Legendary broadcaster Tony Blackburn has made a sensational confession about his first marriage, detailing a complex 'love square' involving affairs with the couple who lived next door.
The 'Love Square' Revelation
Speaking on Gyles Brandreth's Rosebud podcast, the 82-year-old Radio 2 DJ admitted to cheating on his first wife, actress Tessa Wyatt, with their female neighbour. Simultaneously, he revealed that Wyatt was having an affair with that neighbour's husband.
"She didn't know I was having an affair with the next door neighbour, and then she was having an affair with her husband," Blackburn explained, characterising the situation as a four-way entanglement.
A Marriage That Ended in Acrimony
Blackburn and Wyatt married in 1972 and had a son, Simon, the following year. Their union ended in divorce in 1977. Blackburn believes they wed "too young" and expressed bafflement as to why the "very beautiful" Wyatt chose him.
The final split occurred when Wyatt left him for actor Richard O'Sullivan. According to Blackburn, Wyatt only discovered his own infidelity years later when she read about it in his autobiography, which he has since branded an "awful" book.
The 'Too Honest' Autobiography
The veteran DJ, who has been married to Debbie Thompson since 1992, opened up about the creation of his controversial memoir. It was ghostwritten by Cheryl Garnsey, who, Blackburn claims, urged him to include more "sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll".
He conceded he "stupidly" told her he had slept with 250 women, a claim that made it into print. "It was too honest," Blackburn stated, adding that his parents disliked the book. He also admitted he never read the final manuscript before it was published.
No Plans to Retire After 60 Years On Air
Despite the personal revelations, Blackburn's professional focus remains sharp. A broadcasting icon, he was the first voice heard on BBC Radio 1 when it launched on 30 September 1967.
Celebrating six decades in radio last year, he dismissed any suggestion of retirement during an appearance on Lorraine. "I think it's very important if you like what you're doing, and I love what I'm doing," he told stand-in host Kate Garraway.
He continues to tour with a seven-piece band and two singers, entertaining audiences with stories from his career, including his time on pirate radio ships. "I love doing Radio 2," he affirmed, signalling his intention to keep his headphones on for the foreseeable future.
