UK

Four decades after first sharing a studio, the original “Wotnotters” from Essex Radio’s Saturday Wotnot programme have reunited for the first time since 1985.
The Saturday morning children’s show, presented by Tim Lloyd – known on air as Timbo – and his presenter wife Lindsey King, ran in the early 1980s and featured four young co-hosts keen to break into broadcasting: Pete Sipple, Shelley Coleman, Chris Farrell and Mike Toolan.
The group became a familiar part of the station’s output during a period when Essex Radio held a significant presence in the county.
Timbo’s profile at the time extended well beyond the studio. His roadshows regularly drew large crowds, his late-night programme enjoyed strong youth listenership, and a Chinese restaurant named after him continues to operate today. The Wotnotters were also widely recognised, appearing at local events including talent competitions and community fetes.
For Chris Farrell and Pete Sipple, the experience proved career-shaping and led both into long-term broadcasting roles.
The four had not been together since leaving the show in 1985, but that changed yesterday when they met for a reunion organised largely by Chris. The group gathered for an extended lunch in Covent Garden, spending much of the afternoon recalling early studio equipment, station libraries and the production methods of the era, including tape, carts and the high cost of jingle packages in the 1980s.
The reunion marked a milestone for a team whose first steps in radio created lasting careers and strong memories of a notable period in Essex broadcasting history.

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Listeners to Global’s latest purchase, Riviera Radio, are being invited to Turn Up The Feel Good as it gets a new brand identity similar to Heart.

The station, which serves the international English-speaking community on the French Riviera, has introduced a new logo, website and mobile app, alongside changes to its music output, jingles/imaging and presenter line-up.
The relaunch follows Riviera Radio’s move into the Global family.
Despite the updates to its sound and presentation, the station says its core focus remains unchanged, continuing to deliver local news in English and provide a connection point for residents and visitors across the Côte d’Azur.
The new website and app offer an expanded range of content including podcasts and on-demand features, while the refreshed schedule brings additional voices to the on-air team.
Presenters include Global hosts Ant Payne, Pandora, Matt Wilkinson, James Bassam and Tom Watts, along with established presenter Sarah Lycett on Breakfast.

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STV Radio’s new breakfast show has secured its inaugural sponsor ahead of the station’s launch early this year.

CR Smith will support Ewen and Cat at Breakfast, hosted by Ewen Cameron and Cat Harvey, with new on-air creative due to be unveiled in the coming months.
The partnership extends a commercial relationship spanning more than four decades, with the home improvement company becoming the exclusive sponsor of the programme. The breakfast show will offer a mix of chat, music, competitions and guest interviews, alongside regular listener involvement. Activity linked to the deal will run across STV Radio, STV and the broadcaster’s social media platforms, with production handled by STV Creative.
CR Smith also sponsors The STV Radio Football Show, a weekly podcast fronted by Ewen and STV sports journalist Ronnie Charters, released every Monday on STV Player, YouTube and major podcast platforms.
Gareth McCluskey, Sales and Marketing Director at CR Smith, said the company is pleased to support the new breakfast programme, adding that its team across Scotland will be tuning in each morning. Danielle Kelly, Commercial Director at STV, described CR Smith as a valued partner and said Ewen and Cat are looking forward to launching the show.
STV Radio will target listeners aged over thirty five and will be available on DAB digital radio, online, smart speaker and STV Player when it goes live early this year. Updates on the launch and programming schedule will be shared through the station’s social channels.
Picture caption: CR Smith’s Sales and Marketing Director Gareth McCluskey met Ewen Cameron and Cat Harvey at STV’s Glasgow headquarters ahead of the launch of the new breakfast show.

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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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