BBC names a wing after DJ John Peel

The BBC is to name a wing of the newly refurbished Broadcasting House after pioneering DJ John Peel.

The section of the central London building, which is currently known as the “Egton Wing”, was built on the site of Egton House, which was home to Radio 1 for around a decade.

Peel, who died in 2004, was one of the station’s original DJs at its 1967 launch and was still broadcasting on Radio 1 to his death.

BBC director-general Mark Thompson said: “John was one of the BBC’s great radio talents, broadcasting regularly on Radio 1 from its launch in 1967. With a reputation for being in the vanguard, he was widely recognised as a champion of new music, supporting punk, reggae and hip-hop.

“Well known to our global audiences through his work on the World Service, he later won over a whole new legion of fans with Home Truths on Radio 4.

“John’s death in 2004 was sudden and shocking, especially for those of us who had grown up with him. However, his legacy lives on today not just in the UK, but around the world.”