Jeremy asked his comedian brother to relive their youth by getting their group The Flared Generation back together to take part in the two-day festival in Leicester
Jeremy Vine’s helmet cam sensationally caught the moment he was nearly crushed by a lorry in a cycle lane this week.
But it’s not the only close shave the Radio 2 presenter has had these past few days. Fate also stepped in to help him avoid another type of car crash – him reuniting with his old punk band for a spot at BBC Radio 2 In the Park this weekend. Jeremy, 58, had asked comedian brother Tim Vine to reform their 80s band The Flared Generation to take part in the two-day festival in Leicester – R2’s first event of its kind for two years and its first ever outside London.
But luckily for music fans, Tim is on a stand-up tour instead – leaving Jeremy to focus on hosting duties alongside fellow DJs Zoe Ball, Sara Cox and Vernon Kay while legends such as Bananarama, Tears For Fears, Simply Red and Kylie Minogue take to the stage. Considering Smash Hits once called Jeremy’s group “the most unfashionable punk band in the UK”, it’s definitely fortunate.
He says: “I had hoped to get the band together [this weekend] but it was not meant to be. But it’s probably a good thing for the audience as they will be spared my singing.” Born in leafy Cheam Surrey, Jeremy was inspired to be a radio DJ by his idol Kenny Everett. “I grew up wanting to be Kenny Everett. If he was alive now, he would have been on Radio 2. He was quite simply the best DJ we’ve ever had in the UK.”