive political statements” including “projections of anti-Israel messages and hate speech” at Coachella Music and Arts Festival.

As the band performed on the second night, they displayed words on the big screen reading: “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people.

“It is being enabled by the US government who arm and fund Israel despite their war crimes. F*** Israel. Free Palestine”.

Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza, which came after Hamas gunmen launched an attack killing 1,200 people in Israel on 7 October 2023, has seen at least 52,000 people killed, according to the Gaza health ministry.

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Speaking to Rolling Stone after Osbourne’s comments, Kneecap member Mo Chara said: “Her rant has so many holes in it that it hardly warrants a reply, but she should listen to War Pigs that was written by Black Sabbath [led by Ozzy Osbourne, her husband].”

He also told the outlet: “We believe we have an obligation to use our platform when we can to raise the issue of Palestine, and it was important for us to speak out at Coachella as the USA is the main funder and supplier of weapons to Israel as they commit genocide in Gaza.”

Kneecap has been continually outspoken in favour of Palestinians at gigs.

In November, DJ Provai arrived for the court verdict against the UK government in a vehicle bearing the Irish and Palestinian flags and blaring loud music.

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Kneecap’s Eden Project gig cancelled amid row over ‘kill MPs’ comments

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Kneecap's Eden Project gig cancelled amid row over 'kill MPs' comments

A performance by Belfast rap trio Kneecap at the Eden Project has been cancelled.

It comes after a row in which one of the group appeared to call for Tory MPs to be killed and another appeared to shout “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” in historical footage of a gig.

A spokesperson for Eden Sessions, which organises the gigs at the Cornwall venue, said: “Eden Sessions Limited announced today that the Kneecap show at Eden Project scheduled for July 4, 2025 has been cancelled.

“Ticket purchasers will be contacted directly and will be fully refunded.

“The refund process will commence from Wednesday, April 30 2025. Refunds will be processed against the original payment cards used. Purchasers should allow six working days for funds to be received into their accounts.”

On Monday, the band apologised to the families of murdered MPs Sir David Amess and Jo Cox after footage emerged of one of its members appearing to say “kill your local MP”.

But Katie Amess, daughter of Sir David, dismissed their apology, accusing them of “deflection and excuses and gaslighting”.

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Why are Kneecap controversial?
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In a statement posted on Instagram, the group, comprising Liam Og O Hannaidh, Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, said they “reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual.

“Kneecap’s message has always been – and remains – one of love, inclusion, and hope. This is why our music resonates across generations, countries, classes and cultures and has brought hundreds of thousands of people to our gigs. No smear campaign will change that,” they added.

The footage had been “exploited and weaponised,” they said.

Their statement didn’t impress Ms Amess, however, who on Tuesday accused them of “gaslighting”, saying their comments were “absurd” and “not an apology”.

“They don’t understand what they’re talking about, they obviously aren’t educated enough in what they’re speaking about to think that they can use those excuses and everybody will be like, ‘oh, never mind, let’s move on to something else’. They haven’t taken any accountability.

“These words that they are using are extremely dangerous and they have not acknowledged that.

‘Half-hearted’ apology

But the Prime Minister’s official spokesman called the band’s statement “half-hearted” and urged them to make a fuller apology.

He said Downing Street “completely reject in the strongest possible terms the comments that they’ve made, particularly in relation to MPs and intimidation as well as obviously the situation in the Middle East.

Undated handout photo issued by UK Parliament of Conservative MP Sir David Amess who has been stabbed several times at a surgery in his Southend West constituency, according to reports. Issue date: Friday October 15, 2021.
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Sir David Amess. File pic: PA

Jo Cox shooting
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Jo Cox was murdered in 2016. Pic: PA

“It’s right that the police are looking into these videos.”

Mrs Badenoch said she thought they were apologising “because they realise that people don’t like the kind of things that they’ve been saying” and are “worried they’re going to lose their slot at Glastonbury“.

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Police assessing band’s videos

The Metropolitan Police are assessing footage from a November 2023 gig appearing to show one member of the group saying: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.”, along with a video clip from a different concert in November 2024 in which a member of the band appeared to shout “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” – groups which are banned as terrorist organisations in the UK.

In Monday’s statement, Kneecap insisted they have “never supported” Hamas or Hezbollah.

Ministers also put pressure on the organisers of the Glastonbury Festival over the band’s inclusion in this year’s line-up.

In the Commons, security minister Dan Jarvis said ministers “would urge organisers of the Glastonbury Festival to think very carefully about who is invited to perform there later this year”.

