Letters from the BBC archives show that the late Terry Wogan was twice turned down for jobs at the British broadcaster, on one occasion by then BBC Two Channel Controller David Attenborough.
The letters are published in UK entertainment magazine Radio Times' special tribute edition to Terry Wogan, who passed away last month at the age of 77 after a short battle with cancer.
The correspondence shows that the Limerick man, who began his broadcasting career with RTÉ, wrote looking for a job with BBC Two in 1964 and again in 1965.
In the second letter, addressed directly to Attenborough and written on RTÉ notepaper, Terry Wogan said: "My reason for writing to you is simply ambition."
He continued that he wanted to "extend the sphere of my television activities, to see if the success which I have enjoyed in Ireland can be translated to British television".
David Attenborough
"Good Lord! He wrote asking me for work? I don't remember this at all," presenter and naturalist Attenborough told Radio Times, explaining that he received over 10,000 letters a year.
Attenborough's reply to Terry Wogan in 1965 stated that BBC Two did not have any vacancies for someone with his "particular talents and experience" at the time. The letter explained that one of the chief announcers with BBC Two, Denis Tuohy, was from Belfast.
Reflecting on that era, Attenborough said: "To have had two Irishmen presenting on BBC Two would have looked ridiculous. This is no comment whatsoever on Terry Wogan's talents. It's just that I couldn't have had two Irish presenters."
By 1966, Terry Wogan had secured a job with the BBC, hosting a programme called Midday Spin.
When the corporation reorganised its output, he began working on the new Late Night Extra slot on BBC Radio 1, for which he commuted from Dublin.
His TV and radio career with the BBC then flourished as he became one of the organisation's biggest and warmest personalities.
His BBC Radio 2 breakfast show, with his recognisable voice and his wry, rambling thoughts on life, achieved the UK's biggest and most loyal audience.
Millions of early-morning listeners tuned in to hear his gentle and witty commentary on the affairs of the day, both trivial and momentous. It was all delivered in a soft Irish brogue, sometimes cutting but never malicious. He put a smile on the faces of countless people at their breakfast tables.
Terry Wogan announced in September 2009 that he would be leaving the show in December of that year. He returned to BBC Radio 2 in February 2010 with Weekend Wogan on Sundays and continued presenting the show until Sunday November 8, 2015.
Later that week, he was forced to pull out of presenting BBC Children in Need at the last minute due to health issues. He passed away on Sunday January 31.
Last Friday, the BBC announced that Terry Wogan's funeral would be a private service for his family.
"No further details will be released, and we ask that the family's wish for privacy is respected at this time," concluded the BBC statement.
