Blackburn insists on Cliff on Classic Gold

Some say it was a PR stunt. Others say it was Tony doing what Tony does - after all, he's at the stage in his career when he can afford to say he just won't work for you if he doesn't like the music. Or maybe it was a bit of both.

Cliff was not a key artist for the AM Classic Gold Network. Programme management had decreed, possibly wisely, in 2004 that although much Motown and Beatles and the like had stood the test of time, dear Cliff had not. Tony appeared to disagree. He played Cliff anyway and ripped up the offending directive on-air. The Nation sided, as it does, with the underdog and their dear Cliff rather than with 'management'. So did our MPs.

It all ended happily ever after; and likely proved inspiration to almost the exact same stunt a few years later when Absolute launched its 60s offshoot.