Tony Blackburn reveals why he hung up on Frank Sinatra

What Have You Missed?

Tony Blackburn disclosed that he once ended a call with Frank Sinatra, believing someone was fooling around with him.

The radio icon shared on The One Show that he had a brief encounter with the American singer after one of his concerts. They had a short conversation, and later, while Blackburn was hosting his radio show, Sinatra called him. However, Blackburn thought it was just a prank by another DJ trying to mess with him.

"But it was definitely him, and my manager remarked, 'Not many people can hang up on Frank Sinatra and walk away unscathed,'" the star chuckled.

"Understanding The What, How, And Why"

Blackburn clarified the situation during his appearance on The One Show, explaining to hosts Roman Kemp and Alex Scott that he and Sinatra, who passed away in 1998, were represented by the same manager.

"I attended a Frank Sinatra concert and later we headed to an exclusive party," he recalled. "Frank Sinatra, the legendary figure, approached me, greeted me with a friendly 'Hello Tony,' shook my hand, and wished me, 'Have a wonderful life.' That was the entire encounter."

Tony Blackburn made an appearance on The One Show. (Screenshot from BBC)

While hosting the Radio 1 Breakfast Show, the studio phone rang. I answered it and asked, "Who’s this?" The caller replied, "Frank." Curious, I probed further, asking, "Frank who?" He responded with, "Frank Sinatra." At that moment, I just hung up the phone.

"I initially thought it was just a prank!" the celebrity exclaimed. "Turns out, it was Frank Sinatra!"

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What Did Tony Blackburn Say On The One Show?

Blackburn also talked about the ITV reality series I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, where celebrities like Coleen Rooney, Oti Mabuse, and Danny Jones are competing for the title of King or Queen of the Jungle.

In 2002, the DJ participated as a contestant in the jungle camp and made history by becoming the very first winner of the show.

Frank Sinatra performing live in 1965. (Image credit: Screen Archives/Getty Images)

When asked what tips he would give to today's campers, he jokingly replied, "Don't even try it!"

"I'm just kidding," he chuckled. "It's a tough production to be a part of. But I'm a vegetarian, so I didn't have to eat any of that food. Honestly, I couldn't handle it now; the things they have to consume are just awful."

"I believe that the best approach is simply to be true to yourself, as that's the only thing you can really control."

The One Show is broadcast on BBC One every weekday at 7 PM.