‘I like that little bear’ - Leigh Francis tells story about David Bowie and Bo' Selecta!

Virgin Radio

8 Jan 2024, 15:27

Today marks what would have been David Bowie’s 77th birthday. 

All day (8th January 2024), we are celebrating the great artist’s life and music on Virgin Radio Anthems. This includes Eddy Temple-Morris’ brand new show between 2pm and 6pm. From 6pm, Ben Jones will replay some of David’s final ever interview that he did with Ben before his death eight years ago.

Ahead of the late, great Bowie’s birthday today, Virgin Radio’s Leigh Francis told a story about the music icon during his show on Saturday afternoon (6th January). 

“I’ve got to brag and namedrop here, because Jonathon Ross - who I know in real life - once told me that he was having dinner with Ricky Gervais and David Bowie, and then David Bowie gets up at about ten o’clock, and says, ‘I’ve got to get off now,’” he began.  

Leigh explained that, when Jonathan Ross questioned why the musician had to go, “He said, ‘Well, I’ve got to go because I like that little bear on Bo' Selecta!’.”

Yes, Bo' Selecta! was such essential Friday night viewing that even the likes of Ziggy Stardust had to prematurely end his social engagements with a couple of other superstars to watch it. The Bear was, of course, one of the most popular characters in the show.

“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said to Jonathan Ross, ‘Tell me that story again!'” Leigh told listeners.

With today marking the date of Bowie’s birth, it has been announced that a limited-edition vinyl release, called Waiting In The Sky (Before The Starman Came To Earth), will be released on 20th April, 2024 for Record Store Day.

The album is taken from the Trident Studios 1/4" stereo tapes from 1971, which were created for the then provisional tracklisting of what would go on to become Bowie’s celebrated fifth record, The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars album.

The Ziggy Stardust album came out in 1972, and runs differently to the tracklisting for Waiting In The Sky (Before The Starman Came To Earth), The upcoming new release features four songs that didn’t make the final album.

Read all about it here.

Listen to Leigh Francis on Saturdays between 12.30pm-4pm on Virgin Radio UK.