Crunch & Roll

We've heard lots of reasons why people get into radio on this podcast. Often it stems from a childhood obsession, starting with good old Bedroom FM, then maybe doing mobile discos, hospital radio and what have you... It's almost a calling.

For the guest of this episode though, that really wasn't the case. She just wanted to dress up as her local radio station's mascot!

After realising her ambition, she then went on to become one of the most heard voices on UK radio.

Sally Bailey presented the ubiquitous, showbiz evening show Music Control.

She also had iconic stints on Galaxy and Red Dragon, forming memorable double-acts with with Kam Kelly and Kevin Hughes. In fact, if you were to say "Kam and..." or "Kevin and..." to a generation of radio people they'd all know the only acceptable response is "Sally".

These days, Sally is one of the hardest-working and most recognisable voiceovers in the UK, as well as doing a daily show on Virgin Radio Chilled.

In this episode hear about how she worked for free for a ridiculously long time; which global mega-star made her cry; and who she did an "abysmal" demo with to try and get on Capital.

Sally's on Virgin Radio Chilled, weekdays 10-2: https://virginradio.co.uk/play/virginradiochilled

Hear some classic Kam and Sally here, including their very first episode: https://www.aircheckdownloads.com/uk-airchecks/corecontrol/2000s/kam-sally-first-show-sept-2nd-2002-723

Sally's voiceover website: https://www.bristolvoiceover.co.uk/

Help keep the Crunch & Roll episodes coming, and support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

This is the second part of John Fox's chat with Manchester radio stalwart Adam Cole.

Catch up on part one if you've not heard it yet...

... because this episode he swaps Moss Side for Miami.

Hear about how this hot jock ended up reading the news; presenting a breakfast show with his boss; and probably the most uncompassionate and brutal sacking we've ever heard about ("In for a penny, I've got nothing to lose").

It's a rollercoaster.

Adam’s current project is the spiky upstart in the MCR radio market, and it’s rather good. Have a listen: https://www.thisisthebuzz.com/

Here’s some classic Cole cuts: https://aircheckdownloads.com/audio-search?term=adam+cole&sort_bef_combine=relevance_DESC

Help keep the Crunch & Roll episodes coming, and support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

shaft

/ʃɑːft/

verb

past tense: shafted; past participle: shafted

vulgar slang, informal

treat (someone) harshly or unfairly.

There are moments in some people’s career where they’re riding on the crest of a wave and an exciting new challenge comes along and tempts them away with promises that are too good to say no to.

Then… see above.

Adam Cole is a stalwart of the Manchester radio scene and has been for a very long time. In fact, he’s worked at every major station in the market there, and at one notable example FOUR times.

His Galaxy breakfast show was legendary, hugely successful and multi award-winning.

And it’s probably his success there that set the scene for what was to come.

In this episode we find out why he got sacked from hospital radio, which legend he eagerly got CDs out for before his breakfast show, and hear about a wind up call that went a bit too well.

This is the first of two episodes with Adam – look out for the second on this feed very soon.

Adam’s current project is the spiky upstart in the MCR radio market, and it’s rather good. Have a listen: https://www.thisisthebuzz.com/

Here’s some classic Cole cuts: https://aircheckdownloads.com/audio-search?term=adam+cole&sort_bef_combine=relevance_DESC

Help keep the Crunch & Roll episodes coming, and support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

Some of our guests dip their toe in the exotic world of overseas radio but end up gravitating back to the UK. We get the impression that Ian Camfield though, would rather lose a limb than return home.

He's and XFM legend - there from the start and through the glory days which we hard about in part one of this two-parter. In this second part though, we cross the pond to the good ol' US of A where we hear the crazy circumstances of how he got his first gig over there; the cut-throat world of American radio; and a man called Don Belucas.

And he's got his own fancy website: https://iancamfield.com/

Follow Crunch & Roll on Bluesky for the heads up on future episodes and exclusive clips: https://bsky.app/profile/crunchnroll.bsky.social

And you can support the pod on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

Some of our guests dip their toe in the exotic world of overseas radio but end up gravitating back to the UK. We get the impression that Ian Camfield though would rather lose a limb than return home.

He's and XFM legend - there from the start and through the glory days - but plies his trade in the US nowadays... but more of that in part two.

In part one we concentrate on the Camfield origin story, including which Radio One behemoth invited him into his (very loud) studio when he was just aged eight, and started him on his stellar career trajectory. Also find out how the stigma of working on a certain station almost meant his XFM dream died before it had even started, and which kings-of-rock asked him to help get their personal trainer a US visa.

This is part one of two, so keep an eye out for the second on this very feed.

And he's got his own fancy website: https://iancamfield.com/

Follow Crunch & Roll on Bluesky for the heads up on future episodes and exclusive clips: https://bsky.app/profile/crunchnroll.bsky.social

And you can support the pod on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

Hey man! It's Griffo!

For those of you not familiar with Griffo's work, he's a legend of the airwaves in North Wales and Yorkshire. He's tighter than a gnat's chuff and has a voice that Morgan Freeman would kill for.

