Nick Ferrari celebrated 20 years as the host of LBC’s breakfast show on Friday 5th January.
The anniversary programme featured guest appearances and special messages from leaders across the political spectrum, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and many of the former Prime Ministers whom Nick has interviewed and challenged over the past two decades, including Boris Johnson, Theresa May and Gordon Brown.
After a career in the national press and television news, Nick Ferrari joined LBC in 2001 and launched the brand-new Nick Ferrari at Breakfast in 2004.
When Nick started his London breakfast show, Chris Tarrant was still on Capital Breakfast, Chris Moyles has just started Radio 1 Breakfast, Jazz FM was still broadcasting on 102.2 and Dr Fox was hosting the chart show.
Rishi Sunak told Nick: “Massive congratulations on making it to 20 years. That’s an extraordinary innings.
“I’ve always loved coming on your show, particularly last year when we took lots of calls from your listeners, which was fun, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be back on your show again, particularly this year of all years, but congratulations, enjoy the day and I’ll see you soon.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who took part in his monthly Call Keir phone-in on Nick’s programme today, said: “Real congratulations, I am really pleased to be on on the day of your anniversary. I can’t imagine what it’s like to get up at 05:30 every week day for twenty years.”
Speaking to Nick Ferrari today, former Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: “Warmest congratulations on this landmark moment, two decades entertaining, informing, provoking the unsuspecting British public as they listen to your show.”
He said it was “no wonder you’re a legend in British broadcasting, many congratulations.”
Nick said he did not sleep well last night ahead of this special show, much like this first night on LBC twenty years ago.
“Thank you for indulging me, it’s not something I imagine I’ll be doing in twenty years time, but the most important thank you goes to you and it’s very very heartfelt.”
Special anniversary on LBC (& UK radio more generally)
Nick Ferrari celebrates 20 years as the Breakfast show presenter
Sir Keir Starmer, Sir Nick Clegg and Ben Wallace on the show
Plus messages to LBC from Rishi Sunak and a fair few of his predecessors…@LBC @NickFerrariLBC pic.twitter.com/UUGJKi3S4x
— Henry Riley (@HenryRiley1) January 5, 2024
This story first appeared on radiotoday.co.uk