14/04/2021
Radio Caroline reported on Sunday that the anniversary of the passing of gay disc jockey and television comic Kenny Everett was over the Easter weekend. Mr Everett died on 4th April 1995 from an AIDS related condition, ironically on the eve of the introduction of combination therapy, which drastically cut the AIDS death rate and eventually made HIV a long term but manageable condition. Mr Everett first auditioned for the BBC in 1965, but was considered too outrageous in his humour and his refreshing approach to radio presentation. Instead he found a home on Wonderful Radio London, an offshore pirate radio station based on the mv Galaxy anchored off Frinton (pictured), during the heady mid sixties when Britain was surrounded by pirate stations on ships and other platforms. In 1967, he joined another rebel station, Radio Luxembourg transmitting from central Europe into Britain. Finally, Everett joined BBC Radio 1. Despite being repeatedly at loggerheads with BBC management, Everett built up a huge and loyal audience with his wit and humour. He produced several highly anarchic television comedy series for BBC and ITV networks, and remained on the radio until the last months of his life. Kenny Everett was for sure, a gay and a radio hero!
