Derek Chinnery
British radio executive
About Derek Chinnery
Lived 1925 – 2015 (aged 89). Derek Chinnery was a British radio producer.
Charles Derek Chinnery (27 April 1925 – 22 March 2015) was the controller of BBC Radio 1 from 1978 to 1985.
Early life and career Chinnery was born in Richmond, London, and attended Gosforth Grammar School. He joined the BBC in 1941 aged 16. From 1943 to 1947 he was in the RAF. He returned to the BBC in 1947, becoming a producer in 1952.
BBC Radio 1 controller He took over from Charles McLelland and was succeeded by Johnny Beerling. He relaxed the guidelines on banning records, allowing records to mention a commercial product, and ended the Sounds of the Seventies programme.
Personal life Chinnery married Doreen Clarke in 1953 in Marylebone.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Derek Chinnery's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Derek Chinnery's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Derek Chinnery?
British radio executive
When was Derek Chinnery born?
Derek Chinnery was born on 27 April 1925.
When did Derek Chinnery die?
Derek Chinnery died on 22 March 2015.
What was Derek Chinnery's occupation?
Derek Chinnery was a radio producer.
What nationality was Derek Chinnery?
Derek Chinnery was British.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Derek Chinnery. https://biography.guide/derek-chinnery/
MLA: "Derek Chinnery." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/derek-chinnery/.
Chicago: "Derek Chinnery." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/derek-chinnery/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:30 UTC