PAUL SIMON - WOGAN SEARCHES FOR ULTIMATE POP ICON

WOGAN SEARCHES FOR ULTIMATE POP ICON

Terry Wogan is to lead a search for the ultimate pop icon of the last 40 years.

The veteran DJ will introduce a special birthday day on BBC Radio 2 at the end of this month, which will feature some of the best bits from the last four decades of radio.

Listeners are being given the chance to vote for "an enduring personality that they believe best represents popular culture over the past four decades" and Wogan will announce the winner on Sunday September 30th.

The celebration – 40 years to the day that Radio 2 was launched – also sees the return of former legends, with a forgotten live performance by Paul Simon from 1965 and an edition of The Kenny Everett Radio Show among the highlights.

Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse will take over the teatime slot, as their Smashie and Nicey DJ characters run down the Pick of the Pops circa September 1967.

Expect the duo to play a few poptastic tunes by Cliff Richard, The Small Faces and others, with the legendary Engelbert Humperdinck set to top the charts for the day.

"This special day will give listeners old and new a chance to sample some of the gems of the past 40 years," Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas said.

"To welcome back some of the stars from the original line-up, to re-live some of the musical and comic gems is really exciting.

"And, of course, I am thrilled that Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse have agreed to bring back Smashie and Nicey for a one off Pick of the Pops special."

Paul Hollingdale kicks off the day with a special breakfast special at 09:00 BST, with things being brought to a close after a 1968 episode of classic comedy Round The Horne at 20:00 BST.