UK

Radio Woking is leading a joint effort to secure the small-scale DAB licence for Woking, Aldershot and Guildford, aiming to restore local digital radio services after the long-running trial in the area closed.

The application sets out plans for a multiplex designed for community and niche broadcasters, offering a route back onto DAB for stations previously carried during the trial and opening the door for new local services.
The group behind the bid says the priority is to bring the former trial transmitters back on air as soon as permitted by Ofcom so listeners can retune their DAB radios to Radio Woking and other services that have been absent since the shutdown. A further goal is to extend coverage to Guildford once the core network is operational.
Radio Woking is fronting the proposal and says the licence would allow it to continue its work within the community on a more secure digital platform. Station Manager Justin Coll said the station has spent years trying to get back on DAB, adding that the licence would help it reach more listeners and support local talent.
Work on the bid is being supported by Rebecca Steers, who has previously written and run other small-scale DAB multiplex applications. Rebecca first met Justin more than ten years ago while both were working in local radio and said she is pleased to help Radio Woking and its partner stations make a return to digital.
The planned multiplex would operate on an affordable access model, backed by a collaborative structure that aims to give small broadcasters a route onto DAB without the cost barriers often associated with larger networks.
Stations or groups interested in joining the proposed multiplex can contact Rebecca by email before 5pm on 9 December. Further details are available on the project website at wokingssdab.wordpress.com. The application will be submitted to Ofcom on 10 December, with an outcome expected early this year.

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Alan Brazil is joining Virgin Radio Legends for a new Saturday night programme.

The talkSPORT Breakfast presenter and former Scotland international will be on air each week from 6pm to 10pm.
Brazil will share his favourite tracks and stories from his long career in broadcasting and football.
His first programme this weekend includes music from The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac and Queen, along with memories linked to each choice, including driving down the M11 in an open-top Mercedes with Glenn Hoddle while playing Hall and Oates.
He also talks about his favourite album, Tapestry by Carole King, and recalls seeing Queen live in 1973 when they supported Mott The Hoople in Glasgow.
Brazil said listeners can expect a relaxed mix of songs and anecdotes across the four-hour show.

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Radio News Hub has appointed experienced broadcast journalist Lisa Darvill as its new Newsroom Manager.

She brings more than ten years of BBC and commercial radio experience to the role.
Lisa has previously worked at BBC Radio Lincolnshire, Yorkshire Coast Radio and Stray FM, where she led daily newsroom operations, mentored junior reporters and managed output across radio and digital platforms.
Her background includes developing strong links with the communities she has served and guiding teams through busy news cycles.
Directors Stephanie Otty and Jamie Fletcher said Lisa brings a clear understanding of modern radio news and a strong track record in leading teams, adding that “she inspires those around her, and she brings a real passion for storytelling.”
Lisa said it is “a privilege to be part of such a hardworking and dedicated team”, adding that delivering hundreds of bulletins a day is a significant undertaking and she looks forward to contributing to the service.
Radio News Hub supplies round-the-clock news bulletins and additional programming content to stations in the UK and internationally.

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Fix Radio is refreshing its weekend schedule with a new Saturday morning show fronted by tradesman and comedian Daryl Robinson.

Daryl will take over the 8am to 11am slot from 17 January, offering a mix of humour, real trade experiences and practical advice.
The new three hour programme, called Saturday Shift, will draw on Daryl’s work in property maintenance and development, as well as his growing profile as a social media creator and live comedy host.
His background mirrors that of many Fix Radio presenters who balance life on the tools with family commitments and media work.
Programme director Andy Shier said Daryl’s arrival fits naturally with the workplace audience the station serves. Andy described him as “funny, energetic and a relatable voice for our audience of tradespeople,” noting that his experience both online and on site adds to the authenticity the station aims to deliver.
Daryl, who has attracted close to half a million followers with videos based on trade life and character comedy, said the move to radio builds on what he already loves doing.
“I’ve spent years talking rubbish on building sites, so doing it on the radio just felt like the natural next step for me,” he said, adding that he is looking forward to bringing stories and laughter to Saturday mornings.
Fix Radio says the show will sit alongside its existing weekend output with the same focus on humour and the shared experiences of those working across the trades.

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Radio Caroline will broadcast live from Ross Revenge on Christmas Day for the first time since the ship last operated offshore.

The programme will recreate the atmosphere of the station’s original pirate era from its mooring in the Blackwater Estuary.
Listeners will hear a line-up of presenters closely linked with the 1970s and 1980s offshore years, offering a Christmas Day schedule designed to sound as authentic as possible.
Station Manager Peter Moore said the team will deliver “real-time Christmas cheer” and music from four decades, all with what he described as a genuine offshore feel from the estuary.
Tommy Rivers, Grant Benson, Kevin Turner and Peter Philips will host live from the ship, with Johnny Lewis opening the day’s programming from land at 7am before the broadcast switches to Ross Revenge. The station will also carry the King’s Christmas Message.
The broadcast will run on 648 AM, online and on DAB+, and is supported by US news agency Feature Story News. Radio Caroline says the event marks a significant moment for the station as it reconnects with one of the most recognisable parts of its heritage.

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Billy Butler is joining Liverpool DAB+ station In Demand Decades for a new Sunday afternoon show starting on 14 December.

He will be on air from midday each week with a mix of features that long-time listeners will recognise, including Hold Your Plums, The Bradshaws, comedy captions, Motown memories, cover classics and punchline poems.
The programme will also shine a light on local artists and venues, alongside a few new additions planned especially for the series.
Billy said he has enjoyed meeting the team, adding “I’ve been welcomed by the entire team, which is great because even Alexa doesn’t answer me. I can’t wait to get started back on the radio in Liverpool.”
Billy’s broadcasting career spans more than six decades. He played at the Cavern Club in the sixties and went on to present radio and television programmes across the region, including long periods on Radio Merseyside and Radio City.
Hold Your Plums ran for over ten years on BBC Radio Merseyside and became known for its lively exchanges between Billy and co-host Wally Scott.
In Demand programme controller Rick Houghton said he is pleased to have secured the new show after many conversations over the past year.
Rick commented “He’s finally relented and agreed to join us, and this will add to the great roster of presenters on In Demand Decades which include fellow Liverpool legend Pete Price.”

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