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‘Powerful individuals’ at BBC making lives of colleagues ‘unbearable’, says chairman

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'Powerful individuals' at BBC making lives of colleagues 'unbearable', says chairman

“Powerful individuals” at the BBC are making the lives of their colleagues “unbearable”, the corporation’s chairman has said, after a review into its workplace culture.

The independent report, sparked by the Huw Edwards scandal, was carried out by Change Associates, the same management consultancy that led a similar review in 2013, following the Jimmy Savile scandal.

BBC chairman Samir Shah told staff ahead of the report’s release on Monday morning: “There is a minority of people whose behaviour is simply not acceptable. And there are still places where powerful individuals – on and off screen – can abuse that power to make life for their colleagues unbearable.”

He said the report made recommendations to “prioritise action over procedural change”, as well as addressing “deep-seated issues” including staff not feeling confident enough to speak up.

Mr Shah added: “In the end, it’s quite simple: if you are a person who is prepared to abuse power or punch down or behave badly, there is no place for you at the BBC.”

While the review, which heard from around 2,500 employees and freelancers from 19 different countries, found no evidence of a toxic culture within the corporation, some staff said there was “a minority of people at the BBC – both on and off-air – who were able to behave unacceptably without it being addressed”.

The report said: “Even though they are small in number, their behaviour creates large ripples which negatively impact the BBC’s culture and external reputation.”

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It said these people were “dotted across the organisation in different functions and departments”, and were “often in positions where power could be abused”.

While no specific names were mentioned in the report, it did note “some names were mentioned several times”.

Former BBC broadcaster Huw Edwards leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court, London, where he was sentenced to six months' imprisonment suspended for two years after pleading guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. Picture date: Monday September 16, 2024.
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Huw Edwards was handed a six-month suspended jail sentence in September. Pic: PA

Some considered ‘indispensable’

One example of poor behaviour given included an “untouchable” presenter being “called out for exceptionally inappropriate language”. It said that while “a report was made” and sanctions promised, a senior manager who was in the room at the time of the incident was “perceived as deferring so as not to rock the boat”.

It said a blind eye could be turned to poor behaviours “when productions were award winning or attracting large audiences”.

The report went on to warn that, “at its worst”, the corporation “rewards” such individuals “by providing little or no consequence to their actions”.

It recognised that some of those displaying “unacceptable behaviour” were perceived as “indispensable” to the corporation, and that by moving “potentially vexatious issues” to formal grievance without appropriate due diligence, the BBC was “tolerating” the problem.

It also said that by keeping those who formally raised an issue “in the dark about progress and outcomes,” it was unfairly punishing them.

The BBC board has fully accepted the report and its findings, as has BBC management.

BBC chairman Samir Shah answering questions at the Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
Pic: PA
Image:
BBC chairman Samir Shah. Pic: PA

BBC director-general Tim Davie called the report “an important moment for the BBC and the wider industry”.

He said the corporation would implement the recommendations “at pace”, making sure that BBC values are “lived and championed by the whole organisation each and every day.”

Actions being taken include:

• A strengthened code of conduct, with specific guidance for on-air presenters
• A more robust disciplinary policy, with updated examples of misconduct and clear consequences
• All TV production partners must meet Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) industry standards
• A new “Call It Out” campaign to promote positive behaviour, empower informal resolution and challenge poor conduct
• Clear pledges for anyone raising concerns, setting out what they can expect from the BBC

Further actions include succession planning for the most senior on-air roles, a new “resolving concerns helpline”, more training for managers and clearer behaviour expectations for freelancers.

A difficult year for the BBC

The BBC has been under pressure to act after a string of complaints against some of its top talent over the last 12 months.

In September, Edwards, who was the BBC’s lead news presenter, pleaded guilty to three counts of “making” indecent images of children. He was given a six-month suspended jail sentence and will be on the sex offenders’ register for seven years.

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Huw Edwards leaves court after sentencing

Earlier this month, following a CPS review, Russell Brand, was charged with rape and sexual assault.

Brand, who worked for BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music between 2006 and 2008, denies all allegations against him and says all his sexual encounters were consensual.

The BBC also apologised in January after a review found it “did not take adequate action” upon learning about concerns over former Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood following claims of “bullying and misogynistic behaviour”.

Other allegations of misconduct against BBC talent include accusations of a toxic environment on Strictly Come Dancing and the firing of The One Show presenter Jermaine Jenas after he admitted sending inappropriate messages to female colleagues.

And late last year, Greg Wallace stepped down from his presenting role on MasterChef after multiple historical allegations of misconduct.

Wallace’s lawyers have said it is “entirely false that he engages in behaviour of a sexually harassing nature”. Wallace has since said he is seeking “space to heal”.

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