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Q: You had a love of music and radio from a very early age... how old were you when you took your first steps into broadcasting and what inspired you to take this career path?
A: I was fascinated by my parents’ record collection; not that it was a particularly large one, just a small collection of singles, but there was something about those round 7inch things that sound emitted from, which ignited a love for music. Instead of toys I would ask for songs, which I saw on Top of The Pops each week. Unfortunately, as we didn’t have much money, I had to wait until they had dropped out of the chart and ended up in the ex-jukebox 50p section, from which my mum used to allow me to pick two singles each week. By the age of 12, I’d amassed a good few hundred singles which was enough for me to start my own little mobile disco, doing friends’ birthdays, school discos and youth clubs.
Q: What was your first job on radio?
A: In addition to learning how to DJ, I was captivated by the world of radio. I remember my dad sitting me down in front of our family radio as ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was playing and saying, “listen to THIS!”. Not only did the song blow my mind, it started a thought process of how this song was actually getting to the radio. Who was the man speaking afterwards? Why were they advertising double glazing? And what does FM mean? This started an obsession with radio, which led me to ring my local radio stations to enter every single competition and try and speak to the DJ to ask them my geeky questions. Eventually, I plucked up the courage to ask one of the DJs at Radio Aire in Leeds, a guy called Paul Stead (who is now an award-winning television executive), if I could possibly sit in on his Sunday afternoon show. To my amazement he said YES! I went in the following Sunday, aged 12, and essentially didn’t leave until I was 18! I went on to work on almost every show, became a top-notch tea maker, and eventually made it onto the air aged 16 on the overnight show… a big hello to all you truckers out there at 3am!
Q: Who are your radio heroes?
A: Oh, this is a tough question. Without doubt, there are the ones I grew up listening to on Radio Aire: Paul Stead, Carl Kingston, Peter Tait, Ray Stroud and James Whale. Then there are the nationally well-known ones like Bruno Brookes, who for my era was the master at presenting the chart, he just made it sound so massive. John Peel is another, for his passion for new music along with introducing me to so many different genres. Annie Nightingale is a legend, for being the first female DJ; in 2020 she is celebrating an incredible 50 years on Radio 1! I also love Sara Cox for her wonderful gift of being able to empty her brain on the air in an incredibly entertaining way, Alex Lester for his unique ability to tell stories, and, finally, Kenny Everett for teaching me that every show is like a field of unpicked flowers. Create, Create, Create. You did ask!!!
Q: You’ve enjoyed a hugely successful career in broadcasting... which radio stations have you worked on?
A: I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work on some of the biggest stations in the UK during my 33 year career… although I did start very young remember! After first getting on the air at Radio Aire aged 16, I moved to The Pulse evening show at 19, right in the middle of the Brit Pop explosion. I then went to the Hallam FM drivetime slot at 21 years old, which moved me on in my quest to become a breakfast show host at 25. I achieved that with a move to Viking FM Breakfast, where I won my first Sony Radio Award. This got me noticed by the big guns at Galaxy (which eventually became Capital), the biggest commercial radio station outside of London. I took over the breakfast show there in 2003 and remained with the station until 2014 with an audience of 1.4 Million. Alongside that I was chosen to take over from Dr Fox presenting the national chart show, Hit40UK, to 6 million listeners between 2004 and 2007. After all that I decided to take some time out from broadcasting, which I spent at home and in LA. In 2018 it felt like the time was right to return to a daily show, which I now present for the BBC.
Q: You must have a few famous friends... any funny stories?
A: There are a few well-known names that I’m lucky to call close friends… although I’m proud of being known for keeping my trap shut! HA!
Q: What type of music do you like to listen to?
A: I love all
A: I was fascinated by my parents’ record collection; not that it was a particularly large one, just a small collection of singles, but there was something about those round 7inch things that sound emitted from, which ignited a love for music. Instead of toys I would ask for songs, which I saw on Top of The Pops each week. Unfortunately, as we didn’t have much money, I had to wait until they had dropped out of the chart and ended up in the ex-jukebox 50p section, from which my mum used to allow me to pick two singles each week. By the age of 12, I’d amassed a good few hundred singles which was enough for me to start my own little mobile disco, doing friends’ birthdays, school discos and youth clubs.
Q: What was your first job on radio?
A: In addition to learning how to DJ, I was captivated by the world of radio. I remember my dad sitting me down in front of our family radio as ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was playing and saying, “listen to THIS!”. Not only did the song blow my mind, it started a thought process of how this song was actually getting to the radio. Who was the man speaking afterwards? Why were they advertising double glazing? And what does FM mean? This started an obsession with radio, which led me to ring my local radio stations to enter every single competition and try and speak to the DJ to ask them my geeky questions. Eventually, I plucked up the courage to ask one of the DJs at Radio Aire in Leeds, a guy called Paul Stead (who is now an award-winning television executive), if I could possibly sit in on his Sunday afternoon show. To my amazement he said YES! I went in the following Sunday, aged 12, and essentially didn’t leave until I was 18! I went on to work on almost every show, became a top-notch tea maker, and eventually made it onto the air aged 16 on the overnight show… a big hello to all you truckers out there at 3am!
Q: Who are your radio heroes?
A: Oh, this is a tough question. Without doubt, there are the ones I grew up listening to on Radio Aire: Paul Stead, Carl Kingston, Peter Tait, Ray Stroud and James Whale. Then there are the nationally well-known ones like Bruno Brookes, who for my era was the master at presenting the chart, he just made it sound so massive. John Peel is another, for his passion for new music along with introducing me to so many different genres. Annie Nightingale is a legend, for being the first female DJ; in 2020 she is celebrating an incredible 50 years on Radio 1! I also love Sara Cox for her wonderful gift of being able to empty her brain on the air in an incredibly entertaining way, Alex Lester for his unique ability to tell stories, and, finally, Kenny Everett for teaching me that every show is like a field of unpicked flowers. Create, Create, Create. You did ask!!!
Q: You’ve enjoyed a hugely successful career in broadcasting... which radio stations have you worked on?
A: I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work on some of the biggest stations in the UK during my 33 year career… although I did start very young remember! After first getting on the air at Radio Aire aged 16, I moved to The Pulse evening show at 19, right in the middle of the Brit Pop explosion. I then went to the Hallam FM drivetime slot at 21 years old, which moved me on in my quest to become a breakfast show host at 25. I achieved that with a move to Viking FM Breakfast, where I won my first Sony Radio Award. This got me noticed by the big guns at Galaxy (which eventually became Capital), the biggest commercial radio station outside of London. I took over the breakfast show there in 2003 and remained with the station until 2014 with an audience of 1.4 Million. Alongside that I was chosen to take over from Dr Fox presenting the national chart show, Hit40UK, to 6 million listeners between 2004 and 2007. After all that I decided to take some time out from broadcasting, which I spent at home and in LA. In 2018 it felt like the time was right to return to a daily show, which I now present for the BBC.
Q: You must have a few famous friends... any funny stories?
A: There are a few well-known names that I’m lucky to call close friends… although I’m proud of being known for keeping my trap shut! HA!
Q: What type of music do you like to listen to?
A: I love all
The full review can be found in Pro Mobile Issue 100, Pages 42-46.
