66: Russ Williams - Southern, Metro, Capital, Virgin presenter
This is the story of a man whose career grew from hospital radio roots to enjoy one of the longest commercial radio careers on national radio. In this edition of #Radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Russ Williams tells of his debut on a new Southern Sound before being lured north to a booming Metro Radio. A call from Richard Park secured Russ’s appointment at Capital, before he transferred to the la...
1hr 3m Apr 09, 2019
1hr 3m
65: Nick Bailey - Pirate radio, Classic FM
To launch a radio station means you’ll never be forgotten. This is the story of the man who launched the first national commercial radio station in the UK. In this edition of #radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Nick Bailey tells of his early days in pirate radio before travelling to work in Australia and Hong Kong. He then relates tales of the pioneering early days of the unexpected success which w...
59m Apr 09, 2019
59m
64: Roger Gale- Caroline, Scotland, 270 and Radio 4 presenter
He is the determined pirate radio disc jockey who won and kept a seat in Parliament. In this hour of #radiomoments Conversations, recorded in his Commons office, Sir Roger Gale tells of his dreams of becoming an actor which led to climbing the side of the Radio Caroline ship in before helping to set up pirate Radio Scotland and Radio 270. He relates the tales of life as a reporter at a young B...
56m Apr 09, 2019
56m
63: Sue MacGregor - Light Programme, Radio 4 presenter
On walking through the door as a typist for the Light Programme, little did she know that one day she’d be trusted to whisper a word into the ear of the nation on the famous Today programme. In this hour of #radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Sue MacGregor CBE tells of her journey through South African radio on to the BBC’s World at One, Woman’s Hour and Today. She relates rich stories of a bygone ...
59m Apr 09, 2019
59m
62: Anna Raeburn - Capital and LBC presenter
From aspirations of being an actress, she emerged as the award-winning contributor to a programme which was to guide Londoners through their emotional headaches in the ‘70s and ‘80s – and served to define a genre. In this edition of #radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Anna Raeburn tells of her early days editing the problem page of Woman magazine which led to her famous ‘Anna and the Doc’ days up t...
1hr 1m Apr 09, 2019
1hr 1m
61: Paul Robinson - Metro, Tees, Chiltern, Radio 1, Talk Radio executive
He rose from the ranks of hospital radio to run a national commercial station – and be part of the BBC strategic team which established the Corporation’s current direction. In this hour of #Radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Paul Robinson tells of his early days on-air at Metro, a station which told him his presentation was ‘too glossy', to an enjoyable spell down the road at Radio Tees. He shares ...
1hr 2m Apr 09, 2019
1hr 2m
60: Steve Penk - Piccadilly, Capital, Virgin presenter
This is the story of the man whose wind-up calls were to set him up for becoming a nationally known broadcaster. In this hour of Radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Steve Penk tells of his nervous beginnings at a young Piccadilly Radio in Manchester, and of the last-minute negotiations as he chose his first London gig. He relates the full story of the famous Tony Blair wind-up call; and of how he pi...
59m Apr 09, 2019
59m
59: Tony Blackburn - BBC and commercial radio presenter
The life story of a broadcaster whose career has spanned more than fifty years is worth hearing. In this episode of #Radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Tony Blackburn tells of his love for the medium to which he has devoted his life. Tony shares his happy childhood and his radio influences; his learnings from the pirate days; and his lengthy spell on BBC national and local radio. He speaks about la...
59m Apr 09, 2019
59m
58: Paul Chantler - Commercial radio exec and news guru
In this hour of #radiomoments ‘Conversations’, hear the story of the press journalist who dreamed of hosting a music radio show and who went on to lead some of the UK’s key stations at a pivotal moment in UK radio. Paul Chantler tells of his radio journey, from work experience and later presentation at BBC local radio, to leading the news and programme operations across a range of formats from...
1hr Apr 09, 2019
1hr
57: Pat Sharp - Capital and BBC Radio 1 presenter
Few broadcasters begin their radio career with an afternoon show on Radio 1. Pat Sharp did, before dashing off to Radio Luxembourg and back again. In this hour of Conversations’, Pat Sharp tells of how his early breakthrough happened and how he felt when he realised his ultimate dream - daytimes on Capital Radio in London. He tells too of his success abroad, his hits, jingle collecting - and o...
