Radio Moments - Conversations

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 launch...

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 was...

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 BBC...

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 BBC...

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 the...

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 his...

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 picke...

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 launc...

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 Ga...

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 of S...

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 Rosko...

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 Stok...

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 Conversations,...

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 in...

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. She o...

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 Controller o...

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 Beatle...

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 gene...

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 at...

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 theor...

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 fro...

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 offers...

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-sick...

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 stat...

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 as...