Year: 2025

Two well-known northern broadcasters are returning to the airwaves as Nation Radio expands its local output in the North East and Yorkshire.

Steve Colman will host a new Saturday show on Nation Radio North East from 10am to 2pm, covering Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham and Darlington.
Paul “Griffo” Griffiths will present a similar show for listeners across Yorkshire on Sundays in the same time slot.
Steve, known for his years on Metro and Smooth, said he was delighted to reconnect with North East audiences, adding: “I’m so happy to be back on the radio in the North East and hope to reconnect with my many former listeners on the brilliant Nation Radio.”
Griffo, who has long been a familiar voice across Yorkshire, said he was thrilled to join the growing station: “They have a hugely talented team who create brilliant radio and they are growing in some significant local markets which is really exciting. I can’t wait to get started playing Yorkshire’s Best Variety of Hits.”

Nation Radio’s Group Programme Director Neil Greenslade said both presenters would bring valuable local experience to their regional audiences. He noted that the stations in the North East and Yorkshire have shown strong audience growth and that the addition of Steve and Griffo builds on that success.
Helen Nolan, Commercial Director for the North East and Yorkshire, said the pair’s arrival “marks an exciting new chapter” for Nation Radio, helping to “strengthen our position in the market and create even greater opportunities for local businesses and advertisers.”
Nation Radio North East is available on DAB Digital Radio across the region, on FM frequencies in Wearside, Durham and Darlington, and online or via smart speakers. Nation Radio Yorkshire can be heard on DAB, 99.8FM and online at nationplayer.com.

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Derby has a new local radio station with the launch of Derby ONE, marking the return of commercial radio to the city.
The station went live at 8am on Saturday with local presenter Elliot Holman hosting the Derby ONE Breakfast Show. The launch was broadcast from the newly refurbished Derby Market Hall, where the team spoke with traders, shoppers, and local businesses throughout the day.
Director Jeff Martin said: “It was a memorable day for the city. We were overwhelmed by the messages of support and it was wonderful to be in the Market Hall, such an iconic building.
“A city like Derby should have its own radio station, and we want to be part of celebrating everything happening here.”
Derby’s MPs also welcomed the station. Derby South MP Baggy Shanker said in a recorded message that “stations like Derby ONE help to keep our communities alive,” while Catherine Atkinson, MP for Derby North, told listeners she looks forward to hearing the station “amplify everything that makes our city a great place to live and work.”
Derby ONE can be heard online at derbyone.com and the station plans to join the city’s DAB line-up when it becomes available in 2026.

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Manchester Central Library is appealing for listeners to help complete its growing archive of historic Piccadilly Radio shows.

The city’s first commercial radio station went on air in April 1974, with Roger Day launching the service by playing the Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations. Since last year, over 1,600 programmes have been digitised through a £99,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, preserving decades of local broadcasting history.
Many broadcasts, however, are still missing. The library is asking residents to check their cupboards, attics and cassette collections for home recordings of lost shows such as James Stannage’s late-night phone-ins, Susie Mathis and Dave Ward’s daytime programmes, Mike Shaft’s ‘Taking Care of Business’, and Stu Allan’s influential hip hop series ‘Bus Diss’.
Listeners can have their tapes digitised for free and returned once copied, ensuring these shows are preserved for future generations. The appeal coincides with the Piccadilly Radio Archive: Nobody Did It Better! exhibition, running at Manchester Central Library until 31 December 2025, which celebrates the voices that shaped Manchester’s radio scene from the 1970s onwards.
Councillor John Hacking said the project is “a chance for all of us to be part of preserving Manchester’s broadcasting history,” encouraging anyone with old tapes to contribute. Helen Featherstone from The National Lottery Heritage Fund added that “local radio holds a special place in people’s hearts,” and praised the project for inspiring future broadcasters.
The archive has also collaborated with the Manchester Digital Music Archive and the Greater Manchester Hip Hop Archive, offering young people workshops and training through ALL FM. Oral histories from Piccadilly Radio staff are also being recorded as part of the project.
Former listeners can contact the Library on archiveslocalstudies@manchester.gov.uk to share their recordings.

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Harrogate Hospital Radio has been awarded £18,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund to improve its broadcasting facilities.
The grant will fund upgrades to studio and ward equipment, improving audio quality and connectivity for patients, visitors and staff at Harrogate District Hospital. The volunteer-run station says the investment will help it deliver an even higher standard of entertainment and comfort to those spending time in hospital.
Chair Bernard Mageean said the funding would have a lasting impact on both volunteers and listeners. He added: “We’re incredibly grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund and to everyone who plays the National Lottery. This grant will make a huge difference to our volunteers and listeners alike. It means we can continue improving our broadcasting equipment and ensure our output remains of a high quality for patients at Harrogate District Hospital.”
Alongside this new funding, the station is pressing ahead with its plans for growth and community involvement. It will soon be inviting new volunteers to get involved in broadcasting, producing, and behind-the-scenes roles as part of its expanding service.
Marketing Manager Oliver Johnson also expressed appreciation for the continued backing of local sponsors, saying their support — together with the National Lottery funding — helps the station’s volunteers make a real difference to patients’ wellbeing.

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