Radio Greats

Luke Davies

Luke Davies (or The Live Luke) has always been fascinated by Radio. In this series, he chats to some of his heroes of the airwaves about how they got into radio, the challenges they have taken and what advice would they give.

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  1. Emperor Rosko

    EPISODE 1

    Emperor Rosko

    Send us Fan Mail Whether you know him as Le Président or Boscoe or even Michael Joseph Pasternak. For the last six decades, Emperor Rosko has brought spontaneous energy to radio station across the globe. From beginning his life in the United States - he went onto achieve a career on stations from Radio Caroline, Radio Luxembourg, Radio Monte-Carlo and achieved National stardom on BBC Radio 1.  In the first episode of this final series, Rosko sits down with Luke to talk about his life on the radio, from developing the bug whilst his Dad was producing films, to joining radio station in the American forces. Before acquiring his licence to work on radio stations, broadcasting in French on Radio Monte Carlo and Radio Luxembourg and getting fired for playing Dancing in the Street during the Student riots. Joining Radio Caroline and how Derek Chinnery recommended him for Radio 1. Becoming a national name with the station and why after nearly 10 years he decided to head back to the states. You can find out more about Rosko by visiting his website here: https://www.emperorrosko.net/ Also you can hear airchecks and shows of Rosko on both Radio Rewind, a site dedicated to Radio 1 material: https://www.radiorewind.co.uk/radio1/rosko_page.htm And the Pirate Radio Hall of Fame: https://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/djsq2r.htm Plus a collection of Airchecks at Aircheck Downloads: https://aircheckdownloads.com/audio-search?term=rosko&sort_bef_combine=relevance_DESC

    23 min
  2. Nigel Williams

    EPISODE 2

    Nigel Williams

    Send us Fan Mail His voice is so recognisable at both Breakfast and at Night time,  but in a career that has spanned over four decades, Nigel Williams is no stranger to radio, having enjoyed a career on stations including County Sounds, Radio City, Chiltern, Virgin 1215 and London's Heart 106.2, he now hosts Breakfast on Jazz FM. In this weeks edition, Nigel sits down with Luke to talk about his radio career. From getting the bug for radio and being inspired by Capital Radio. Joining the launch team for County Sound and seeing the rise of some of the eighties biggest acts. Moving up to Liverpool to join Radio City, how giving a tour lead to a job at Chiltern. Taking on his first management role with The Superstation, joining Virgin 1215 and becoming a Rock presenter. How he moved over to Heart 106.2 and became a fixture with the Late Night Show for nearly a decade, before going freelance and how he got the Breakfast job on Jazz FM. You can find out more about Nigel by visiting his website here: https://www.njwilliams.com/ Also follow Nigel on Instagram: @jazzfmnigel And on X: @lovenigel Also check out Nigel Williams at Aircheck Downloads

    1hr 30min
  3. Colin Slade

    EPISODE 3

    Colin Slade

    Send us Fan Mail 55 Years ago this week, a young energetic hospital radio presenter walked into a BBC Studio in Rochester and began his first ever show on BBC Radio Medway. His name is Colin Slade, and from then on he went onto achieve a career on radio stations across the country including Radio Hallam, Fortune 1458, Gemini AM and Radio Exe. In this weeks edition, Colin sits down with Luke to share stories of those 55 years - from joining Radio Medway and interviewing the likes of Chicory Tip, Queen and David Frost and how he was turned down multiple times for both Radio 1 and 2. How he met Keith Skues and Johnny Moran and joined the launch team of Radio Hallam. Interviewing some high profile people, including Dame Edna and lending equipment to Def Leopard. Working on stations across Yorkshire and Manchester, before moving down to Devon to join Gemini AM, being part of the launch team on Exeter FM, before returning to Radio Exe after a period in politics. You can listen to Colin every Sunday Evening on Radio Exe Also listen to the opening of Radio Hallam on Radio Moments Listen to Colin present on Fortune 1458 And hear this Aircheck from 1997 on Gemini AM on Aircheck Downloads Also listening to Colin celebrate 50 years of his radio life here: https://www.mixcloud.com/andy-walmsley2/colin-slade-50-years-on-the-radio/ We would also like to extend additional thanks to both Paul Bromley and Dave Nightingale for supplying content that was used in this edition of Radio Greats.

