Paul Walters
Encyclopedia
Paul Walters was a BBC
radio and TV producer, most noted for his work and appearances on Sir 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 sometime 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 email
s 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.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio and TV producer, most noted for his work and appearances on Sir Terry Wogan's BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
breakfast show Wake Up to Wogan
Wake Up to Wogan
Wake Up to Wogan was the most listened to radio show in the United Kingdom and the flagship breakfast programme broadcast on BBC Radio 2. The show was presented by Sir Terry Wogan who fronted WUTW from 4 January 1993; he had previously presented the breakfast show between 1972 and 1984, but the...
, 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
Wheathampstead
Wheathampstead is a village and civil parish in the City and District of St Albans, in Hertfordshire, England. It is north of St Albans and in the Hitchin and Harpenden parliamentary constituency....
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, where he grew up. In 1973
he joined the BBC as a trainee Film Assistant after having worked for sometime at ATV
Associated TeleVision
Associated Television, often referred to as ATV, was a British television company, holder of various licences to broadcast on the ITV network from 24 September 1955 until 00:34 on 1 January 1982...
and Rank Radio International. In 1977 Walters became an acting producer at BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
, 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
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
, including You The Night & The Music, Nightride, The John Dunn Show
John Dunn (disc jockey)
John Churchill Dunn, professionally known simply as John Dunn, was a disc jockey and radio presenter who worked for many years on BBC Radio....
, Ed Stewart
Ed Stewart
Ed Stewart is a radio broadcaster from England. His real name is Edward Mainwaring but he is known by the nickname Ed Stewpot Stewart.-Early life and career:...
, David Jacobs
David Jacobs (disc jockey)
David Lewis Jacobs CBE is a British actor and broadcaster who gained prominence as presenter of the peak-time BBC Television show Juke Box Jury and the BBC Radio 4 political forum, Any Questions?-Early career:...
and the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
. He also worked with many of the station's most famous presenters such as Ken Bruce
Ken Bruce
Kenneth Robertson Bruce is a British broadcaster known for his programme on BBC Radio 2, which is broadcast on weekdays from 9:30am until 12 noon.-Early life and career:...
, Sarah Kennedy
Sarah Kennedy
Sarah Mary Kennedy MBE is a British TV and radio broadcaster. She presented her own daily early morning radio show, The Dawn Patrol, on BBC Radio 2 from 1993, before announcing her decision to leave the show on 3 September, 2010.Kennedy was honoured in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2005, when...
, David Hamilton, Adrian Love
Adrian Love
Adrian Love was a British radio presenter, famous for his Love In The Afternoon show on Radio Two. He was the son of musician Geoff Love....
and Chris Stuart.
In 1993 Walters became the producer of Wake Up to Wogan
Wake Up to Wogan
Wake Up to Wogan was the most listened to radio show in the United Kingdom and the flagship breakfast programme broadcast on BBC Radio 2. The show was presented by Sir Terry Wogan who fronted WUTW from 4 January 1993; he had previously presented the breakfast show between 1972 and 1984, but the...
and, together with Terry Wogan
Terry Wogan
Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE, DL , or also known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish radio and television broadcaster who holds dual Irish and British citizenship. Wogan has worked for the BBC in the United Kingdom for most of his career...
, 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 email
Email
Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the...
s and the webcam
Webcam
A webcam is a video camera that feeds its images in real time to a computer or computer network, often via USB, ethernet, or Wi-Fi.Their most popular use is the establishment of video links, permitting computers to act as videophones or videoconference stations. This common use as a video camera...
in the programme.
Along with Terry Wogan
Terry Wogan
Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE, DL , or also known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish radio and television broadcaster who holds dual Irish and British citizenship. Wogan has worked for the BBC in the United Kingdom for most of his career...
, Walters is widely credited with introducing the music of Beth Nielsen Chapman
Beth Nielsen Chapman
Beth Nielsen Chapman is an American singer-songwriter, mostly known for her numerous hits recorded by country and pop music performers.-Early history:...
, Eva Cassidy
Eva Cassidy
Eva Marie Cassidy was an American vocalist known for her interpretations of jazz, blues, folk, gospel, country and pop classics. In 1992 she released her first album, The Other Side, a set of duets with go-go musician Chuck Brown, followed by a live solo album, Live at Blues Alley in 1996...
and Katie Melua
Katie Melua
Ketevan "Katie" Melua is a British-Georgian singer, songwriter and musician. She moved to Northern Ireland at the age of eight and then to England at fourteen. Melua is signed to the small Dramatico record label, under the management of composer Mike Batt, and made her musical debut in 2003...
to the British public, as he selected much of their music to be played during the influential show.
On 21 October 2006 the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
announced that he had died in hospital, aged 59, following a long illness.