It was initially hosted by Stewart MacPherson but in 1947 Richard Dimbleby took over its presentation until 1955, then Franklin Engelmann until his death in 1972 when Brian Johnston took over until 1987. In 1975, despite then being the second most popular programme on radio, it was taken off the air as an 'economy measure'. It was subsequently reinstated, after a storm of popular protest. Its well-remembered signature tune was called "Horseguards, Whitehall."