    42 min
  4. Ian Dempsey

    EPISODE 4

    Ian Dempsey

    Send us Fan Mail He is one of Ireland's most established and well recognised personalities, having presented Dempsey's Den on RTÉ and created the famous Zig and Zag. This weeks guest is none other than Ian Dempsey. As Ireland celebrates 100 years of the radio, Ian sits down with Luke to share his stories of radio in the Emerald Isles. From listening to Radio Luxembourg and BBC Radio 1, to working in Pirate radio. Joining RTÉ Radio 2, and becoming the stations youngest voice. Presenting a variety of shows before taking over the Breakfast Show for nearly 10 years. Moving over to Today FM, and presenting Breakfast for 27 years, interviewing celebrities and bringing on successful features including Gift Grub. And what it is like to have the Number 1 show on a commercial radio station in Ireland. You can listen to Ian every Weekday Morning on Today FM Also check out Ian's page on the Irish Pirate Radio Archives And have a listen to some of Ian's Airchecks at Radio 2 on Aircheck Downloads Also don't forget to follow Ian on Instagram.

    52 min
  5. Susie Mathis

    EPISODE 5

    Susie Mathis

    Send us Fan Mail Having begun her career with The Paper Dolls, Susie Mathis fell into the world of radio by pure accident. Having started off as one of Phil Wood's Angels. She went onto achieve a career on Piccadilly Radio, becoming one of the first females to host a Daily programme on Independent radio and also one of the first females to be in recipient of a Sony Radio Award. In this weeks edition, Susie sits down with Luke to share her radio memories, how she fell into the industry and how she took to it like a pro. How she always stood up for Manchester and got heavily involved in charity activities. How she moved over to BBC Radio Manchester, and presented shows on Radio 2 and had a stint on Top of the Pops. Presenting shows on Lite AM and returning to radio to host a Saturday Breakfast Show on Boom Radio. You can find out more about Susie by visiting her website Also you can listen to Susie every Saturday morning on Boom Radio Also listen to Susie present her Boom Radio show on Aircheck Downloads And follow Susie on Instagram

    34 min
  6. Steve England

    EPISODE 6

    Steve England

    Send us Fan Mail If you grew up loving local radio in the 1980's and 1990's and were crazy for radio jingles then you may be familiar with the legendary sound of Alfasound. But a lot of those sounds were created by one man who is an encyclopaedia of radio - and that man is Steve England.  In this episode, Steve sits down with Luke to share stories of growing up in an entertainment family. Listening to the pirates at his home in Kent and going out to work for Radio Caroline and Radio Atlantis. Returning to the UK and joining Piccadilly Radio, and working in production and getting a first taste of jingle producing - the dream and delight of going out to America to visit and see how JAM Jingles were created. Starting up Alfasound, before producing jingles under his name in 2000. What starting a community radio station was like and how he returned to the airwaves with Boom Radio. You can find out more about Steve by visiting his official website here. Also you can find Steve presenting Friday evenings on Boom Radio. Discover more about Steve, including several recordings and a biography here on the Pirate Radio Hall of Fame. Also listen to these amazing Piccadilly jingles from Radio Jingles Online. And listen to these jingles and airchecks from Aircheck Downloads: Both Steve England and Alfasound.

    1hr 9min
  7. Graham Robb

    EPISODE 8

    Graham Robb

    Send us Fan Mail Often cited as one of the North East's most influential people. Graham Robb has been a successful entrepreneur and political campaigner for over three decades. However prior to his success in business and politics, Graham was a successful radio presenter in the North East of England - hosting shows on Radio Tees, BBC Radio Cleveland and Century Radio. In this weeks edition, Graham sits down with Luke to talk about his career in radio, from getting the bug and listening to Radio Tees from the launch and becoming enthused by the world of radio. How he joined the station at 16 and was one of the countries youngest radio presenters. How he overcame a dilemma with his driving test and a backup show. Presenting the late show on the station and how an interview with then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher lead to him embarking on a political journey. How he joined BBC Radio Cleveland, and presented shows on the network - before joining the launch team of Century, before leaving the world of radio behind to focus on his business and political career. Check out Graham's business here Recognition PR Also check out this interview Graham gave to The Northern Echo  We would like to extend a thank you to John Foster and the Team at Aircheck Downloads for the use of content that was featured in this episode. This episode is also dedicated to Stu White, who has been an avid follower of the series since it began.

    43 min
  8. Owen Larkin

    EPISODE 11

    Owen Larkin

    Send us Fan Mail As Downtown Radio celebrate five decades of broadcasting across Northern Ireland, in this weeks episode of Radio Greats - it is the turn of Owen Larkin, who has spent four decades working across stations in both Northern and the Republic of Ireland. From a career on Pirate stations, Local and National Radio, from Stations including Century Radio, LMFM, Citybeat and Classic Hits 4FM. In this weeks episode, Owen sits down with Luke to share stories of his four decade career, from working on the pirates. Stories include working on stations that include North East Radio, Kiss FM and ERI Cork. Working with some big names, describing studios and falling asleep on air. How he joined Ireland's first National Station Century Radio and worked with some of the biggest names in Broadcasting, leaving to join LMFM before finding work on CityBeat in Belfast and being part of the launch team of Classic Hits 4FM. To finally ending up on Downtown Radio - just in time for the stations 50th Birthday. Why not listen to Owen on Downtown Radio every weekday between 1 and 4PM. Also check out some brilliant archives of Owen on the Archives of The Irish Pirate Radio Audio Archive. Listen also to some archives of Owen presenting shows for KISS FM. And watch Owen chat to Shane Filan and Louis Walsh on Citybeat here on Youtube. And listen to Owen present Early Breakfast on Century Radio from September 1989 on Aircheck Downloads.

    1hr 8min
  9. John Gillmore

    EPISODE 12

    John Gillmore

    Send us Fan Mail Often cited as Mr Lancashire. John Gillmore, better known as Gilly has been one of the counties most recognised faces and voices of the radio industry. From a four decade career which has included stations such as Red Rose, The Bay and BBC Radio Lancashire. This week Gilly sits down with Luke to share stories about his radio journey, from getting the bug and listening to the launch of BBC Radio Merseyside, to creating adverts for various radio stations and reading out announcements in his job at the local Co-Op. Getting his first gig on Red Rose Radio and hosting shows with the station. Joining the AM Red Rose Gold from its launch and working with some of the finest voices in Radio including Jon Culshaw, John Myers and Bob Stewart. Moving over to the rival station The Bay in 1998, before joining BBC Radio Lancashire in 2005, where he hosted shows for nearly 18 years. Check out Gilly on Facebook and follow Gilly on X: @Gillylancs Read this article about Gilly from Lancashire Life Also listen to Gilly's final show on BBC Radio Lancashire on Aircheck Downloads

    51 min
  10. Simon Davies

    EPISODE 13

    Simon Davies

    Send us Fan Mail Just after he turned 20, Simon Davies became the new host of BRMB's Breakfast Show, succeeding the legend Les Ross. It was seen as a bold move by the station at the time, but what is his radio story? Well on this weeks edition - Simon sits down with Luke to chat about the 13 year career he had in radio, with aspirations of becoming a TV Cameraman he then settled on a career in radio, joining Marcher Sound and presenting and tech-oping shows which included Scott Shannon's Calling America. There is also the story of how he turned down a show on Radio Tees to take over hosting Breakfast on BRMB, how and why the Breakfast show didn't work out, moving to Drivetime and Evening on the station, before leaving in 1995 to join Radio City in Liverpool and why after 13 years in the industry, he decided to hang up his headphones in full time radio. Since leaving Radio - Simon now runs a Web Design Business called Roodee Web Design which you can find out more here. Also check out these Airchecks of Simon at Aircheck Downloads. And listen to these cracking Simon Davies BRMB Jingles on Soundcloud.

    1 hr
  11. Peter Bowes

    EPISODE 14

    Peter Bowes

    Send us Fan Mail If you regularly watch and listen to BBC News, then today's guest needs no introduction. Peter Bowes is currently the BBC's North American Correspondent and has reported on many high profile events, but prior to his career state side, he enjoyed a career on the radio, presenting shows and reading the news for Radio Tees and Piccadilly, before heading down to London to join the BBC and reading the news on Radio 1's Newsbeat.  In this weeks edition, Peter sits down with Luke to share his journey through the radio. How he developed a bug from listening to BBC Radio 2 and gaining work experience at Metro Radio. How one of of his first reports was actually on Radio 1's Studio B15 reporting on Pirate radio. Joining Radio Tees and describing what the atmosphere was like reporting on picket lines, reporting stories and presenting shows. Moving down to Piccadilly Radio, before getting the call to join the BBC, first with Radio 4, before moving over to Newsbeat on Radio 1. Reading the news on several shows and getting the dream of teasing the Golden Hour on Simon Bates' Mid Morning Show. How the opportunity to read the news on Steve Wright's Breakfast Show came about and what working with Steve was like, before moving out to America to report on various stories. Check out Peter's about me page here. And why not listen to Peter talk to Steve Wright on BBC Radio 2 here.  And Don't forget to follow Peter on both Instagram and on X. We would like to extend addition thank you's to Peter, John Foster and the team at Aircheck Downloads for the use of content that was used in this week's episode.

    1hr 13min
See All Season 10 (14)

About

Luke Davies (or The Live Luke) has always been fascinated by Radio. In this series, he chats to some of his heroes of the airwaves about how they got into radio, the challenges they have taken and what advice would they give.

Information

  • Creator
    Luke Davies
  • Episodes
    119
  • Seasons
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Radio Greats
  • Show Website
    Radio Greats

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