Paul Walters
Paul Walters (15 June 1947 - 21 October 2006) was a BBC radio and TV producer, most noted for his work and appearances on Terry Wogan's BBC Radio 2 breakfast show Wake Up to Wogan, where he was known to millions as "Dr Wally Poultry". Earlier in the show's history, he was sometimes referred to by the name "Paulie Walters."
Walters was born in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, where he grew up. In 1973 he joined the BBC as a trainee Film Assistant after having worked for some time at ATV and Rank Radio International. In 1977 Walters became an acting producer at BBC Radio 2, initially for only three months before returning to television. However, he soon returned full-time to radio for The Radio 2 Early Show.
Walters worked on a range of programmes for BBC Radio 2, including You The Night & The Music, Nightride, The John Dunn Show, Ed Stewart, David Jacobs and the Eurovision Song Contest. He also worked with many of the station's most famous presenters such as Ken Bruce, Sarah Kennedy, David Hamilton, Adrian Love and Chris Stuart.
In 1993 Walters became the producer of Wake Up to Wogan and, together with Terry Wogan, made it one of the most popular radio programmes in the UK. Walters became famous and a household name by taking part in Wogan's infamous banter, acquiring the nickname "Dr Wally" (or, in full, Dr Wallington P. De Wynter Courtney Claibourne Magillicuddy Walters). In 1996 Walters pioneered the use of emails and the webcam in the programme.
Along with Terry Wogan, Walters is widely credited with introducing the music of Beth Nielsen Chapman, Eva Cassidy and Katie Melua to the British public, as he selected much of their music to be played during the influential show.
On 21 October 2006 the BBC announced that he had died in hospital, aged 59, following a long illness.
References
- Wogan producer Walters dies at 59 BBC News 21 October 2006
- Paul Walters The Daily Telegraph 23 October 2006