Radio Moments - Conversations

From stumbling into the BBC simply with a wish to ‘be in London’, she rose to head its biggest network. 

In this hour of #radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Lesley Douglas opens up about her puzzled early days in radio; her learnings at the elbow of the greats; and her rise alongside Jim Moir to steer BBC Radio 2 to dizzy heights. She talks of her happiest times, and of the significant challenges she faced.

“What I would like to have been, and I may have failed in this sometimes, is somebody who allowed and protected people to do their best work.”

In her own words, this is the Lesley Douglas story.

The full Conversations series may be heard here. Theme music thanks toLarry Bryant.

He graduated from regional press in its hot metal days through a nascent commercial radio industry to a senior international role at RCS, the company whose market-leading software fuels stations around the world. 

In this hour of #radiomoments Conversations, Mike Powell tells of his early days at Devonair and his graduation to programme management at County Sound where he was to be the first to create a Gold format – and introduce computerised music scheduling. After playing a role in the consortium which was to deliver Kiss to the North – he won back a licence to go back and finish what he’d started in Guildford.

Mike shares the drama of licence awards, brand-name challenges plus company mergers, sales and public listings - and his love of radio jingles.

In his own words, this is the Mike Powell story.

The full Conversations series may be heard here. Theme music thanks to Larry Bryant.

She’s been a familiar face on radio conference platforms around the World for decades, commanding attentive audiences as she shares the secrets of ‘powerful radio’. 

In this hour of #radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Valerie Geller, who counsels authentic self-revelation from broadcasters, opens up about her own life.

She tells of her early experiences as a welcome young caller on a phone-in on her local Los Angeles station, earning her own on-air shifts before moving around the US, speeding through the ranks as a journalist, news director - and then programme director at New York’s famous WABC.

Now, as an accomplished international broadcast consultant, her lessons and principles are adopted by numerous leading talk presenters here in the UK and across the planet; and her books are required reading (available here - or a free Audible trial here).

In her own words - this is the Valerie Geller story.

The full Conversations series may be heard here. Theme music thanks toLarry Bryant.

From acting at Pebble Mill to reading the news on Radio 1, delivering the shipping forecast on Radio 4 and playing rude songs on Radio Trent, this is the life of velvet-voiced Bill Bingham. 

In this hour of #radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Bill tells of his early years in drama and his accidental arrival at the BBC’s new radio station in Birmingham. He relates tales of the birth of Liverpool’s Radio City and the transfer to Nottingham’s Radio Trent, where he hosted a variety of shows as the station re-invented itself. Poached by neighbouring Radio Nottingham where he was heard delivering more news and talk content, he recalls how he was quickly transferred to Radio 1’s Newsbeat.

Once in London, Bill was then to be heard on Radio 4 delivering the news and shipping forecast in his impeccable fashion - skills he was later to put to good use at such places as IRN, LBC and Sky News and Channel 4. As he recalls, his love for music and the arts was feasted again during his spell at Saga Radio in the West Midlands.

Bill speaks too of the challenges of the job and the costs broadcasters like him have paid – and explains his passionate work for the Migration Museum.

In his own words – this is the life of Bill Bingham.

Enjoy the whole Conversations serieshere. Theme music byLarry Bryant.

He was the music-loving hair stylist who became responsible for an array of huge seventies pop hits – and then some of the UK’s iconic radio programmes. 

In this hour of #radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Phil Swern talks of his break into the record industry and then how he ventured into music production. From the contacts he’d made in the radio world, Phil tells of how he graduated to a young Capital Radio and Capital Gold, before being tempted to BBC Radio 1. He relates tales of producing the greats - from Alan ‘Fluff’ Freeman and Roger Scott to Brian Matthew and Tony Blackburn on the much loved ‘Sounds of the Sixties’ and ‘Pick of the Pops’.

Phil tells of his enthusiasm for music, reflected in his unrivalled record collection and his involvement in the Broadchart/I Like Music company which supplies much of UK radio with digitised back catalogue – and his assembling of the questions for Ken Bruce’s famous ‘Popmaster’ quiz.

In his own words – this is the story of Phil ‘Collector’ Swern.

Enjoy the whole Conversations series here. Theme music by Larry Bryant.

This is the life story of the commercial radio broadcaster who fulfilled his dream to work on the local station he loved and how he became its most famous performer. 

In this hour of #radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Les Ross tells of the journey from a job at a registrar’s office to a new BBC Radio Birmingham and his launching the new Radio Tees, before the agony of his transfer to his beloved BRMB. He opens up about his personal challenges, and how he really feels about the management he’s experienced over the years. Plus, what led to his final BRMB goodbye.

In his own words, this is the Les Ross story.

Enjoy the whole Conversations series here. Theme music by Larry Bryant.

Few radio broadcasters enjoy success in two continents. A Londoner by birth, but a childhood move to Australia dictated his accent and his early media home. Jono Coleman rose from ad script-writing to local radio programmes - and then national TV before graduating through the Australian radio ranks. 

On his return to London, the disruptive BBC GLR beckoned before joining the ranks of Virgin 1215 at launch, where his mischievous tenure on the Russ ‘n’ Jono breakfast show is well-remembered. In this hour of #radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Jono tells of being replaced by Chris Evans at Virgin – and then by Jamie Theakston at Heart – before returning to the BBC’s local London station. He opens up about the circumstances of his return to Australia – and his radio and TV since.

In his own words, this is the Jono Coleman story.

Enjoy the whole Conversations series here. Theme music by Larry Bryant.

This is the tale of one of the UK’s most respected broadcasters – and one who describes his first visit to a radio station as the most exciting day in his life. 

2CR was his first professional port of call before moving to Juice in Liverpool, then making the headlines at Xfm before being tempted to One Golden Square, where his breakfast tenure at Absolute Radio, and its predecessor brand Virgin, lasted an impressive 12 years. All this, alongside BBC radio appearances, TV and his books.

Christian O'Connell is serious about his entertainment. In this hour of #RadioMoments ‘Conversations’, he talks about the boss he thanks for turning him down; the presenters who inspired him; his influences outside radio; and his thoughts as he leaves for a career in Australia.

In his own words, this is the Christian O’Connell story.

Hear the full Conversations series here. Music by Larry Bryant

The UK began to know and love Dale as a TV star, seemingly attracting overnight stardom as he strutted on screen as if he’d always been there. In his mind he had. Dale was always destined for success. 

This special edition of #Radiomoments ‘Conversations’ principally tells the story of Dale’s lengthy spell in radio with archive interviews from his early career, treasured radio clips and fond tales from those who worked with him.

Drawing on some of his own words and many fond recollections, this half-hour tribute is: Dale Winton – The Radio Years.

Thanks to Len Groat, Pete Wagstaff, Martin Collins; and to LBC for the clips from the Steve Allen Show and ITV for Loose Women. Thanks to Malcolm Mortimer for 1980s archive interview material; and to Aircheck Downloads and Paul Easton for some of the radio archive audio.

Enjoy the whole Conversations series here. Music by Larry Bryant.