Radio Moments - Conversations

From history student to running one of the early commercial radio networks.

In this hour of ‘Radio Moments – Conversations, Colin Mason tells of his move to the US where he indulged his love of radio whilst studying – and how he persuaded his way through the doors of local stations there. 

Back home, after a short spell at the BBC, he moved to TV as a continuity announcer before returning to the Corporation at BBC Radio Durham and Radio Bristol.  As commercial radio began across the UK, Colin tells how it felt to set up the first station in Wales – Swansea Sound, before moving to launch Chiltern Radio.

As the Chiltern network grew into Northampton, Milton Keynes - and Wales and the South West on winning the regional licence, Colin headed the management team for 14 years. He opens up the struggle to retain control – and how it felt when his efforts were thwarted and the stations were bought by GWR.

Colin also tells of his radio ventures whilst serving in the Forces -and those in his new home in the Channel Islands. He shares his thoughts too on the future of radio,  and his philosophy – ‘This is showbiz – be an entertainer’.

This is the Colin Mason story – in his own words.

From music student - to delivering an environment for commercial radio fit for a digital age – and a fascinating life beyond.

In this hour of ‘Radio Moments Conversations’, Lisa Kerr tells of her life - moving from promising music student to eager helper at Radio Forth before graduating to Classic FM.

She opens up about the successes and challenges of her first management role at Channel Travel Radio as it grew into the small-scale radio group Radio Services Ltd.

Transferring to commercial radio’s trade body, later known as Radiocentre, she was promoted to a senior strategic role, committed to the thinking and the lobbying necessary to help deliver an environment in which UK commercial radio companies could continue to thrive in a fast-changing digital media world.

Lisa tells of leaving radio – and reflects honestly on an industry which, for so long, was uninviting to women in senior roles. She talks of embracing change and transferable skills - and shares her enthusiasm for her more recent endeavours - including her current role as principal of Gordonstoun School.

Hear the whole ‘Radio Moments Conversations’ series here – and sign up for the regular podcast for this ongoing series. Music by Larry Bryant. 

From a chef and hairdresser - to becoming one of Liverpool’s leading on-air characters.

In this hour of Radio Moments – Conversations, Pete Price tells of his early years on stage at a colourful time in Liverpool’s before making his debut on BBC Radio Merseyside. After more years as a comedian and singer, tempted back to Radio City, he was offered the late-night phone which he made his own. 

Shunted from Radio City across Magic, City Gold and the first and subsequent incarnation of City Talk, the programme developed a life of its own.

Pete opens up about how he helped his city through Hillsborough and the murder of Jamie Bulger. He talks too about the importance of sound management and gifted production, of the drama of great radio – and his fears about the future of the phone in genre itself – and about the future of radio talent.

In his own words, this is the Pete Price story.

Hear the whole ‘Radio Moments Conversations’ series here – and sign up for the regular podcast for this ongoing series. Music by Larry Bryant. 

He rose from being a BBC administration assistant to holding the Capital breakfast show for around ten years in commercial radio’s formative years.

In this hour of ‘Radio Moments – Conversations’, Graham Dene tell of his childhood love of radio and his efforts to creep into the business via a post as an administrator with the BBC. A transfer to the BBC library followed, from which he met the key individuals who would lead to his first on-air job at a factory radio station. He tells of life inside UBN, then a training ground for the country’s first commercial radio stations.

Turned down by Capital, he reveals what life was like on Day One of Radio City in Liverpool – and then of the opportunity to return to London as Capital started to find its feet. Graham, opens up about life at Euston Tower and about the characters with whom he shared those years.

Appointed to the Capital breakfast show to his surprise, he had the honour of hosting it for two five year spells, succeeding Kenny Everett and preceding Chris Tarrant. One avid listener was famously Diana, Princess of Wales, and Graham tells of his encounters with her.

After a spell at Capital Gold, Graham moved to launch the original Virgin Radio 1215 before spending time at Magic and Smooth. He tells here too of his enthusiasm for his recent work at BBC local radio.

In his own words, this is the Graham Dene story.

Hear the whole ‘Radio Moments Conversations’ series here – and sign up for the regular podcast for this ongoing series. Music by Larry Bryant. 

He was the disgraced schoolboy who was to become the first presenter on Capital Radio in 1973 – and on-air in the first week of Radio 1.

In this hour of Radio Moments – Conversations, David Symonds talks about his life journey from the challenges of his youth  - and his acting ambition  - through his early days on air in New Zealand. He tells of his early days announcing programmes for the Home Service and Light Programme – and preparing to go on-air on early evening across the first week of Radio 1’s life. He also opens up about the crime which was the catalyst for his Radio1 departure.

Invited to join Capital Radio, David is second only to Richard Attenborough as the station made its debut in 1973 – and he shares what he thought about the station’s early strategy. Moving then into programme management himself, he relates his thinking as he launched Radio Victory.

Back to the BBC, it’s a return to continuity at Radio 4 before being invited to host a new late afternoon programme on Radio 2 as it ventures into a ‘beautiful music’ format – and David tells of his feelings when that too came to an abrupt end.

After some time on-air in LA, it was back to London for Radio 4 and then Capital Gold, before adjourning to Cyprus and then to France.

In his own word – this is the David Symonds story.

Hear the whole ‘Radio Moments Conversations’ series here – and sign up for the regular podcast for this ongoing series. Music by Larry Bryant. 

From working as a car park attendant and being turned down by the BBC - to hosting some of the biggest slots on the UK’s largest stations.

In this hour of ‘Radio Moments – Conversations’, Simon Mayo speaks candidly about his life and career, from his early experiences at hospital and student radio, through his days at BBC Radio Brighton and Radio Nottingham.  Then - spotted by the BBC - he climbs quickly to Radio 1, where he graduates to the breakfast show and then on to the mid-morning show where his Confessions feature thrives.

