BBC Radio Northampton encyclopedia topics

BBC Radio Northampton - 2 reference results

BBC Radio Northampton is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Northamptonshire. It broadcasts from its studios in Broadcasting House, Northampton (a listed building) on 104.2 (Northampton) and 103.6 (Geddington, between Kettering and Corby) FM. The station also has two studios in Daventry and Corby. It can be heard on the website

The current Managing Editor is Laura Moss, who joined the station in 2003.

Opening

The station was launched at 6:45am on June 16, 1982 on 1107 AM and 96.6 FM, with Jon Beynon's programme Start the Day, the first piece of music being John Williams's Superman theme, followed by Work that Body by Diana Ross.

The first outside broadcast followed on June 17 1982, and the official opening was performed by the Duke of Gloucester.

The station was renamed BBC Northampton in 1990, but reverted to its original name on April 3, 2000.

Transmitters

The station has two transmitters, with 104.2 FM broadcast from the Boughton Green Road area of Northampton, and 103.6 FM broadcast from a mast near the village of Geddington. Listeners can tune in to 104.2 in the south and west of the county (including Northampton and surrounding area), whereas 103.6 serves the north and east (including Kettering and Corby).

Along the M1, the station can be heard on 104.2 FM from Milton Keynes to Copt Oak (near Leicester). There is no MW frequency, nor does the station currently broadcast on DAB. For the north-east of the county near Oundle, the Peterborough transmitter has Radio Cambridgeshire on DAB from a NOW Digital multiplex. The Northampton transmitter also has the GCap-owned commercial station Northants 96 on 96.6FM, and has national radio frequencies.

The transmitter at Daventry on Borough Hill has BBC DAB National, Digital One 11D and an MXR West Midlands 12A multiplex (since August 2001). This transmitter was the BBC's first Long wave transmitter, beginning 27th July 1925. It had not been previously used by the BBC since 1978.

DAB Licence

On October 11 2007, the DAB licence was awarded to NOW Digital. MuxCo had also bid for the licence NOW Digital expect to start broadcasting from the three transmitters at Northampton, Geddington and Daventry in September 2008.

Sports coverage

BBC Radio Northampton has extensive sports output, hosted by Geoff Doyle. Commentators include Tim Oglethorpe for Northampton Town, Paul Gadsby and Chris Barrett, who alternate Rushden and Diamonds coverage, and James Knight and James Burridge for Northampton Saints. Notable past Sports Editors include Mike Sewell, who as of 2007 is a sport reporter for BBC Radio Five Live.

Other contributors include Simon de Choisy, who reports on Kettering Town, Corby Town reporter Chuck Middleton, and Peter Bradley, who is their Rothwell Town reporter.

Behind the scenes at the studio, the show is kept on the airwaves by Mark Harrison.

The jingles are provided by Bespoke Music of Penryn.

Current presenters

Sue Marchant
Richard Savage
Kevin Saddington
Bob Walmsley
Dave Watkins
Kevin Fernihough

Past presenters

Jim Hawkins - former presenter of the weekday Talk Show, now with BBC Radio Shropshire.
Liz Kershaw - former breakfast show presenter; 2002: a presenter on BBC 6 Music; 2005: BBC Coventry & Warwickshire.
Anna Murby Former presenter who started out 'making the tea' and stayed for 15 years, finished a two year stint at 6-8am weekdays but left 29th August 2008 'after spending two years getting up at 4.15am' . Anna was educated at Campion School, Bugbrooke, Northants.
Richard Oliff - former presenter of the daily lunch consumer show 2001-2005 now presents the Drive Show for * HFM - 1500 to 1900 and occasionally BBC Radio Leicester
Steve Riches - former breakfast show presenter, as of 2005 presents BBC Radio Cambridgeshire's breakfast programme
Howard Stableford - went on to present the BBC television series Tomorrow's World
Martin Stanford - as of 2006 presents Sky News's Sky News Today
David Saint - former presenter of 'Saint on Sunday' and the weekday afternoon programme.
Jonathan Vernon-Smith - Now on BBC Three Counties Radio
Andrew Radd - Former Drive Time presenter
John Beynon - the first voice heard on Radio Northampton.
Mervyn Gamage - presented the lunchtime discussion programme now on Moorlands Radio.
Steve Taschini - now Executive Editor, BBC Oxford.