UK

Radio broadcaster, journalist and podcaster Howard Hughes has died.
The news was shared by his webmaster on social media, confirming he died a week ago, but no other information is available currently.
Adam Cornwell said: “It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of Howard Hughes, the beloved and respected creator of The Unexplained With Howard Hughes and a dear friend who sadly died a week ago.”
Howard has been on the radio for decades, and was well known for working with Chris Tarrant on the Capital FM Breakfast Show.
He worked at many radio stations including Radio City in his native Liverpool, Radio Wyvern, Talk Radio, Smooth, BBC local radio, and many more, along with IRN.
He also hosted and produced The Unexplained With Howard Hughes podcast.
Keep reading for many tributes paid by his colleagues and friends.

Such sad news about Howard Hughes, he was a wonderful broadcaster and a nice man, I will always remember Howard with great affection, many laughs, special memories.That voice #RIPHowardHughes pic.twitter.com/V7WH8s14fK
— Steve Penk (@StevePenk) November 16, 2024

such sad news to hear of the loss of #HowardHughes – my career overlapped with his countless times and I remember chatting with him when he was taking over from me as Chris Tarrant’s news reader – such a lovely lovely man and a HUGE voice — thoughts with everyone who knew him
— sandywarr (@sandywarr) November 16, 2024

Gutted to hear @HughesOnAir has passed away.
Enjoyed his “The Unexplained” show for years
— That UFO Podcast (@ufouapam) November 16, 2024

Farewell to Howard Hughes. So, so sad to hear the news today of this huge figure in commercial radio. What a voice – and he knew how to command an audience with it. Here’s an hour in his company, telling his story – alone: https://t.co/x4EFHnxWl1
— 📻 David Lloyd (@DavidLloydRADIO) November 16, 2024

So sad to hear about @HughesOnAir was a real gentleman and a pleasure to work with, during Covid when we were allowed back out. I spent the day with him and it was great fun. R.I.P Howard pic.twitter.com/Kmn7OLaAFJ
— Stuart Armour (@StuartArmour) November 16, 2024

I am so sad to hear that my friend Howard Hughes has died. Howie was proud to have been @bbcberkshire’s first breakfast presenter in 92 but I was prouder when he came back to be part of my show. He made every word – every syllable – count and was the master of morning bulletins.. pic.twitter.com/sPp2YrFKeo
— Andrew Peach (@andrewpeach) November 16, 2024

I am in shock hearing about the passing of Howard Hughes . He had such a powerful voice and I will treasure all our phone calls dissecting the radio industry of the past sixty years. Always a great education. It was a joy to work with him at @TalkTV for seven years pic.twitter.com/sD92FxlzPx
— Johnny Seifert (@JohnnySeifert) November 16, 2024

I helped train Howard Hughes when he joined Radio City + later worked with him at IRN. He was a natural broadcaster who truly loved radio. When he read a bulletin you stopped to listen. Clear + authoritative but also warm + accessible. Modern-day newsreaders take note. RIP Howie pic.twitter.com/Ecl1snxNya
— Paul Rowley (@PaulRowleyRadio) November 16, 2024

We’re sorry to learn of the passing of iconic radio newsreader and presenter HowardHughes @HughesOnAir A defining voice of radio news. A man passionate about radio and getting a story to air. To see him in action was a joy. RIP Howard. pic.twitter.com/qVvORVmYOq
— BJTC – Industry Accredited Journalism Courses (@BJTC_UK) November 16, 2024

Very sad to hear about the death of radio legend Howard Hughes. He was incredibly encouraging during my early newsreader years, and made my dream come true when he asked me to start reporting on Capital Breakfast (also his off-air gossip was truly outrageous!) RIP Howie 😔 pic.twitter.com/JpYtNXmrEy
— Andrew Bailey (@bailsbails) November 16, 2024

I am very sorry to hear about the death of Howard Hughes. I first met Howard 40 years ago at @BBCNottingham when he briefly presented Morning Report. Then, when I read the IRN national news bulletins in the early 1980s, I ran into him again. A great guy. https://t.co/2iePAqy2DY
— jonathan charles (@JCharlesLondon) November 16, 2024

Sad tonight to hear the great Howard Hughes @HughesOnAir has died 😢
Howard was so kind and helpful to me in 2006 when I came back to radio after a couple of years away and we worked together at Smooth FM.
— Stuart Clarkson (@stuartclarkson) November 16, 2024

