In pictures: David Jacobs's career
- Published
Broadcaster and presenter David Jacobs, whose career spanned seven decades, has died aged 87. He had been one of the founding presenters of Top of the Pops and most recently hosted The David Jacobs Collection on Radio 2.
Jacobs only stepped down from his Radio 2 show last month due to ill health. His long presenting career was also interspersed with some acting appearances, including one in 1950 with John Pertwee and Norman Shelley - Jacobs played the vicar in this episode of Puffney Post Office.
Between 1957 and 1969, Jacobs hosted Juke Box Jury. At its inception, it was one of ´óÏó´«Ã½ TV's rare acknowledgements of the increasing dominance of pop music, and was attracting huge audiences by the 1960s.
During his stint at the helm of Juke Box Jury, Jacobs developed a warm rapport with his audience. He later recalled having to tell the enthusiastic crowd to pipe down before one recording so the main guests - The Beatles - could be heard.
Jacobs (centre-right) was named ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio Personality of 1975. He had shown he could handle current affairs as well as light entertainment - presenting topical debate show Any Questions for 17 years from 1967.
Back on the lighter side, Jacobs went on to present Come Dancing, the original ballroom competition that would later morph into the glitzy Strictly version.
In 1975, he made a cameo appearance alongside Michael Crawford in the Some Mothers Do 'Ave Em Christmas special. In the episode, hapless Frank Spencer receives a letter from the ´óÏó´«Ã½ asking him to take part in a show called Man About The House.
Jacobs, pictured here with Sue Lawley in 1992, also appeared on Desert Island Discs, opting for works by The Beatles, Judy Garland, Duke Ellington, and Tchaikovsky.
On his death, Radio 2 controller Bob Shennan called Jacobs "a true giant of the ´óÏó´«Ã½" whose broadcast hallmarks were "great taste, authority and warmth".