The day I got the big phone call

I have spoken about my best times working in radio. But I decided to write about what happened leading up to my biggest moment. The prequel...

During my last two years at comprehensive school, I made it clear that I wanted to be a DJ. One of the teachers arranged for me to be interviewed by my local newspaper about my ambitions. I told the South Shields Gazette I wanted to work on National Radio. Most stations I listened to were National, BBC Radio 1, Radio Luxembourg, Atlantic 252 and other International ones which I could pick up like, VOA Europe (Voice of America’s music station) and AFN (American forces Network). To be fair though, my local station Metro sounded the standard of a National. It was also one of my dreams to work there too. I knew that I would have to gain more experience first, before any of my ambitions could happen. I had been doing voluntary work at Hospital radio, Wear FM (Sunderland Community Radio) and then after leaving school I got a job at Radio Top Shop (Metro Centre, Gateshead). All of the Topshop radio stations across Britain were owned by a radio company called Airplay music in Manchester. The standard of presenters employed for an In-store Radio Station at that time was excellent. The bosses mentioned that Chris Moyles used to work there before me.

After a few months I moved to launch the new Radio Top Shop brand name, called Fashion FM in Glasgow. It was during my time there I sent a demo to Atlantic 252 to get some feedback. I was only 17 and as I had been enjoying listening to 252 a lot more while living away from England, I was really just wanting to know what they thought about how I sounded on-air, hoping someday I would be good enough to became part of the small team of presenters. It was a line-up of about eight presenters I had been listening to while I was at school. (I even had their photo cards!).

Then one day whilst presenting on Fashion FM in the store, with music very loud (Airplay management wanted it that way!), one of the staff members shouted up to me in my studio. "Carl, there’s a call for you!". When I ran to the phone, I couldn’t hear a word of what was being said because of the loud music. How the heck the staff managed to hear each other I don't know!

It was the boss of Atlantic 252, Paul Kavanagh. After realising who it was, the first thing I said to him was probably not a good first impression at all. I said, "Sorry I have been told by the boss not to change the level of the music but hold on, “I'm going to turn it down!”.

Paul wanted to meet me in London for an interview. That call was one of the biggest shocks I can ever remember.

On the day I wanted time off, a big problem had arisen. No one was available to cover for me. After work I rang up the presenter on air at Atlantic 252. It was Robin Banks who answered. I asked him to pass on a message to Paul Kavanagh that I could not make it to the interview. Robin in a very serious voice said to me "What? Why not? Whatever the reason is you need to go to that interview, seriously you might not get another chance". I had already gone against the rules by turning down the music. And this time I had pre-recorded everything and asked some staff members to change the tapes. I explained the real reason why I would not be in the next day and they wished me luck. The following day I got the train from Glasgow to London. Although the radio station was based in Ireland, they also had a London Office, oh, and the train journey was only 6 hours long! When I got there the first thing Paul said to me was "I don't think I'm going to have time to see you today". Anyone else would have probably said "OK, no problem". But I had just got off a six-hour train journey and had only eaten a Mars Bar in that time.

I made sure I explained where I was travelling from etc. Paul asked me to wait for a moment and when he came back into the reception area, he said, "I have a little bit of time now". I sat at a round table in the Atlantic 252 London office in 74 Newman Street. I always knew the address as it was formerly Radio Luxembourg's office and the presenters always mentioned it on air!

I sat in the reception feeling like Billy Elliot, a boy from the North of England in London, except I wasn't auditioning for dance lessons! (Like in the film).

It wasn’t like a formal interview, it was just a general chat. I was honest with Paul at the start, I said, "Sorry I'm really nervous!". Paul was so understanding, a very warm relaxed gentle friendly man. After I settled into the chat Paul then asked, "Do you think you could handle being on air at Atlantic 252?". My adrenalin was going at this stage now. I didn’t even hesitate, and I showed no signs of any doubt. I said, "Yes I feel ready to do it now!".

A month later I got the call offering me the job. I moved to Trim (35 miles West of Dublin) in Ireland and became part of the team I could only have dreamt of being included in.

I was now on a National radio station that was just about to become the UK's Biggest Commercial radio station. I worked 9 to 5 off air for a few weeks learning and helping out. I sat in with Robin Banks and he taught me most of what I needed to know to be ready for on air. I also learned how to do production in new ways, sitting in with Kevin Palmer (Presenter and Producer), he taught me skills and strategies, that I carry to this day. My first show on air was the Friday night party. I remember feeling really confident as I had just come from a station where everyone in a huge store could see me on the mic. This time although the audience was massive, none of them could see me. It was like a relief in some ways!

Looking back now I am so thankful that they took a chance putting me on the air. I was only 17 and very naive.

I got to Iive out my crazy teenage stage while I was in Ireland!

Over the years while working at other stations I have seen some young presenters come in. Most of the time they have been in their mid to late 20s.

But one thing I will never do is look down on anyone who is young. Getting a big chance at 17 has taught me that!