We would like to say how sad and sorry we are to hear of the passing of Howard Hughes.
Howard was a staple of Sunday night on talkRADIO and latterly @TalkTV for many years in his 10pm slot and will be missed
We aim to put a “Best of” package together on our Youtube soon pic.twitter.com/JsBWaaEk1C
— Talk UPDATES (@talkupdatesuk) November 16, 2024

Gutted to hear Howard Hughes has died. He was a radio legend, and such a sweet man.
He was truly a joy to work with, loved being on the radio, and embodied everything that is brilliant about it. He was so warm, with a child-like curiosity about the world. Rest well, my friend.
— Darryl Morris (@darrylmorris) November 16, 2024

Oh no! Not Howard Hughes? Watching Howie read coherent, attention grabbing, authoritative news bulletins with that glorious voice of his from nothing but scribbled notes on various pieces of paper was really something to behold. #RIP @HughesOnAir
— Nick Pitts (@nickpitts) November 16, 2024

I’m gutted to hear of the death of #Howard Hughes. We worked together at Capital – what a broadcaster! He lived and breathed radio. Do listen to this radio conversation with @DavidLloydRADIO https://t.co/SsXlNMZNPY
— Andy Ivy (@andyivy) November 16, 2024

I’m truly sorry to hear of the passing of the greatest radio news voice of a generation
It was an honour earlier this year to have him read the news on my programme on Mi-Soul Radio@HughesOnAir was a wonderful, humble man and without doubt the very best news reader of our time pic.twitter.com/FSRj2Vs1EQ
— Mike Vitti (@michaelvitti) November 16, 2024

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ […]

WorldDAB Summit 2024 saw public and private broadcasters actively collaborate and engage in dialogue to ensure radio’s digital future.

It was hosted by Aradhna Tayal Leach, Managing Director of the UK Radio Academy, and Director of Radio TechCon.
WorldDAB President Jacqueline Bierhorst, joined by Edita Kudláčová, the EBU’s Head of Radio, and Luka Đurić, Vice President of the Association of European Radios (AER), celebrated the enduring strengths and benefits of broadcast radio.
Bierhorst stated that WorldDAB’s work with global organisations is unifying the broadcast radio ecosystem through initiatives such as its Working Groups and events.
She emphasised the importance of maintaining a balanced broadcast sector integrating traditional and digital elements, without relying solely on IP solutions. Complementing this, the EBU’s Connected Car Playbook was highlighted as a key initiative aligning with WorldDAB’s goals, providing critical guidelines for broadcast, apps, and voice in digital environments.
The Summit, held in Zagreb and attended by nearly 200 delegates, marked significant global advancements in digital radio. In her opening address, Bierhorst said, “Securing radio’s digital future is critical and fundamental for listeners, broadcasters, and society.”
Jasna Vaniček-Fila from Croatia’s Directorate for Media underscored the Ministry of Culture’s backing for digital radio, citing opportunities for innovation, and environmental benefits such as reduced power consumption.
“The Minister of Culture and Media supports the further development of digital radio, and the wide range of opportunities it offers,” she said. Meanwhile, Mate Botica from Croatian network operator OIV announced that nine new DAB+ transmitters had been brought into service since August, bringing coverage to 97%.
The event was held just six weeks before Switzerland’s public broadcaster, SRG SSR switches off its FM transmitters. Adriano Pitteri set out the rationale including cost savings, alongside the extensive work being done to publicise the change to listeners. Meanwhile, Dirk Schrödter, Minister of Digitisation of the State of Schleswig-Holstein, shared its plan to make the transition to DAB+ digital radio by 2031.
He described radio as “truly a wonderful medium,” but urged that linear radio must be transformed for the digital future. “With DAB+ we are creating more media diversity, which is extremely important in an era where deepfakes and fake news are on the rise.” he added.
At a time of flooding across Europe and other disasters around the world, Carsten Zorger from Digitalradio Büro Deutschland highlighted the development of new life-saving Automatic Safety Alerts via DAB+, and the successful “Warntag” [warning day] tests in Germany, which included the system for the first time.
The innovation in DAB+ digital radio technology aims to protect the public during emergencies by delivering reliable safety alerts without requiring an internet connection.
Elsewhere at the event, Javier Sánchez from Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE spoke about this year’s rapid rollout of DAB+. Since its launch in February, DAB+ services from RTVE can now be received in 13 cities across the country. On the 100th anniversary of radio in Spain, Sánchez revealed that Ràdio 4, the Catalonian radio station of RNE, was now broadcasting on DAB+ in Barcelona, becoming the first legal DAB+ station in Catalonia.
At the organisation’s General Assembly, held prior to the Summit, the WorldDAB Award for Outstanding Service was presented to Lindsay Cornell of the BBC and Chair of WorldDAB’s Technical Committee, for his work on the development of new ETSI standards for the Automatic Safety Alert system. The award noted that Cornell’s “technical expertise and exceptional project management and people skills have undoubtedly had a huge impact on the industry.”
Closing the event, it was announced that the next WorldDAB Automotive event will take place in Madrid, Spain, on 19 June 2025.

