‘Dancing with Rylan made me feel arthritic’: Jeremy Vine’s honest playlist
In a Guardian "honest playlist" interview, broadcaster Jeremy Vine shares the songs that have shaped his life, from teenage heartbreak to a memorable dance with Rylan Clark. The piece offers a personal, often self-deprecating tour through his musical memories ahead of his appearance at BBC Radio 2 in the Park in Stirling this September.
Vine recalls playing the Psychedelic Furs' Love My Way on repeat after unrequited teenage love, and describes a David Bowie epiphany hearing Sound and Vision aged 12. He also confesses a secret fondness for Barry Manilow's Mandy, names Mary Mary's Shackles (Praise You) as his dancefloor favourite after a tiring turn with Rylan Clark, and picks Belinda Carlisle's Heaven Is a Place on Earth for his funeral, ideally sung live by Carlisle herself.
- Jeremy Vine shares personal song picks in Guardian playlist interview
- Highlights include Bowie epiphany and a Rylan Clark dance mishap
- He wants Belinda Carlisle to sing live at his funeral
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Jeremy Vine is a British broadcaster best known for presenting his own show on BBC Radio 2 and for hosting the BBC's election night coverage. Away from the microphone, he's also known for being unguarded about his personal tastes, and here he's taking part in a regular Guardian feature in which public figures talk candidly about the music that has mattered to them at different points in their life.
The interview touches on his early years, including a teenage heartbreak and a formative brush with David Bowie's music, as well as lighter moments such as a dance with television presenter Rylan Clark, who is known for his work on entertainment shows including Strictly Come Dancing's spin-off programme. The piece is timed to Vine's upcoming appearance at BBC Radio 2 in the Park, an annual outdoor music event, which is being held in Stirling, Scotland, this September.
This kind of feature is a personal, reflective piece rather than a news story about any controversy or event. It matters mainly as a light, human-interest read that gives audiences insight into a familiar broadcaster's private tastes and memories ahead of a public appearance.