1hr 1m Apr 09, 2019
1hr 1m
56: Rosko - BBC Radio 1 and Caroline Presenter
This son of a Hollywood film producer would go on to star in Radio One’s launch day schedule. In this hour of Radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Emperor Rosko tells of his early life, his influences and his time on board Radio Caroline. He relates stories of how he was to rule France’s airwaves and recalls the story of Radio One’s approach and that first day on-air. In his own words, this is the R...
40m Apr 09, 2019
40m
55: Bruno Brookes - BBC Radio 1 and production executive
On the evening, weekend and early programmes, he played a key role in Radio 1 through the 80s and 90s; and his voice defined the UK Top 40 for three years. In this hour of #radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Bruno Brookes tells of his early influences in life and radio, his BBC local radio days and the call that led to his journey to Radio 1. He opens up about how London life felt to the boy from S...
57m Apr 09, 2019
57m
54: Peter Dickson - Voice artist
In a national poll, he was voted as having one of the top three iconic voices of the decade. It’s not surprising. Peter Dickson has worked on over 120 TV shows and series; voiced channel promos for around 60 stations around the world; featured on more than 30 AAA game titles; delivered more than 30,000 tv and radio ads; and appeared on all BBC networks. In this hour of #radiomoments Conversati...
55m Apr 09, 2019
55m
53: John Perkins - Commercial radio IRN news.
He helped to build IRN, the national news supplier for commercial radio, which was to serve around 300 stations – and make money. As a cub reporter, John Perkins was there on Day One of Liverpool’s Radio City in 1974 before graduating to a young LBC where he rose to managing editor before spinning off the news arm. In this hour of #Radiomoments ‘Conversations’, John tells of almost fifty years...
50m Apr 09, 2019
50m
53: Libby Purves - BBC Radio Oxford and Radio 4 presenter
From early duties at BBC Radio Oxford, Libby Purves rose to be the youngest and first female presenter on Today on Radio 4 – before taking on the Midweek programme which became her home for over thirty years. In this hour of #Radiomoments Conversations, she tells of her early carefree days, job-sharing with greats like John Timpson and Brian Redhead, and shares tales of her years on Midweek. S...
1hr Apr 09, 2019
1hr
52: Michael Barton - BBC local radio founder
This is the story of one of the architects of the local radio system we know today.  After a spell up North at the BBC, Michael was invited to contribute to the early ‘closed circuit’ trials in local radio in the early 60s which were to persuade of the merits in the approach. As the stations were rolled out formally, he was appointed to launch Radio Sheffield, in 1967. Michael rose to Controlle...
59m Apr 09, 2019
59m
51: Billy Butler - Radio Merseyside & Radio City presenter
Here is the life-story of a rich BBC local radio character, imbued with the spirit of his City. In this edition of Radiomoments 'Conversations', Billy Butler tells of his beginnings on a young BBC Radio Merseyside, and his memorable time at Radio City and its AM offshoots. He relates fond tales of his famous contests, his younger days on the Cavern scene, where he rubbed shoulders with the Be...
45m Apr 09, 2019
45m
50: Broadway Bill Lee - US presenter
When he left one US market, he called in all his rivals on his last show to pitch to win his audience. The anecdote speaks volumes about the character of ‘Broadway Bill’ Lee. Now, he’s become renowned in the UK for the ‘breaks’ (links) he puts on social media. In this hour of #radiomoments ‘Conversations’, this WCBS New York presenter talks of why he posts them. He says he want to show a new ...
48m Apr 09, 2019
48m
49: Keith Skues, Caroline, London, Radio 1 and 2 and Hallam presenter
He is one of a generation of broadcasters who witnessed radio’s incredible journey from the pirates to the present day: from AM to DAB.  In this hour of #radiomoments ‘Conversations', Keith Skues MBE AE tells of his love of the Light Programme which led to a foray into Forces Radio. The BBC beckoned, before Keith jumped on board the pirate Caroline. After a spell at Luxembourg, he was back out ...
55m Apr 09, 2019
55m
48: Jimmy Gordon - Radio Clyde - Commercial radio executive
This is the story of a man who began in television before discovering commercial radio as it launched in his beloved Scotland.  In this hour of #radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Lord Gordon of Strathblane, now aged 80, tells of the birth of Radio Clyde against a backdrop of failing stations in England. He shares tales of successes and frustrations; his famous ‘mother and chicks’ radio ownership th...
