Tony Blackburn is a famous British radio disc jockey known for hosting radio programs on stations like Radio 1, Capital Radio, and Classic Gold. He gained fame in the 1960s and 70s as one of the first DJs on BBC Radio 1 at its launch in 1967. With his smooth broadcasting style and personable nature, Tony Blackburn became a household name in Britain. During the course of his decades-long career, fans and listeners have been curious about Tony’s personal life and relationships. One question that often comes up is – did the legendary DJ ever get married?
Tony Blackburn’s Early Life and Career
Tony Blackburn was born Anthony Kenneth Blackburn on 29 January 1943 in Guildford, Surrey. His early childhood was difficult as his father walked out on the family when Tony was just 2 years old. His mother remarried but Tony did not get along with his stepfather. At the age of 16, he left home and started working as an office boy for the General Electric Company (GEC). It was during this time that Tony entered a talent competition organized by Radio Caroline and won. This launched his broadcasting career as he started working as a DJ for Radio Caroline in 1964.
Tony’s big break came when he was hired by the BBC to be one of the first DJs on Radio 1 when it launched in 1967. With his smooth style, charm, humor and passion for pop music, Tony Blackburn quickly gained popularity on the new pop music station. From 1970 to 1977, he presented the Radio 1 Breakfast Show, setting the template for many other morning shows to follow. He eventually left the BBC for a while to work for Capital Radio before returning in 1980 to present various programs.
Tony Blackburn’s Personal Life and Relationships
During the 1960s when Tony Blackburn first found fame, he led the bachelor lifestyle typical of a radio DJ. He was focused on his broadcasting career and reveling in the newfound popularity. Not much is known about Tony’s personal relationships during the 1960s and 70s when he was at the peak of his early career. However, over the course of his life, Tony has been married three times.
First Marriage
In 1972, Tony Blackburn married his first wife, actress Tessa Wyatt. They had met while working together on a BBC children’s television series called Junior Points of View. Tony and Tessa were married for ten years before divorcing in 1982 without having any children. The pressures of their careers and long periods apart are said to have contributed to the breakdown of their marriage. Even after the divorce, Wyatt continued to use Tony’s last name professionally for some years.
Second Marriage
In 1983, a year after divorcing his first wife, Tony Blackburn married his second wife, Debbie Thompson. She was a British Airways air hostess and just 22 years old when they got married. The large age gap (Tony was 40 and Debbie just 22 at the time) led to some criticism but Tony claimed that her youthful energy helped renew his own zest for life. However, this second marriage was also short-lived and the couple divorced in 1987 after just four years of marriage. Again, there were no children from Tony’s second marriage.
Third Marriage
It was third time lucky for Tony when he met his future wife, Debbie Danvers in 1988. She was 27 years old and working as a secretary at the time. Despite their age difference, Tony and Debbie had an instant connection and mutual understanding. After four years of dating, the couple got married in 1992 in a private ceremony attended only by close friends and family.
Tony Blackburn has said that he knew right away Debbie was the one, and that marrying her was the best decision of his life. The couple went on to have two children together – a son named Simon in 1993 and a daughter Victoria in 1996. After 30 years of marriage, Tony and Debbie remain happily married and are often seen together at events and parties. Their union has stood the test of time, outlasting Tony’s two previous marriages.
Tony Blackburn’s Life and Career After Marriage
Even after getting married to Debbie Danvers and starting a family, Tony Blackburn continued to have a prolific career as a radio DJ. He returned to BBC Radio 1 several times, including hosting programs in the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2002, he took over the coveted Radio 2 breakfast show which helped him reinvent himself for a new generation of listeners.
Tony has also appeared on numerous television shows over the decades such as Strictly Come Dancing, I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, and various quiz shows. Despite advancing age, he maintains his cheerful persona and smooth broadcasting style that made him so popular. Tony’s energy and enthusiasm for radio DJing remains undimmed well into his late 70s.
In addition to his broadcasting work, Tony has also established himself as an author and public speaker. He publishes memoirs recounting his interesting life and career in British entertainment. As someone who has been active in show business for over 60 years, Tony has many insights and stories to share. His books offer a glimpse into his eventful journey both professionally and personally.
Summary and Conclusion
So in summary:
- Tony Blackburn has been married three times in his life.
- His first marriage to actress Tessa Wyatt lasted from 1972 to 1982 but ended in divorce.
- He was married to his second wife Debbie Thompson from 1983 to 1987 which also ended in divorce after four years.
- His third and current marriage is to Debbie Danvers whom he married in 1992. They have two children together.
- Tony’s third marriage to Debbie has lasted over 30 years and is still going strong.
- So while Tony has been divorced twice, he did eventually find lasting love and has now been happily married for decades.
To conclusively answer the original question – yes, legendary radio DJ Tony Blackburn did get married, despite two failed marriages early on. His three marriages show that he kept trying to find the right life partner for himself. In the end, it seems he found his ‘happily ever after’ with third wife Debbie, almost 30 years and counting. Their marriage has stood the test of time and given him a family and stability in his personal life, even as his professional career continued to thrive. So while it took Tony Blackburn three tries, he did ultimately marry and settle down into a lasting, loving relationship.