Dear Radio. Thank you
Monday, 13 February 2023, marked the twelfth World Radio Day, with a theme of ‘Radio and Peace’. Radio has been a big part of my life since I was a child providing me with uplifting energy and consoling me in times of sadness.
It was during my mid-teens that my love affair with radio started, and my first memories are of Mum listening to the late great Terry Wogan on BBC Radio 2. She would sing and dance around the kitchen and loved the cheery ‘Floral Dance’ that he released in 1978. I recall her laughing at his silly jokes, told in his soft jolly Irish lilt, and the fondness with which she spoke about this man she had never met.
And that’s exactly it. Radio satisfies my need to hear music, but it’s become far more than that over the years. Presenters are part of my everyday life; from the moment I wake and throughout the day. It’s no wonder that my family ‘worry’ about me when I talk about them as if they’re my friends!
The Top 40
One Christmas, Mum and Dad bought me a cassette recorder and microphone, and as much as it was fun recording my brother and me mucking around, it came into its own during Radio 1’s Top 40 countdown.
Every Sunday night for two hours (6-8 pm, I think) I would lie on my bedroom floor and place the microphone close to the radio ready to hit record the second a song I liked played. The legendary Tony Blackburn hosted the show and I can still hear his voice as he counted down from 40 to Number 1.
Initially, my timing wasn’t great, and I would get Tony’s voice at the beginning or end of the song, sometimes both. But, as weeks went by, I became pretty good at it and was able to rewind, remove his voice, and get ready to record, before the next song came on. I knew the Top 40 by heart, and loved that I could play my taped songs whenever I wanted.
Mum loved music too and we often listened to her vinyl collection of artists from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Friends recommended artists, such as David Bowie, Pink Floyd and Dexy’s Midnight Runners.
But radio was often the first place I was introduced to new music, like Duran Duran, New Order, Talking Heads, The Eurythmics – the list is endless. My vinyl album and single collection quickly grew because as soon as I had my Saturday job’s wages I would be in the record shop buying the next new artist I had heard. As soon as I got home it was played on Mum’s old portable record player and I would either sit quietly and take it in, or dance madly around my bedroom. More often than not, the latter.
My tape recorder was similar to this one on sale on EBAY
Radio 1
The first Radio 1 Breakfast Show presenter I remember was Dave Lee Travis, aka DLT, followed by Mike Read, who, in 1984, infamously banned Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s ‘Relax’, saying the lyrics were obscene. Well, he was clearly out of touch with the audience he was playing for, as over 2 million singles were sold making it one of the most successful hits of the 80s. It spent 5 weeks at Number 1 and 37 weeks in the Top 40, but unfortunately, the BBC supported their DJ and banned airplay for 35 of those weeks. This was my first experience of a song being controversial, the next probably being one of Madonna’s.
Like many other large establishments in the 1970s – 2000s, Radio 1 was run by men. Annie Nightingale had been presenting for many years, but I never listened to her programmes and didn’t realise there was a female DJ. So, when Janice Long joined in the early 80s, I confess to being very surprised at hearing a female voice. I was so used to hearing men, that I’m ashamed to say, it didn’t sound ‘right’ to have a woman doing it! It just goes to show how stereotyped, and male dominated my world was back then.
Two more women joined in the 80s, Ranking Miss P and Liz Kershaw 1985, but it took until 1997 before a female DJ, Zoe Ball, was allowed to host the flagship Radio 1 Breakfast Show. Thankfully, things are a lot better now.
Channel 103
By the time Chris Evans arrived in 1995, I was losing interest in Radio 1 and switched to a local station (I couldn’t bring myself to turn on Radio 2 – that was for old people), thereby avoiding the laddish and ladette DJs of the 90s and 00s. Perhaps it was because I was a young mum and felt more responsible, but I didn’t get any enjoyment out of the chaotic banter those DJs delivered, as it was often derogatory, misogynistic and discriminatory.
Instead, I joined the local radio tribe of Channel 103.
The station was small with a tiny budget so only played older songs, many from the 70s and 80s. By the 2000’s it was starting to play newer music but still not current hits. Local adverts every ten minutes became part of the listener experience and actually some were quite catchy, so I didn’t mind them too much. 103 provided friendly light entertainment, with fun competitions and more appropriate listening whilst driving the girls to school.
Not the target demographic
I stayed loyal to Channel 103 for many years, but I missed hearing new music, as it was now my daughters introducing me to it. I realise I am not at all the target audience for Radio 1 but, around 2015, I started dipping back in. Nick Grimshaw was hosting the Breakfast Show and Greg James was on Drive Time.
During the summer of 2018 I started suffering severely from stress and anxiety. Thankfully, it was a very special time for Radio 1 programmes. Matt Edmundson and Mollie King joined forces; and Greg James’ move to the Breakfast Show, in August 2018 could not have been timed more perfectly.
With the release of BBC Sounds around the same time, I was able to listen to their shows whenever I wanted. Greg’s perky voice was a perfect distraction from my anxiety. It’s hard to describe the level of joy that his upbeat delivery gave me. He was the tonic I needed during that very dark time in my life, and I would literally laugh out loud listening to his fun and madcap ideas – I still do.
The banter is playful and most importantly inclusive. Similarly, Matt and Mollie are a perfect duo, with Mollie’s laugh the best medicine for any ailment.
In it to win it
I love the audience interaction and can’t help but take part.
Over the years, I won a few small competitions with Channel 103. Nothing big but was chuffed with a new cafetiere and coffee cups; a BBQ set; and a £100 petrol voucher.
It’s relatively easy to get a shout out or request on local radio, but in August 2019, I got two shout outs on Greg’s show.
Being in Jersey I was unable to text requests as our telecom provider did not allow short code texting. This meant I was never able to request a Ten Minute Takeover song, even if the likelihood of being picked was miniscule. Anyway, Greg asked “international listeners” to send their requests by post. I merrily nipped to a shop, found a postcard that could be made into a 3D black and white cow (sadly, no Jersey cow options), wrote my request and popped it in the letterbox.
I could barely believe it when a few days later he read it out and played my request, ‘Fix You’ by Coldplay, purposely chosen as I had recently left my job and was pretty broken.
Then Covid happened! Yet again radio was there to provide much needed distraction, company and great music.
And today, my teenage love affair with radio continues. I guess there will come a time when I move away from Radio 1 again. However, radio, its presenters and the music will remain a big part of my life, giving me happiness and energy to bounce around a room, and peace in times of distress.