49m Apr 09, 2019
49m
47: Pete Murray - Radio Luxembourg, BBC and LBC presenter
He was the presenter who broadcast on Radio Luxembourg at its height, becoming a role model for the likes of Paul Burnett and Tony Blackburn. Once at the BBC, his daily Open House programme on Radio 2 was to attract huge audiences. In this hour of #radiomoments ‘Conversations, Pete Murray tells of his life, from his younger days in film through his many TV appearances and his decades in radio ...
52m Apr 09, 2019
52m
46: Tony Stoller - Commercial radio executive and regulator
He was the regulator who crossed the divide to manage a station and to serve the radio industry’s trade body, only then to return to a regulatory life, as he oversaw a critical stage in the development of UK radio. In this hour of #radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Tony Stoller CBE opens up about his early life at independent radio’s first regulator, the Independent Broadcasting Authority, and off...
59m Apr 09, 2019
59m
45: Paul Burnett - Radio Luxembourg and BBC presenter
He was one of the breed of presenters who debuted professionally on the pirate stations, before transferring to Radio Luxembourg and then to Radio 1, where he famously brought the news of the new chart to school pupils in every playground across Britain on a Tuesday lunchtime. In this hour of #radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Paul Burnett tells of his grounding in Forces broadcasting; his sea-sic...
57m Apr 09, 2019
57m
44: Alex Lester - BBC Radio 2 and local radio presenter
He was the jobbing BBC local radio presenter who was to end up spending thirty years at Radio 2, watching the network evolve from its Light legacy to the present day. In this hour of #radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Alex Lester tells of the eccentric early days of BBC local radio; the challenging debut for commercial radio; and the people with whom he shared his years on the UK’s biggest radio s...
1hr Apr 09, 2019
1hr
43: Alan Bailey - Commercial producer Radio Luxembourg & Trent
He loved the thought of a career in sound, fascinated by the pictures it could create. His early steps in radio took him to Radio Luxembourg's London studios working alongside the greats like Freeman and Everett; and his production was born from the most basic of equipment and a huge amount of creativity. He was to become one of the UK commercial radio industry's earliest commercial producers ...
58m Apr 09, 2019
58m
42: David Mansfield - Capital Radio, Commercial radio executive
He inherited Capital Radio as it wrestled with the fresh challenges of a fast-changing, competitive industry and made his mark on changing the perceptions of national advertising agencies towards the medium. His commercial focus - and an acquisition spree built the industry’s biggest business which was to be the lead player in the GCap merger. In this hour of #Radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Dav...
1hr Apr 09, 2019
1hr
41: Robin Lustig - BBC Radio 4 reporter and presenter
His measured tones became synonymous with late night Radio 4 as presenter of 'The World Tonight'. In this hour of 'Conversations', Robin Lustig tells of his early days in journalism at Reuters and the Observer before serving for decades at home and abroad with the BBC World Service and Radio 4. He shares how the BBC prepares its staff for working in hostile environments; and some of the secre...
1hr Apr 09, 2019
1hr
40: Neil Fox - Radio Wyvern, Capital, Magic presenter
This powerful voice began at Wyvern before rising with enviable speed to Luxembourg and to play a key part in Capital London’s truly dominant years. He took commercial radio’s chart to audience-leading position and assumed the Magic breakfast show for almost a decade as it too rose to rule the City. In this hour of ‘Conversations’, Neil ‘Doctor’ Fox tells of his father’s early reluctance to su...
1hr Apr 09, 2019
1hr
39: James Whale - Metro, Talk Radio, LBC phone-in host
Call him anything but not a shock jock. This is the story of the Southerner who moved North and defined UK late night radio. James Whale began his radio career on Day One at Newcastle’s Metro Radio, before moving to a brief, frustrating stint at BBC Radio Derby. When Radio Aire called, James answered and delivered a programme which was not only to be on radio but on TV too in one of the earlie...
58m Apr 09, 2019
58m
38: Stewart Francis - LBC, Pennine, Hereward presenter, executive and trade body exec
He was the presenter who graduated through the ranks to take his seat round the commercial radio industry table at a critical time in its history. In this hour of ‘Conversations’, Stewart Francis tells of being on-air on the first day of LBC and the early days of Pennine Radio in Bradford, before moving to launch Hereward in Peterborough. He shares stories of how Mid Anglia Radio was built and...
