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 ‘Radiomoments 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...

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 ‘RadioMoments 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 as camera operator, a job she loved – and a role in the launch of TV AM. Her radio love started in...

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 ‘Radiomoments 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...

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 ‘RadioMoments – 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...

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 #radiomoments 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...

He emerged from modest roots and being a jobbing musician to become the brains and inspiration behind some of the UK’s most familiar media anthems. In this hour of ‘RadioMoments Conversations’ David Arnold tells of his childhood hopes and dreams when he began to appreciate and study music – and about the surprise and chance of his early opportunities. As a composer, conductor, arranger and producer, he shares the story of pitching for the first Essex Radio jingle package and how it opened the...

He was the programmer, producer and radio executive who began peering through the studio window at Radio Top Shop - and ended up programming the first national pop/rock station in the UK and witnessing the rise and challenges of Chris Evans first-hand. In this hour of RadioMoments Conversations, John Revell tells of his radio life.  He shares stories from the launch of the BBC’s pioneering days at GLR in London; and working on the Super Station which brought the UK its first major taste of...

He was the drama student who aspired to be a Radio 2 producer - but emerged as a key commercial radio innovator and business leader as the industry began to find its feet, make money and exploit new technology.  In this hour of RadioMoments Conversations, Simon Cole tells of the opportunities and frustrations of BBC local radio - before moving to produce and manage programming at Piccadilly, where he pioneered commercial content and built PPM before leaving to found Unique Broadcasting; a...

Clutching a soldering iron, he arrived in commercial radio at the launch of Downtown Radio, in troubled times in Northern Ireland, rising to lead the station’s programming for an era. In this hour of ‘Radiomoments Conversations’. John Rosborough tells of his childhood dreams, the early days at Downtown Radio, building the studios, hosting early shows - and the challenges of the station’s newsroom in unprecedented times. He tells the story of his graduating through the programming ranks, its...

From hospital radio to a leading role in a fast-changing commercial sector and then back on-air with the BBC, Stuart Linnell’s fifty years of radio make a fascinating story of sport, music presentation and management in a colourful radio age.  In this hour of ‘RadioMoments Conversations’, Stuart tells of his early days at BBC Radio Birmingham, before moving to commercial radio to help launch Radio Hallam. A transfer to the new Mercia Sound followed, where he rose to PD and then an ever-...

He graduated straight from uni to a huge career at Capital and Radio 2. In this hour of #radiomoments Conversations, Richard Allinson tells of his nervous days in university radio before arriving at Capital where he sat alongside the greats of the day who shared their wisdom. He shares the battle for London supremacy and his recollections of the stars he bumped into during his 17 year spell. A transfer with Radio 2 followed, where he hosted lates - and many of the key dayparts. He tells too...

Few radio presenters enjoy a hugely successful career in broadcasting before going on to achieve even more in a second life.  In this hour of #radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Paul McKenna shares his journey through radio’s most treasured posts – on to becoming an internationally renowned hypnotist, behavioural scientist TV broadcaster and best-selling author. He tells how his curiosity of the pirates and his love of listening to Capital led to him entertaining shoppers with Radio Topshop before...

The boy from Wales whose dad recommended a BBC career – and who was to emerge as the production brain behind some of the UK’s most historic programmes and broadcasts.  In this hour of #radiomoments Conversations, Peter Griffiths tells of his 1970s days training as a BBC studio manager for network radio and the World Service before graduating to produce Woman’s Hour - and to the Radio 4 presentation and continuity production team. His love of sport took him to the sport and outside broadcast...

From a spell at BBC local radio whilst at teacher training college, he was to become a household name on children’s TV and one of the UK’s most distinctive radio broadcasters.  In this hour of #radiomoments ‘Conversations’, the inimitable Tommy Boyd tells of his early days in BBC local radio and LBC - and how he quickly realised a childhood ambition in landing a top job in kids TV at Thames with Magpie. He opens up about the complex times at the original Talk Radio UK – how his programme’s...

The man who started out doing the silly bits on regional TV and graduated to a 17 year stay on the UK’s then most influential commercial radio station – plus hosting one of the World’s most influential TV quiz shows.  In this hour of #Radiomoments ‘Conversations’, Chris Tarrant opens up about how he fell into the world of commercial radio, and then how he was appointed to the helm of Capital breakfast in London. He tells of how the programme evolved – his relationship with his boss - his...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

From a small town in Western Australia - to commanding the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show in the early ‘90s, this is the life story of an enviably adaptable broadcaster, best known for his years on LBC where his fresh approach was to surprise Londoners who remember him with affection.  In this hour of #radiomoments Conversations, Brian Hayes tells of the ins and outs of his early days in 1950s Australian radio; his innocent arrival at London’s Victoria station with his wife and a suitcase; the...

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...

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,...