Quick Info
| Profession | Radio Presenter, Broadcaster, Documentary Filmmaker, Author |
|---|---|
| Nationality | English |
| Date of Birth | 11/04/1946 |
| Age | 80 years |
| Birthplace | Northampton |
Latest News about Bob Harris
04/06/2026
Whispering Bob Harris announced on 4 June 2026 that he is stepping down from his presenting duties on BBC Radio 2 due to ongoing health issues. This marks the end of his 56-year broadcasting career with the BBC, following his recent return to the station in November 2024 to present Sounds of the 70s.
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Bio/Wiki
| Full Name | Robert Brinley Joseph Harris OBE |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Whispering Bob |
| Known For | Hosting BBC2's The Old Grey Whistle Test (1972-1979), co-founding Time Out magazine, presenting The Country Show and Sounds of the 70s on BBC Radio 2 |
| Broadcasting Career Length | Over 50 years with the BBC |
Physical Stats & More
| Voice Characteristic | Velvety voice with quiet, softly spoken delivery |
|---|
Personal Life
| Marriages | Three times |
|---|---|
| Health | Fought cancer |
| Financial | Gone bankrupt |
| Public Disputes | Weathered a very public spat with a fellow DJ |
Family
| Children | Three |
|---|
Career
| Early Career | Initially followed father into police force but left after two years to pursue music |
|---|---|
| Co-founded and co-edited Time Out magazine | |
| Joined BBC Radio 1 as host of Sounds of the 70s | |
| 1972-1979 | Hosted The Old Grey Whistle Test on BBC2 |
| Sounds of the 70s was axed | |
| 1981-1984 | Presented weekday afternoon show on BBC Radio Oxford |
| Later | Worked for LBC radio, GWR, Radio Luxembourg, British forces radio, GLR |
| 1989-1993 | Returned to BBC Radio 1 for four years |
| April 1999 | Took over The Country Show on BBC Radio 2 |
| Won Country Music Association's International Broadcaster of the Year award | |
| November 2024 | Started presenting Sounds of the 70s on BBC Radio 2 |
| Documentary Work | Award-winning documentary programme maker |
| Publications | Author of three books including autobiography |
Favourites
| Musical Artists Introduced | Marc Bolan, David Bowie, Elton John |
|---|---|
| Notable Collaborations | John Lennon, Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Queen |
Style Quotient
| Nickname Origin | His velvety voice and quiet delivery earned him the enduring nickname Whispering Bob |
|---|---|
| Reputation | Known as the John Peel of country music |
Social Media
| https://www.facebook.com/WhisperingBobHarris/ | |
| https://twitter.com/WhisperingBob |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. His autobiography Still Whispering After All These Years has a foreword by Robert Plant | |
| 2. The autobiography is chart-topping and was published in 2016 | |
| 3. He has been recognized with the Americana Music Association of America Trailblazer Award, UK Heritage Award, MOJO Medal, and OBE for services to broadcasting | |
| 4. He compered some of the biggest-ever rock concerts | |
| 5. He has had to revamp his career four times |