59m Apr 09, 2019
59m
37: Giles Squire - Metro Radio programmer
He was the boarding school boy who lied about his age and was to emerge as one of the leading programmers of his generation. Giles Squire joined a new United Biscuits Network which was to become renowned as a training ground for the new commercial radio network as it made its debut in the early seventies. It was to that network that Giles was appointed as Metro Radio went on-air. He was to re...
1hr Apr 09, 2019
1hr
36: Paul Brown - Radio Victory presenter, commercial radio regulator and trade body exec
His calm, firm hand was on the tiller of the radio industry for decades, from both port and starboard. A military career seemed less appetising once his booming voice was heard behind the BFBS microphone, and he soon returned home to debut on the UK’s fledgling commercial radio stations, progressing from Radio 210 in Reading to BRMB and then to the senior programming role at Radio Victory. Pa...
57m Apr 09, 2019
57m
35: Colin Berry - Caroline, BBC Light and Radio 2 presenter
His clear tones epitomised a calm era of Radio 2. Armed with some TV experience and a spell with the pirate Radio Caroline, Colin Berry joined the BBC’s new 'Light Programme' in the seventies. He was to host all of its major dayparts, from time to time, and was said to be the station’s longest continuous-serving news reader until his final bulletin in 2012. Famously too, for 25 years, we heard...
57m Apr 09, 2019
57m
34: Mark Goodier - BBC Radio 1 and commercial presenter and production exec
Mark Goodier spent 15 years at BBC Radio 1, hosting shows across the schedule and famously presenting ‘The Evening Session’ and the Top 40 as the station evolved with speed through the 80s and 90s. In this hour of Conversations, Mark tells of his early days at Forth, Tay and Clyde before his transfer to 'Britain's Favourite’, where he was to learn from the greats. He reflects honestly on his l...
59m Apr 09, 2019
59m
33: Johnnie Walker - Pirate, BBC and commercial presenter
Forever the rebel. In this edition of #Radiomoments ‘Conversations’, enjoy a full hour with Johnnie Walker. Hear how his early love for radio led to a surprise appointment to the pirate Radio England, and then on to Caroline, where he achieved huge popularity and famously was one of very few who stayed on board as the station went from illegitimacy to illegality. Johnnie opens up about his Rad...
1hr Apr 09, 2019
1hr
32: Helen Boaden - BBC Executive
From her modest beginnings in a complex home, Helen Boaden rose to the top offices of the BBC; and emerged as a much respected and loved figure in a changing industry. In this edition of #Radiomoments ‘Conversations’ she tells of her early days in commercial radio at Tees and Aire, and her first impressions of the Corporation in Leeds. Rising quickly through the male-led ranks, she quickly car...
46m Apr 09, 2019
46m
31: Quentin Howard - Chief Engineer, DAB pioneer
He was the former ballet dancer who went on to run the engineering department at one of the nation’s biggest radio groups. In this edition of #radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Quentin Howard shares stories of his early days at BRMB and Severn Sound, the expansion of GWR and the creation of the first UK national commercial FM network. Hear too the story of how DAB began - and how close it came to n...
57m Apr 09, 2019
57m
30: Dirk Anthony - GWR programmer
From a small town radio station in Tasmania, he crossed the World to emerge as one of the UK's most powerful programmers. In this hour of #radiomoments conversations, Dirk Anthony tells of his decades in radio, from reading out the trade-its in Australia, to a programmer role in Ireland before being appointed to a key role in growing the GWR business - and then onto the complex times following...
56m Apr 09, 2019
56m
29: Nicky Horne - UBN, Capital, Virgin and BBC presenter
For a generation, his was the daring voice of an initially cautious Capital Radio, as the host of ‘Your Mother Wouldn’t Like it’. In this edition of Conversations, enjoy an hour with Nicky Horne. Nicky speaks of his early days in the discos and on biscuit factory radio at UBN, before opening up about his break at Capital where he was to work alongside those he’d admired in their pirate beginni...
56m Apr 09, 2019
56m
28: Jeremy Vine - BBC presenter, reporter and journalist
Radio and music were his first loves. Now, having become a familiar face on TV, he’s settled on his hugely successful Radio 2 afternoon programme. In this edition of #Radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Jeremy Vine tells with good humour of his early days in journalism; his progression through the BBC newsroom ranks from trainee to reporter to political and, later, foreign correspondent; before beco...
