BBC brings John Peel back to airwaves

THE broadcasting legend John Peel is to return to the airwaves, as the BBC airs a series of his finest moments.

The DJ, who died in 2004, championed scores of bands during his four-decade career, and will be brought back to radio this week on 6 Music.

Producers are to air 15-minute segments of Peel's Radio 1 shows from today during Marc Riley's mid-morning show, which begins at 10am. Peel gave Riley an early break thanks to his devotion to The Fall, for whom Riley originally played bass.

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The programmes are drawn from the late 70s and early 80s, as well as 2003 and 2004. They feature Peel playing tracks by bands such as Flying Lizards, Echo and the Bunnymen, Joy Division and, of course, The Fall.Riley said: "Listening to various clips of John in preparation for these programmes, it all came flooding back: John's warmth, his bone-dry humour, his passion for the eclectic mix of music he played, not to mention his wonderful sense of mischief."

Peel began his Radio 1 career in 1967 after a stint on air in the United States, and then on pirate radio in the UK. He died after a heart attack while holidaying in Peru.

Riley added: "I doubt any music broadcaster will ever get close to the love and respect shown to John by listeners and indebted bands alike."

The station's controller, Bob Shennan, said: "To be able to keep the spirit of John Peel alive and to take the famously technophobic DJ into the digital age is an absolute privilege for 6 Music."

The station had been earmarked for closure this year but the BBC Trust rejected the proposal, which had prompted a backlash from listeners.

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