Monty Modlyn - Tribute

Not many presenters end up on Capital and Radio 4. Monty Modlyn was one such presenter.

This cheeky Cockney roving reporter began his media career in press, before making his debut on Forces radio. On the BBC, his home was Cockney Cabaret in 1949, on the General Overseas Service, and Cockney Capers in the mid 50s. He was later heard on Radio 4's 'Start the Week' and also in the more cheery early days of Radio 4's Today programme, alongside Jack de Manio, where he could be relied upon to host the quirky interviews and get those man-on-the-street vox pops.

He was identified as the authentic voice of London in the launch spell of Capital; and you can hear him here on 'Capital 539' (as it was before they fixed the 194 transmitter properly) on the streets with a petrol giveaway. Hear him too promoting an LBC appearance in chirpy style. On that station, he hosted Monty Modlyn at Large and Monty's Pub.

His journalistic instinct was not far below the chirpy surface. His character notably enabled him to ask Ugandan dictator Idi Amin how many people he had murdered. Amin replied: "You very cheeky man".

Monty died in 1994