When BBC Radio 5 Live calls, Simon rises to the challenge, and he talks here about how it felt to be on air as the tragedy of 9/11 unfolded.  He discusses too Kermode and Mayo's Film Review and why it has captured a new audience.

Alongside his 5 Live work, he begins at Radio 2, eventually being asked to take on the drive show, which had been hosted previously by Chris Evans – and Simon’s early hero Johnnie Walker. That show, famously, ends in a way Simon would not have chosen and he reflects on what might have been done differently.

The new Scala Radio called – and Simon talks about his first commercial radio experiences. Plus - what does Simon make of radio’s role in the extraordinary conditions created by the COVID 19 virus?

In his own words – this is the Simon Mayo story.

Hear the whole ‘Radio Moments Conversations’ series here – and sign up for the regular podcast for this ongoing series. Music by Larry Bryant. 

From a place behind a newsagent's counter armed just with a single O’ level – emerging as a leading influence in getting the business of brand-based commercial radio into shape as Group Commercial Director at Chrysalis, then COO at Global Radio.

In this hour of ‘Radio Moments – Conversations’, Don Thomson tells of his days at the mighty Kelloggs, before alighting on a career in radio at a colourful Piccadilly in Manchester. He moved to LWT, before establishing a national radio airtime sales agency representing the UK’s newest stations – and then returning to Piccadilly as sales director.   

As Chrysalis won the first of its major radio licences, Don was appointed as sales director, helping to establish Heart in the West Midlands where he designed refreshing and more accountable customer-focused ad policies as the medium became more competitive for both clients and audiences. His role broadened as Chrysalis won the London licence and his clear vision and operational focus helped to position the brand approach to radio we recognise today.

On the acquisition of Chrysalis by the new Global Radio in 2007, Don became Chief Operating Officer, helping to integrate the GCap stations as Global rose to its dominant position. Since leaving the Company, he has been involved in a variety of projects, including a period as Chief Exec of Celador Radio.

He reflects on the lessons he learned from Kelloggs; the tricks of client relationships; and the programmers and presenters who have helped or hindered commercial efforts.

In his own words – this is the Don Thomson story.

Hear the whole ‘Radio Moments Conversations’ series here – and sign up for the regular podcast for this ongoing series. Music by Larry Bryant. 

Having helped to establish one of the leading in-store stations in London’s Top Shop, he rose to lay the foundations of the mighty Smooth brand.

In this hour of ‘Radio Moments – Conversations’, Steve Collins tells of growing up and the keen pirate radio influences which led him to answer a press ad leading to an enlightening journey to Tel Aviv - and then offers fascinating insight into life on-board the Voice of Peace. 

Back on land, he walked into Top Shop and established a radio station proper, before Red Rose Radio eventually beckoned - where he was surprised to end up promptly presenting the breakfast show. When Capital offered a role, he hurried back to London where he spent 6 years on-air before moving across to County Sound, where life was not all he’d wished for.

After Jazz and Chiltern, he arrived in a Manchester he instantly came to love, to play a part of the management team of Key and Gold and then crossed to start up Wish FM.

Assuming control of programming Jazz in the North West, he worked within a challenging format to deliver, with huge success, the beginnings of the new Smooth brand, which he was then to manage across the UK.

Steve speaks candidly about the influences he witnessed on how not to manage; the way it feels when the station you care for is taken over; how it feels to end up on the dole; and shares the things he feels he got right – and wrong in over 40 years in radio.

In his own words, this is the Steve Collins story.

Hear the whole ‘Radio Moments Conversations’ series here – and sign up for the regular podcast for this ongoing series. Music by Larry Bryant. 

Her warm Canadian tones graced UK radio stations for over twenty years.

In this hour of Radio Moments Conversations, Diana Luke tells of how she fell into radio whilst reviewing a book at Hallam, leading to a role as Viking’s first female broadcaster.  As her reputation grew across Yorkshire, Diana was summoned to be part of the new commercial radio late-night networked service ‘The Superstation’ where she worked alongside the greats like Johnnie Walker, Bob Harris – and was produced by a young Chris Evans.

Diana tells too of her memories of the women’s station Viva!; and how she was heard on County Sound, LBC, Peak FM and Real Radio. She speaks fondly of launch day at Jazz where she hosted its first breakfast show; GLR, her award-winning show in Ireland; and about her close listener relationship at BBC local radio.

She opens up about her personal challenges and those of a woman in radio – and draws parallels between her new world as a therapist and her former life on-air. She highlights too the interpersonal skills on and off-air relevant to both.

In her own words this is the Diana Luke story.

Hear the whole ‘Radio Moments Conversations’ series here – and sign up for the regular podcast for this ongoing series. Music by Larry Bryant. 

From football reporter - to becoming one of the leading figures in a generation of commercial radio, this is the story of Steve Orchard.

In this hour of ‘Radio Moments Conversations’, Steve tells of his schooling and education; and a first career in social work, honing skills he was take with him throughout his life.

An interest in hospital radio led to opportunities at Wiltshire Radio which flourished as the station evolved into the new GWR, where he hosted the breakfast show.  As GWR grew, so did Steve’s role and he relates experiences of rolling out the famous GWR format to the company’s acquisitions. He tells too of his involvement in LBC and Classic FM – and of the pain involved in the merger to create GCap. And – from more recent days - his proud involvement in Quidem and Prison Radio. 

Steve shares his frustrations about regulation and his views on research vs instinct, talent management, the importance of station mood - and today’s radio environment.

In his own words, this is the Steve Orchard story.

Hear the whole ‘Radio Moments Conversations’ series here – and sign up for the regular podcast for this ongoing series. Music by Larry Bryant.