Quick Info
| Profession | Radio Presenter, Broadcaster, Documentary Filmmaker, Author |
|---|---|
| Nationality | English |
| Date of Birth | 11/04/1946 |
| Age | 80 years |
| Birthplace | Northampton |
| Zodiac Sign | Aries |
Latest News about Bob Harris
21/09/2026
Bob Harris shared a positive update saying his cancer was getting back under control after a period of renewed concern. He said he had started an intensive new course of treatment and remained optimistic about keeping the illness at bay.
04/06/2026
Bob Harris stepped down from his BBC Radio 2 presenting duties because of ongoing ill health. BBC reporting said he made the decision after revealing that his prostate cancer had spread to his upper spine, following decades of broadcasting on the station.
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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 |
| Stepped down from BBC Radio 2 presenting duties due to ongoing health issues | |
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 |
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 |
Social Media