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BBC Radio 3 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Third Programme.

BBC Radio 3

Radio 3

The Essay Podcast

The Essay

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond, themed across a week - insight, opinion and intellectual surprise.

The Essay: The Earl Grey Whistle Test

The Essay: The Earl Grey Whistle Test: Episode 5: The Earl Grey Whistle Test: Hope I Die Before I Get Old

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Episode 5

Episode 5: The Earl Grey Whistle Test: Hope I Die Before I Get Old

The Earl Grey Whistle Test

The Earl Grey Whistle Test: Hope I Die Before I Get Old

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David Hepworth reflects on what keeps rock stars playing into old age.

Reflecting on nearly 40 years as a music journalist, David Hepworth explores what keeps rock stars such as Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones performing into old age.

In a week of Essays, David Hepworth and Mark Ellen reflect on their nearly 40-year partnership as music journalists and TV presenters and what they've learned along the way. On the legendary BBC music show The Old Grey Whistle Test and on numerous magazines from Smash Hits in the 1980s to Q to The Word Hepworth and Ellen worked so closely together that they still get mistaken for each other. 

Today - David Hepworth on what keeps rock stars going - like McCartney, Dylan, the Rolling Stones. Whereas all their peers who got proper jobs were chucked on the scrapheap years ago, they can still play to larger crowds than ever, for more money than ever, to greater acclaim than ever. If you could do that, wouldn't you?

Hope I die before I get old? I don't think so.

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Music journalists David Hepworth and Mark Ellen reflect on their long partnership

Music journalists David Hepworth and Mark Ellen reflect on their long partnership. In their careers, they have worked on the TV show the Old Grey Whistle Test and on magazines such as Smash Hits and Q

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The Earl Grey Whistle Test

Episode 5: The Earl Grey Whistle Test: Hope I Die Before I Get Old

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