Radio 2 favourite Jo Whiley talks kids, gigs and gardening ahead of her Derby Day DJ set at Epsom. Jane McGowan sounds her out
David Venni BBC
With her velvety tones, effortless style and seemingly natural ability to stay ahead of the trend, it’s no wonder Jo Whiley has remained at the forefront of the music scene for more than 25 years. This month she brings her abundant skills to Epsom Downs, with a set at the post-Derby party. A fun-filled occasion beckons.
“People can expect massive, big tunes – the ones absolutely everyone loves,” she laughs. “The music will span the genres, hopefully catering for all tastes. Classic indie, power ballads, disco favourites – a bit of everything, really. After all, not everyone will be celebrating a win!”
Jo first found national fame in the early 1990s, as co-host of Radio 1’s Evening Session, with Steve Lamacq. The show was essential listening for music obsessed teenagers, and Whiley and Lamacq became renowned for championing up-and-coming bands. Many of them – Nirvana, Oasis, Blur – were destined to become synonymous with the decade. Then, in 1997, Jo went solo, landing a lunchtime slot onRadio 1, before going on to host the station’s popular weekday morning show. This became famous for its Live Lounge item, which saw bands as big as U2 perform acoustic sets and even spawned some bestselling albums.
After a shake-up at the station in 2009, however, it was announced that the mother-of-four, then 44, was to be replaced by Fearne Cotton, 17 years her junior. The BBC came under fire for what some claimed was just another example of its ageist policies, but Jo remained unfazed and took up residence in a weekend slot, before leaving the station completely and heading over to Radio 2.
“It felt like a graduation,” she explains. “I was one of the first people who had really done that – gone straight from Radio 1 to Radio 2. But it really was like moving from sixth form into college. Radio 1 was changing and going for a younger audience, so it felt right.”
Born in Northampton in 1965, Jo spent much of her early life helping to care for her sister Frances who has cri du chat syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes behavioural difficulties. Both girls developed a passion for pop, heading into Woolworths or Spinadisc every Saturday to buy records.
“I caught my son taking my vinyl copy of a Prince album into his room this morning,” laughs Jo. “And that was probably bought in Spinadisc. We grew up in a household where there was a lot of music. We sang all the time and listened to the charts every week, though I can’t say that music was a vocation at that point. I just loved it. Only once I got to college did I think about it as a career, and even then I just sort of stumbled into it.”
These days, Jo hosts the Radio 2 weekday evening show, which since 2011 has proved very popular with listeners aged 35 – 55.
“Lots of people get to an age when they don’t know what to listen to, so hopefully they will head over and see what I’m playing.”
One of the most popular features is Jo’s Taxi Service, in which Jo grants requests from parents out and about dropping their children at various activities. An experience with which she herself – with four children ranging in age from 24 to eight – is all too familiar.
“Yep, that’s definitely me too,” she laughs. “There’s no escape.”
Married for 25 years to music executive Steve Morton, Jo knows the difficulty of balancing motherhood with a high-profile career. She is so lucky, she says, to have both a career and a family.
“Yes, absolutely. It’s a juggling act for me, just as for anyone else. There are days when I hardly see the children at all, which is really horrible. You get an achey feeling. But then there are times when I get to see a lot of them, so it all balances out, even though it’s a bit mad. At the moment, I’ve got one son choosing university, one doing GCSEs and my youngest child going on her first school residential trip. Things are really full on.”
Despite her demanding work schedule and family commitments, however, Jo has lost none of her passion for searching out new talent.
“This year has been so good,” she says with transparent enthusiasm. “People like Rag’n’Bone Man, Lorde and Maggie Rogers – so many solo artists who are just brilliant. It’s a really, really good time for music.
“I went to [new music festival] South by Southwest, where I was back with Steve Lamacq, and we took Rag’n’Bone Man with us. When he opened his mouth to sing and that voice came out, I had the old familiar goosebumps feeling. I appreciate music now as much as ever.”
David Venni BBC
She is as busy as ever too. DerbyDJ-ing aside, June is also the month when she traditionally appears on our TV screens, uber cool in her wellies, presenting the BBC’s coverage of Glastonbury. This year, the wellies actually went on a little earlier. A keen gardener, Jo is part of the team involved with Radio 2’sFeel Good Gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, created to mark the station’s 50th anniversary.
“It’s so exciting. Five of us presenters have gardens named after us, and it’s wonderful because I absolutely love gardening. I would say that gardening, running and trying to go to the theatre are the big things I do outside music.”
The Jo Whiley Scent Garden has been designed by Tamara Bridge (2015 RHS Young Designer of the Year) and Kate Savill, with help from fragrance creator Jo Malone. It includes aromas evocative of woodland walks, rain on warm paving, fresh earth, new leaf growth and freshly cut flowers. Jo Whiley is also doing her bit during the build, dropping by to help with planting.
“You’ve actually caught me at the garden centre now,” she says. “I am just getting a few bits for the window boxes at home before the school run.”
Once the horticultural highlight of Chelsea is behind her, however, Jo’s attention will be firmly on Epsom and throwing the punters a party to remember.
“I really enjoy these racecourse gigs, as everyone is really up for it,” she says.
Might she be tempted to have a flutter?
“Yes I may just do this time! Well, that way we’re all in it together.”
- The Jo Whiley set will take place in the Hyperion Marquee at the Investec Derby on June 3. All racegoers with Grandstand or Queen’s Stand tickets will be able to enjoy the set for free after racing has concluded. For tickets visit: epsomderby.co.uk
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