David Jacobs (disc jockey)
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David Jacobs (born London, May 19, 1926) is a British broadcaster, who became known as a disc jockey in the 1950s. As a BBC Staff Announcer in the early 1950’s, he introduced the science-fiction serial Journey into Space in heavily echoed tones, and also played some of the minor characters. Although not the original presenter of Pick of the Pops, which was then on the BBC Light Programme, he established the programme's chart show format between 1957 and 1961, and briefly returned to the show in 1962. He also broadcast on Radio Luxemburg, presented Juke Box Jury on BBC television between 1959 and 1967, and was one of the four original presenters of Top of the Pops when it began in 1964.
Between 1957 and 1966 Jacobs was the regular presenter of A Song for Europe and also provided the UK commentary at the Eurovision Song Contest.
By 1967, the year of psychedelia and "flower power", he was no longer in tune with the direction of contemporary pop music, and since then he has spent most of his career at BBC Radio 2. Between January 1985 and December 1991 he presented a daily lunchtime show on that station playing what he described as "our kind of music", concentrating on popular tunes from musical theatre. He now represents the station's "old guard", and like most such presenters he is heard on Sundays, where he presents a late evening show called The David Jacobs Collection.
He has also had a career in current affairs on BBC Radio 4 as the chair of Any Questions? the BBC's topical debate programme from December 1967 to July 1983. One episode descended into chaos when people in the audience heckled Enoch Powell and were evicted from the hall on air.
In the 1974 film Stardust, starring David Essex, he appeared as himself, compering an award ceremony set in the mid 1960s. His daughter, Emma Jacobs, was an actress, best known for her role as Alex Khaled, daughter of Fontaine Khaled (Joan Collins), in the film The Stud (1978)