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ […]

Davina McCall has announced she is undergoing an operation on her brain after doctors discovered a benign tumour.
The broadcaster, who has been covering on Heart Breakfast recently, shared the news on her social media that the tumour was a colloid cyst, and will be rinsed and removed in an upcoming craniotomy operation.
She said the result came as a shock to her as she thought she would ace the check up, but instead discovered she had a tumour
Davina added that it needs to come out, because if it grows it would be bad.
The former BBC Radio 2 cover presenter also shared that she only had the check up after a company offered her a health scan in return for giving a talk on the menopause.

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ […]

People who’ve worked in commercial radio in Bradford are being invited to a reunion to mark the 50th anniversary of the station’s first broadcast.

Anyone who was employed at what started out as Pennine Radio and later became The Pulse, is welcome at the event in September 2025.
The event – being held at a hotel in the city – will feature music and food. Organisers are urging people to book tickets for £25 per head including the buffet now, as the event is self-funding.
Spaces are though limited and more details can be obtained by emailing P9Reunion50@outlook.com
The station – one of the original ILR licences – went through many incarnations and name changes over the years but remained at its original studios at Pennine House in Forster Square for most of its existence.
Mel and Brian from the Pennine Radio days are organising the event and say, “Whether you were there when the station proclaimed it was ‘Right ‘Ere’ and had a logo of a right ear, all the way up to the final days as Pulse 1 and Pulse 2 then you are welcome to come along and catch up with former colleagues.
“The station has a special place in the hearts of many who worked there and we are keen to get as many people from both the broadcasting and commercial sides of the business to come along.
“We would also love any archive photos, videos or audio recordings people might want to share, to show off on the night.”
The AM service became part of Greatest Hits Radio and Pulse 1 was rebranded as Hits Radio under current owner Bauer earlier this year.
Other names over the years have included Pennine FM, Classic Gold, Great Yorkshire Radio, Great Yorkshire Gold, Big AM and Pulse Gold.

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ […]

Six radio stations across the UK have been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2024.
It’s the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and equivalent to an MBE for an organisation.
The stations are Zetland FM, Surrey Hills Community Radio, Somer Valley FM and Switch Radio in England, along with CareSound Radio and Hospital Radio Perth in Scotland.
At Zetland FM in Redcar and Cleveland, station founder, chairman and presenter Jeremy Gartland told RadioToday the award “an incredible honour” and “a tribute to everyone who has been involved with the station since launching in 2015.”
Jeremy said: “For more than nine years, Zetland FM has existed because of the dedication of our amazing team and the loyalty of our listeners, which I always find extremely humbling.
“A lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes to provide a radio station which, we hope, local people feel is always there for them.
“To receive The King’s Award For Voluntary Service is an extremely proud moment for all of us at Zetland FM.”

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ […]

Radio Maria England has appointed its second president in five years.
Inti Paolucci replaces Charles Wilson who has been at the helm since Radio Maria’s founding in 2019.
Inti’s appointment comes as the station celebrates five years of broadcasting. A Mass of Thanksgiving was held at the Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Norwich on 23rd October.
The celebration officiated by Bishop Peter Collins was attended by listeners and volunteers from the Norfolk and Suffolks areas. The Lord Mayor of Norwich, Vivien Thomas, joined the attendees at a reception afterwards.
In a message of gratitude to the former president, Inti Paolucci said, “I am deeply thankful for his leadership, vision, and dedication, which have been crucial in establishing Radio Maria England as a beacon of faith and service.”
The new president has been a trustee of Radio Maria since the beginning of the year and is local to the radio station’s studios in north London.
Outgoing president, Charles Wilson, said, “Radio Maria is a powerful tool for evangelisation and a true community effort. It has been entrusted to us so that the Good News may reach all, whether it be via DAB+ radio, our mobile phones, the internet, or a smart speaker.”

Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 – use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; false;clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width: 600px;}
/* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ […]