Terry Wogan was turned down for BBC job by David Attenborough

Letters unearthed from the BBC archives reveal that Terry Wogan was turned down for a job as a BBC Two presenter by David Attenborough in 1965.

Two archive letters show that Wogan wrote to BBC Two in 1964 and again a year later in 1965 but was “politely rebuffed”, on the second occasion directly by Attenborough, who was the controller of the channel at the time.

The letters form part of the latest edition of Radio Times, which is paying tribute to Wogan following his death from cancer aged 77 at the end of January.

Talking to the Radio Times, Attenborough said he does not recall the letter as he received more than 10,000 letters a year.

He said: “Good Lord! He wrote asking me for work? I don’t remember this at all.”

Wogan’s letter, typed on the notepaper of Irish broadcaster RTÉ, says: “My reason for writing to you is simply ambition”.

He says that he “should like to extend the sphere of my television activities, to see if the success which I have enjoyed in Ireland can be translated to British television”.

Attenborough’s reply is frank, as he writes that “we do not have any vacancies for anyone with your particular talents and experience”.

He says that one of the channel’s chief announcers, Denis Tuohy, is from Dublin and: “We would feel, other things being equal, that we should look for someone from a different part of the country if we were to make an additional appointment.”

Reflecting on his reply now, Attenborough said he thought it was a perfectly reasonable answer.

He told the Radio Times: “To have had two Irishmen presenting on BBC Two would have looked ridiculous.

“This is no comment whatsoever on Terry Wogan’s talents. It’s just that I couldn’t have had two Irish presenters.”

Wogan went on to land a job in radio on the BBC in 1966, presenting a show called The Midday Spin.

The Limerick-born star went on to become a household name, presenting his BBC Radio 2 breakfast show, Children In Need and the Eurovision Song Contest.

Funeral service

The BBC confirmed that Wogan’s funeral would take place this week, but said in a statement it would be a private service.

“No further details will be released, and we ask that the family’s wish for privacy is respected at this time,” it said.

Wogan, who was one of Britain and Ireland’s best-known stars, was remembered by leading figures in culture and politics following his death.

British prime minister David Cameron said he was “someone millions came to feel was their own special friend”.

PA