As one former boss told him in a snoop, "You make my station sound BIG"!

Foxy's know Griffo for almost a quarter of a century having worked with him at V*king FM, so he has some stories to hit him with off the bat. And there's plenty of stuff he didn't know about too, including how he got his first break on air at 16; how an engineer fell on him mid-link; and there's a classic instance of a laissez-faire interpretation of GDPR with regards Phonebox.

He also reads out a memo sent by an eccentric MD in 1999, subject line: Men's Toilets. It's INCREDIBLE.

Griffo's website: https://griffomedia.com/

Classic Griffo: https://www.aircheckdownloads.com/audio-search?term=griffo&sort_bef_combine=relevance_DESC

Twitter: https://x.com/GriffoMedia

Support Crunch & Roll: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

We all have those moments in our lives where we look back and think, why did I do that.

In radio terms, Paul Hayes 'why did I do that' moment was HUGE. Let's just say it involved a Richard Park, Ashley Tabor and a pizza.

Paul's done a decade on the mighty Magic in London, but his career has taken in big stations in the UK, Canada and UAE, so the guides us through stories from his time at Southern FM, Galaxy, Heart and more.

Including how he once rearranged a former PD's entire house, much to his anger; how his brother made a joke about his career trajectory that unfortunately came true; and how one boss took him out with "a wad of cash" in an attempt to change his mind about leaving!

Hear Paul in action on pretty much all his stations, here: https://www.aircheckdownloads.com/audio-search?term=paul+hayes&sort_bef_combine=relevance_DESC

Paul's on Magic early breakfast, 4am-6am, Monday to Friday: https://hellorayo.co.uk/magic/presenters/paul-hayes/

Paul's Twitter: https://x.com/hayesonair

Like what you hear? We'd be eternally grateful for any support you can give on Ko-Fi. https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

What? Another legend from the station formerly known as Wave 105? Ambassador, you're spoiling us.

Mark Collins is another stalwart of the South Coast radio scene and still plies his trade on the mighty 105.2FM (or DAB 11B / 11C in new money), under it's new name, Great Hits Radio. You might have heard of it...

But Mark had a career longer than most before he'd ever been to the South Coast taking in Chiltern, Red Dragon, Radio City, Hallam and one single show on TalkSport amongst others.

Highlights of his chat with Foxy include learning the lesson of taking a job just for the money might not always be the best option; how he was effectively guarantor to a well know presenter he wanted to hire against the wishes of his boss; and the best story about giving away a Panasonic boombox in South Wales that you'll ever hear.

Here's a stack of classic Collins: https://www.aircheckdownloads.com/audio-search?term=mark+collins&sort_bef_combine=relevance_DESC

Hear Mark on Greatest Hits Radio South Coast, weekdays 1300-1600: https://planetradio.co.uk/greatest-hits/south-coast/

Mark's Twitter: https://x.com/SparkyTheClown

Feel free to drop down a Trainspotting rabbit hole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnKLvmuo1Vs

Support Crunch & Roll: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

Us radio folk wear the term anorak as a badge of honour. But no matter how big a radio geek you think you are, you're really not, because John Foster is the Anorak in Chief.

As Foxy chats to him, he produces pieces of paraphernalia, liberated from former workplaces, each with a story attached. He also has an incredible memory for details such as radio station addresses, straplines and trim levels of branded cars he's owned!

He takes us through his career, from the heady early days at Radio Cleveland, right through to the emotional times towards the end of his time in the industry.

Listen to some classic Foster here, with clips from pretty much every station he's ever worked at!: https://www.aircheckdownloads.com/audio-search?term=john+foster&sort_bef_combine=relevance_DESC

Need a voice over, some media training or event hosting? John's your man: https://www.johnfostervoice.com/

John's Twitter: https://x.com/johnfostervoice

Support Crunch & Roll: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

We've featured some presenters who are synonymous with the stations where they plied their trade for an impressive amount of time - Fresh at Beacon and Elliott Webb at BRMB for example - and there's no denying that James Heming is Mr Invicta.

He spent the majority of his career at a station in Kent, somewhere he admits he couldn't have pointed to on a map before moving there! And for an incredible 19 of years of his time there, he was on Breakfast. Not bad for a cover jock...

He also opens up about his ill-fated stint on XFM breakfast; his bromance with a well-known fellow Invicta presenter; and how he dropped the F bomb on at 8.10 one morning!

So tune in and rip the knob off! (If you know, you know...)

James's socials: https://www.instagram.com/jamesjheming/ | https://x.com/jamesheming

James on XFM! https://www.aircheckdownloads.com/uk-airchecks/xfm-london/1990s/james-heming-aug-29th-1998-230

Listen to James, weekend mornings, 7-11: https://www.madeinkent.co.uk/shows

If you enjoy the podcast, just want to give you a quick reminder that we’d be grateful if you would support us on Ko-Fi:  https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll