Radio Moments - Conversations

He was the local press journalist who went on to be one of BBC radio sport’s most familiar voices – and whose style was to define BBC Radio 5 live at launch.

In this hour of ‘Radio Moments Conversations’, John Inverdale tells of his early days in local press before a chance pub meeting led to an opportunity at the new BBC Radio Lincolnshire. An attachment to London saw him reporting and sports bulletin-reading on the Radio 4 Today programme and then across to BBC Radio 2 to host Sport on 2. As BBC Radio 5 launched, he was to host the evening Drive-In, a programme he regards fondly, before helping to define the sound of the new Radio 5 live.

John tells of life reporting at the Olympics around the World; bumping into Margaret Thatcher; and shares his thoughts on the importance of words, voice and listening around.

In his own words, this is the John Inverdale 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 humble but determined roots in Wales to become one of the leading radio journalists of his generation.

In this hour of ‘Radio Moments – Conversations’, John Humphrys opens up about his life, resulting more in an encyclopaedia of World history rather than of media. He tells of his early days in press, where he not only wrote stories, he delivered the newspapers.  Spurning a job at the Times – he moved to television where he was to be the first reporter on the scene at the Aberfan disaster in 1966 – an experience which he confesses had a ‘profound effect’ on him.

His early days at the BBC took him to the US and to South Africa at momentous periods in the history of those countries, before returning home to be one of the first TV newsreaders to assemble his own bulletins on the BBC Nine O' Clock News.

Without hesitation, John accepted a role on the Today programme where he was to spend 33 years. He tells here of his approach to interviewing and of the Prime Minister he found most daunting – and opens up about his huge suspicion of authority - and his nervousness.

In his own words, this is the John Humphrys story.

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

John’s ‘A Day Like Today’ is out now – published by Collins

Plucked with no experience to appear on a new Radio 210 in Reading, he was to become the fourth ever Radio 1 breakfast host.

In this hour of Radio Moments – Conversations, Mike Read tells of the surprise jump from a musical career to one where radio played lead. He relates how his commercial radio spell began and shares memories of the eccentric early days in that new industry.

Following an unexpected rise in profile with a TV’s ‘Pop Quest’, he recalls how he was then lured to join Radio Luxembourg. On being headhunted for Radio 1, Mike shares his he felt as he was offered the prestigious breakfast slot.

Driven by a passion and knowledge of music, he tells how his BBC bosses responded as his music policy drifted away from ‘70s disco; his frustration at commercial radio bosses who didn’t seem sufficiently familiar with music; and his enthusiasm for a world where the presenter decides which tracks to play.

The stories of his days at Capital Gold and Classic Gold are recalled – and illustrated colourfully. He tells too of his time at Jazz and his current involvement with the United DJs online station.  His other achievements are highlighted too - from co-authoring the Guinness Book of Hit Singles to playing a key role in the British Plaque Trust  which has honoured the music composers he holds in such high esteem.

In his own words – this is the Mike Read story.

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

His life in radio began, aged 16, in Canada – and his distinctive voice  was to be heard on the UK’s biggest stations. 

In this hour of ‘Radio Moments Conversations’, David Jensen tells of growing up in Canada and making his radio debut, before moving, aged just 18, to a new life at Radio Luxembourg in the days when it commanded UK evening listening.

Advised to get some UK experience, ‘Kid’ alighted at a brand-new Radio Trent in Nottingham in the challenging times so typical of those early days of UK commercial Radio.

David opens up about the Radio 1 days in its most colourful era, his friendship with John Peel, the stars he encountered, the roadshow days – and he shares a wealth of anecdotes, not least why he was playing midnight football with the Rolling Stones on an American runway. He also tells of his Capital spell and why he loved that 'big' sound of the City.

He tells too of his family life, his love of jazz and how he is facing his Parkinson’s diagnosis.

In his own words, this is the David Jensen story.

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

It was his love of radio which governed his choice of university – before a career which saw him emerge as one of the key UK radio programmers of his generation – leading the way on research and the psychology of radio.

In this hour of ‘Radio Moments Conversations’, Francis Currie shares his early hospital and student radio days and his graduation to a young Mercia Sound. He tells of his spell at LBC and onto his dream station ‘The SuperStation’, albeit past its glory days. On-air work followed at Rock FM and Tfm as he began to identify the detail of radio programming – and that his talents might lie in other areas than on-air.

At Minster, his programming skills were honed, before being appointed programme manager at Invicta in Kent. That station’s acquisition by Capital generated a major opportunity to programme BRMB – where Francis started to establish how best to handle radio’s biggest personalities and managers.

Following a farewell to the Capital group, he tells of a quirky Melody Radio and how he engineered the brand change to Magic on its acquisition by EMAP – a group which was to offer him opportunities beyond radio.

Having transferred to Chrysalis, Francis opens up about the challenges of taking Heart to its Number One status in London for the first time – how he felt on the day of that victory - and how he felt as he was ejected when the company.

After a successful spell in consulting worldwide, he was part of the team which brought together Chris Evans and Virgin Radio before moving back into consultancy.

In his own words, this is the Francis Currie story.

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

This is the story of the man who grew up simply wanting to be on the radio and emerged as one of the most musically influential and respected presenters in UK radio.

In this hour of ‘Radio Moments Conversations’, Bob Harris tells of his time as an unlikely police cadet before his ambition to work in radio took him – alone – to London. He shares how he befriended John Peel and became his fill-in, and then moved to a more permanent BBC Radio 1 programme - and fronting the Old Grey Whistle Test. 

As his first spell of Radio 1 ended, spells at Radio Luxembourg, Radio 210, BBC Radio Oxford and BFBS followed, before the death of his idol Roger Scott created an opportunity back at Radio 1 – some 16 years after his earlier departure.

As Radio 1 implemented its famous ‘90s ‘rejuvenation’, Bob was moved on again – and he tells here of the meeting where the deed was done   - before he turned up on GLR in a programme which he was to regard as one of his favourites. Noticed by Radio 2, Bob returned to the BBC where has remained since, hosting a range of programmes including his renowned Country Show.

Speaking as he relished his return on-air after his illness, this is the Bob Harris story - in his own words.

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

She was the reluctant shorthand typist who never sought a role in front of the camera or microphone – but was to be invited to play a role in some of the UK’s biggest stations.  

In this hour of ‘Radio Moments Conversations’, Lynn Parsons tells of her crazy childhood home and the early jobs which offered insight into a media world. She shares how her technical curiosity led to appointment as a camera operator, a job she loved – and a role in the launch of TV AM.

Her radio love started in hospital radio and some subsequent work at County Sound, but she tells of how the job at her beloved Capital was simply the result of a bet. Radio 1 beckoned and she shares tales of those she worked with and what life was really like on the famous Roadshow. She opens up too about life at Radio 2 and, back in commercial radio, she relates fond tales of life at Virgin, Jazz and Smooth - and now Magic.

Lynn tells of the people she has interviewed, her love of late-night radio, and of her gratitude for the life radio has given her.

In her own words, this is the Lynn Parsons story.


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

A man who never hankered after a job in radio, but was to be recognised as the driving force behind one of the most successful early small local radio stations – Moray Firth Radio based in Inverness.

In this hour of ‘Radio Moments Conversations’, Thomas Prag confesses to an easy upbringing and his laziness, before falling into the BBC. He recalls his early training days – in Bush House and pushing the buttons for Alan Freeman on the legendary Pick of the Pops before moving to BBC Radio Oxford at launch. He tells of helping to establish and then manage the BBC Radio Highland opt-out as the Corporation wrestled with quite how to deal with radio across Scotland.

When Moray Firth won the area’s commercial radio licence, Thomas tells he was tempted into joining the team to run what was judged a highly risky venture at a time when other even larger commercial stations were failing and stations of this scale were rare. Thus began his lengthy tenure which took the station into profitability; and its success recognised by regulators, awards judges – and its many listeners - as something quite special. Thomas opens-up about his proud legacy in ‘community radio’ - alongside the challenges of the job – and the impact of its personal pressures.

After leaving the station, he tells of how he how was appointed to both the Radio Authority and, later, Ofcom – and how he felt about the role of a regulator and about the demands of the licence application process. Then – his rich and busy life since and how his learnings from life in radio continue to be put to use in the community he loves.

In his own words, this is the Thomas Prag story.

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

 

The boy from near Bristol who went from working in theatre to becoming the longest-serving Controller of Radio 1, this is the life of Andy Parfitt.

In this hour of ‘Radio Moments – Conversations’, Andy tells of his first radio memories, his love of music, and how he landed a BBC studio manager role.

He shares stories from his early days at Broadcasting House, working with those whose backgrounds he detected as different from his own; and how he moved on to produce some legendary programmes alongside some of the broadcasting greats.

Andy gives insight into the birth of the old BBC Radio 5 and how his role positioned him for the move to Radio 1.  As Controller, in due course, he was to seize the reins of a network as it emerged from huge change and help steer it back over the 10m listeners mark.  He tells of how his BBC role grew; how he got on with Chris Moyles; and how he felt walking out of the BBC for the last time.  Andy reflects too on what his lengthy spell at the BBC taught him about life and leadership; and how he puts those learnings into practice now, in the latest chapter of his life.

In his own words, this is the Andy Parfitt 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 shoe salesman from Leicester who became the first presenter to graduate to Radio 1 – before falling out of the station in the 90s shake-up.

In his hour of 'Radio Moments - Conversations, Adrian Juste opens up about his love of the 60s pirate stations which prompted his early work at young BBC Radio Leicester – and then on to BRMB where he didn’t really get on with management - or his breakfast show. He talks about jobbing for Radio 1 producing trails from his home studio; and the call from Derek Chinnery which led to his regular programmes on the Network where he was to interpret the Jack Jackson comedy format for the modern age. Adrian talks about his distinctive voice work – and speaks candidly about his feelings about his own fate, and others’, as Radio 1 was being adjusted abruptly in the 90s – and life since.

In his own words – this is the Adrian Juste story.

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