In 1988, CBBC presenter Andy Crane declared that April 28th should henceforth be known as National Willy Fog day.

Today, in celebration of its 30th anniversary, we bring you a chat with CBBC Broom Cupboard presenter and National Willy Fog Day creator Andy Crane.

If you fancy enjoying the whole first episode, you can watch that below too!

Now, on with the chat…

Most visitors to 80sNostalgia will know you from the CBBC Broom cupboard, bringing our favourite programmes to us after school. How did you get into telly? What were you doing before CBBC?

I worked on commercial radio in Manchester – did an audition in 1986 and was offered 3 weeks on BBC2 !

Where did Edd the Duck come from? He is unlike most other ducks I’ve ever seen, so I’m not sure he is from the mallard family?

He came from a stall in Hong Kong but underwent a bit of a makeover after his first appearance. And his voice broke too – from a squeak to a quack!

There were some amazing theme tunes for the programmes back then. Some were pretty much full length singles! Which were your favourites?

To be honest I can’t recall many of them although they are probably all on YouTube. Willy Fogg certainly made its mark but probably because I heard it so many times.

In 1988 you declared that April 28th should be National Willy fog day, a tradition that I have done my best to uphold over the past 30 years. What inspired the decision to make a Willy Fog day in the first place?

It had been going on for soooooo long I just thought we ought to celebrating finally getting to the end. Who knew where it would end up.

Do you still remember the words to the Willy Fog theme?

The first line … then I’m struggling. J

Did you have time to watch the tv programmes as they went out, or did you have to do prep for the next links? I always hoped you enjoyed the shows as much as we did as viewers.

Bit of both – but we did watch.

Do people still get in touch to say they are commemorating Willy fog day in some way, or do you see that people are mentioning it online every year?

I’m reminded every year by people on Twitter with better memories than I have. I’m touched that so many still remember.

The 80s is a huge topic again nowadays with companies releasing mini 80s consoles, 80s cartoons making a comeback and 80s toys becoming popular again. Is there anything from the 80s that you would like to see revived?

Not that I can think off. I loved the 80’s and all that I was getting up to then, but I love the life I live now as much if not more.

Do you still have any original 80s items?

In what regard? Clothes? Tech ? Cars ? No

Another thing that people will remember you for, although not 80s (apologies readers!) is Bad Influence. Were you a gamer in the 90s? Or are you a gamer nowadays?

Not really – then or now. I was more interested in the technical items but I did play the odd game.

Has anything happened to you in your adult life that “15-year old you” would never believe would ever happen? If modern day you went back in time 30 years and told yourself “When you’re grown up, you’ll meet **** ” for example? (I met Anthony Head last week, who was the man in the 80s Gold Blend adverts – If I went back in time to visit 15-year old me and told me that, I’d be convinced I was lying!)

Bless you for thinking it would be 30 years – I’m 54 so more like nearly 40. That I’d be on national TV, present Top of the Pops and still getting away with all this 35 years after I started.

Nowadays you are on the radio. Where can listeners tune in to hear you?

Here – https://planetradio.co.uk/key-2/

Thanks so much to Andy Crane for taking the time to answer these, and thanks for bringing the world National Willy Fog day!

As well as listening to his Key 2 show, you can also follow Andy on Twitter – https://twitter.com/andycrane64