1. George Webley, better known by the stage name Big George, was a British musician, composer, bandleader and broadcaster who has been described as one of Britain's most successful theme music writers.
10 Facts About Big George
1. 2.
Big George became friends with and regularly accompanied Herbie Flowers in his late teens after writing to the bassist for advice and was a session bass player until the age of 30.
3.
Big George became a musical director for EMI at 30 and produced dozens of chart records.
4.
Big George composed or arranged the theme music for the television programmes Have I Got News for You, The Office, Room 101, and The Graham Norton Show as well as play-out music for One Foot in the Grave.
5.
Big George successfully finished the show but was forced to take the next three years off to fully recover.
6.
Big George appeared as an expert musicologist on various TV and radio programmes, including The Big Breakfast, Esther, Kilroy, 5Live Breakfast with Nicky Campbell, Radio 4's Today, John Peel's Home Truths, Moral Notes, and Landmark Places with Laurie Taylor.
7.
Big George produced over three dozen parodies, songs and live performances for the Radio 1 Roadshow with Chris Moyles, who described him in his book The Gospel According to Chris Moyles as a genius.
8.
Big George was mentioned in Angie Bowie's biography Backstage Passes and in Bruce Thomas: The Big Wheel.
9.
Big George hosted his radio show on BBC London 94.9 for four years.
10.
Big George was known to be witty, enthusiastic about music and to have a fantastic general knowledge.