UK

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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Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely have just announced they will leave the KISS Breakfast Show at the end of January after more than five years on air.

They told listeners that they are stepping away from their daily show to focus on a busy year ahead, including a new Diversity tour.
Jordan and Perri said they had enjoyed “every single moment” of presenting breakfast and that the decision came as they look to spend more time on other projects next year.
They also spoke about adjusting to having early mornings back again after years of 4am starts. They described their time on the show as a privilege and said they were sad to go while looking forward to what comes next.
Paul Gerrard, Content Director for KISS and Hits Radio, thanked both presenters for the energy and creativity they brought to the show.
He said the KISS studios would miss having them around and wished them well with everything they are planning in the coming months.
Jordan and Perri first took over KISS Breakfast five and a half years ago and quickly established themselves with listeners.
KISS will announce plans for the next breakfast line up soon.

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BBC Radio 4 has confirmed that Misha Glenny will become the new presenter of In Our Time when the series returns on 15 January.

He takes over from Melvyn Bragg, who stepped down in September after presenting more than one thousand episodes across twenty seven years.
In Our Time has been part of Radio 4 since 1998 and continues to offer weekly discussions on history, philosophy, science and culture with leading specialists. It is one of the BBC’s most listened to on demand programmes and attracts audiences of all ages on BBC Sounds.
The new run will begin on Thursday 15 January on Radio 4 and BBC Sounds. Before that, Misha will appear with Melvyn for a discussion in a special edition of the Today programme on 24 December, giving listeners the chance to hear them reflect on the programme’s past and future.
Mohit Bakaya, Controller of BBC Radio 4 and Director of BBC Speech Audio, said Misha’s background in journalism, international affairs and broadcasting makes him well suited to the role. He said “His understanding of international affairs, science, culture and history, combined with his ability to make complex subjects engaging, makes him the ideal person to build on Melvyn Bragg’s remarkable legacy.”
Misha said it is an honour to take on the role. He noted “Its enduring success is testament to Melvyn’s extraordinary stewardship and his forensic curiosity, and I look forward to continuing the tradition of lively, informed conversation that listeners love.”
Melvyn said he is pleased to see Misha take over and highlighted his “breadth of knowledge and gift for clear, engaging conversation”.
Misha has been a regular voice on Radio 4 for more than a decade through series such as The Invention Of, The Secret History of the World and The Rise and Rise of the Microchip. His career has also included reporting on the fall of communism in Eastern Europe and writing several books on organised crime and technology.

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Pulse Mix Radio has launched in Bishop Auckland with a focus on opening up radio to new presenters across the North East.

The online station has been created by founder David Doughty, who has more than thirty years of experience in DJ work, event hosting and a year of previous broadcasting.
David presents Drive on weekdays from 4pm to 6pm and has already built a schedule that includes Piers Mettrick on weekday breakfast from 7am to 10am and The Daily Drop with George Heron from 10am to midday.
The line-up also features Graeme Park with his long-running house music show, Spencer James with Airplay40 on Sundays from 4pm to 7pm, and local DJs including Mark Hanson with Sparky and Bec’s on the decks plus Sonnie Rickard as DJ Technenotice playing makina on Fridays from 8pm to 10pm.
David said the station aims to create opportunities for people who may not have had the chance to broadcast before, explaining that Pulse Mix Radio is designed to be a welcoming environment for first-time presenters. He added that the station is committed to supporting people with disabilities and long-term health conditions, ensuring that representation is central to its purpose.
Training opportunities will be introduced as the station grows, with ambitions to expand further once a permanent studio base is secured. Plans also include developing the platform as a creative space for emerging voices across the region.
Listeners can tune in at pulsemixradio.co.uk.
Dean Wears has been appointed programmer and said it is an honour to take on the role at a new North East station. He added that support for David has been strong and that the team hopes to bring as many local voices on air as possible.

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Wide Digital has announced its plan to apply for the Weymouth and Dorchester small scale DAB licence in west/south Dorset.
The Poole-based company has submitted its application with the support of KeeP 106, AIR 107.2, Forest FM, Hope FM, Hot Radio and Bournemouth One.
If approved, the multiplex would provide stronger digital coverage for existing local stations and create space for new services to launch in the area.
Wayne Simpson, Director of Wide Digital, said the collaboration aims to give more listeners access to local radio on digital platforms. He said the platform will allow stations to be enjoyed in digital stereo and increase choice for listeners by bringing new services to the area for the first time.
AIR 107.2 Director Carl Greenham said the station’s recent return under new leadership has highlighted the level of community support behind it.
Carl said supporting the DAB application is vital for the station’s long term future and that digital coverage alongside FM will open up areas that have never had local radio choice.
KeeP 106 Director Steve Bulley confirmed the Dorchester station’s support for the proposal. Steve said they have confidence in the engineering to provide robust coverage and acknowledged the commercial challenges, but added that joining the multiplex is an opportunity to deliver content to more listeners.
The area is being re-advertised in Ofcom’s Round 8, which has a closing date for applications of 5pm on 10 December 2025.
Wide Digital runs the Poole small-scale DAB in the east of the county, and has a stake in the soon-to-launch Bournemouth multiplex.

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