56m Apr 09, 2019
56m
27: Martin Campbell - Presenter and regulator
He spearheaded the original Talk Radio UK, managed the talk output of BRMB in its early days, and managed programming for Mercury and the Allied Group. He also played a major role in news training in the National Broadcasting School and was a senior executive at the Radio Authority, later Ofcom.   In this hour of Conversations, Martin Campbell recalls his days in press and talks through his rad...
58m Apr 09, 2019
58m
26: Gillian Reynolds - Radio City and media journalist
She was the first female programme controller of a commercial radio station, launching Radio City in her home town of Liverpool in 1974. In this hour of #Radiomoments ‘Conversations‘, Gillian Reynolds tells of those pioneering days. Hear too of the radio listening which accompanied her youth and helped to form her views of what makes great radio. Those views have been expressed eloquently and ...
50m Apr 09, 2019
50m
25: Tom Edwards - Pirate and Radio 2 presenter
Life on board the pirate radio ships is often talked about, but maybe less so the life of the teams on the offshore forts, where 60s pirate stations were also based. The career of Tom Edwards began on the Shivering Sands towers, the home of Radio City, a station which was to hit the headlines in 1966 owing to a tragic death. He then crossed to the legendary Caroline as the clocked ticked by to ...
58m Apr 09, 2019
58m
24: Peter Levy - Pennine Radio & BBC radio and TV presenter
Few presenters manage to pull off both radio and TV. Peter Levy has. In this hour of ‘Conversations’, he tells of his early radio days, soaking up the heady atmosphere at a young Radio City and the launch days of Pennine in Bradford and Radio Aire in Leeds. Enjoy the tales of his cautious early steps into BBC local radio, and find out exactly why he was first chosen to deliver a TV news bullet...
54m Apr 09, 2019
54m
23: Teddy Johnson - Radio Luxembourg, Radio 2 and Eurovision performer
This is a story of radio, of music - and of love. As Radio Luxembourg returned after the War, a small number of disc jockeys arrived in the Grand Duchy to entertain the UK and Ireland from afar, against a backdrop of a staid BBC. Teddy Johnson was one of its earliest presenters, deploying an ad lib conversational style which was less common from Broadcasting House. His first love, however, had...
39m Apr 09, 2019
39m
22: Matthew Bannister - BBC Executive
The heady Blur/Oasis days of the 90s should have been a perfect time to be running a station for passionate young music fans across the UK. It turned out to be altogether more complex, however, for Radio 1, as its new Controller grasped the challenge of returning this huge station to its roots. Whilst that spell often serves to define Matthew Bannister, this sixty minute #RadioMoments ‘Convers...
1hr Apr 09, 2019
1hr
21: Chris Carnegy - Commercial radio presenter and executive
Chris Carnegy persuaded his way into Portsmouth’s Radio Victory as a student, little knowing he’d witness the sudden end of its life, as its franchise became the first to be whisked away by the regulator. He later emerged as a leading light in its replacement, Ocean Sound. Having established the successful Spire FM in Salisbury and playing a key role in the Local Radio Company, Chris acquired ...
56m Apr 09, 2019
56m
20: Bob Hermon - Music plugger
In the Midlands – and beyond, a welcome from every music radio station has been extended for decades to Bob Hermon, a record plugger with an enviable reputation - and a mantelpiece full of much-deserved awards. Bob moved quietly into the music industry as commercial radio began, moving the ranks in a fast-changing world at CBS and Sony, before rolling as an independent more recently. He is wel...
54m Apr 09, 2019
54m
19: Alice Arnold - BBC Radio 4 announcer, newsreader and actor
She owned one of Radio 4’s most quietly recognisable voices. As she gulped an emotional farewell at the end of her late night announcing shift in 2012, Alice Arnold walked off into another chapter. In this edition of #Radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Alice recalls her roots on stage, her love of radio drama and her voyage through decades at Radio 4, as continuity announcer, newsreader on the flag...
46m Apr 09, 2019
46m
18: Tony Prince - Radio Luxembourg presenter
Renowned for his spell on-air and at the helm of Radio Luxembourg in its final powerful era, this is the story of a man who built his early reputation as a performer - and at the decks in the dance halls - before climbing the rope ladder to his first radio shows on board Radio Caroline. In this hour of #RadioMoments ‘Conversations’, he tells of his love for music; his enthusiasm for the art of ...
58m Apr 09, 2019
58m