Category: Southern Counties Radio
Date: 27.02.2006
Printable version
91Èȱ¬ Southern Counties Radio is pleased to announce its new presenter line-up for Surrey.
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Fred Marden moves from The Eagle to the 91Èȱ¬ to present Surrey's new Breakfast Show.
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Entertainer Gordon Astley is back on the mid-morning show after a gap of ten years, while talk show host Tommy Boyd will present in the afternoon.
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Surrey News Editor Mark Carter will present a new evening news programme for Surrey listeners at Drivetime.
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Fred Marden says: "I've enjoyed my time at The Eagle and I'll be leaving many good friends behind but I can't wait to get my teeth into some of Surrey's big news stories.
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"We aim to make the Breakfast Show essential listening."
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91Èȱ¬ Southern Counties Radio will continue to have a strong presence in Surrey despite the station's headquarters moving back to Brighton.
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They will provide more local news and programmes which will originate from its studio centre in Guildford.
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Bosses at the 91Èȱ¬ are confident the new line-up will be popular when people get the opportunity to listen to the new shows from Monday 3 April.
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Mike Hapgood, 91Èȱ¬ Regional Head of Programmes, believes the changes are good for listeners in Surrey.
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"We're increasing our investment in news and programmes. Reports that the 91Èȱ¬ is pulling out of Surrey are completely untrue," he says.
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"In fact we'll be producing more local shows from our Guildford studio centre."
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The weekend line-up includes a new golden oldies show featuring former pirate radio DJ Dave Cash.
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The exclusive sport commentaries of Aldershot and Woking continue on Saturday afternoons.
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Managing Editor Neil Pringle says: "I know some listeners have had reservations about the scale of the changes but they'll have to judge us by what they hear - and I think they'll be pleasantly surprised!"
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Notes to Editors
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Nicci Holliday joins the station on 6 March as 91Èȱ¬ Southern Counties Radio Editor.
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Mondays to Fridays
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6.00 - 9.00am The Surrey Breakfast Show with Fred Marden
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Fred Marden is a local lad with his feet on the ground but reaching for the
stars. This radio junkie holds a secret ambition to be an airline pilot, or go
even higher in the stratosphere.
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These career choices require bravery and talent,
so Fred decided to work in radio instead.
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He's worked for half a dozen stations, and spent a large amount of his
broadcasting career in Surrey and North East Hampshire, joining 91Èȱ¬ SCR from the
local commercial station The Eagle.
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When not behind the microphone, Fred offers
tips to the next generation of broadcasters, in his work as a lecturer at
Farnborough College of Technology.
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Until recently, he was the head of their
School of Media and Creative Arts.
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Little known fact:
Fred once spent a day in the foothills of the Himalayas with an Indian guru.
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What's the show about?
The Breakfast Show is the essential start to your day in Surrey and North East
Hampshire.
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Fred will talk to the people making the news where you live and give
you the chance to have your say.
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Plus, special competitions and travel
every 15 minutes, with exclusive access to the cameras at Highways Agency Control
in Godstone.
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Quote: "This is undoubtedly the best area of the country to live and work in. From here
I can jump in the car and be in beautiful countryside in minutes, at the heart of
the world's greatest city in an hour, and there's no better starting point for
that weekend booze cruise!"
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9.00am-1.00pm Gordon Astley
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Gordon Astley, award-winning radio host, has been in the business of entertaining, informative radio for 30 years.
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When Chris Tarrant left Tiswas in the Eighties, it was Gordon to whom the producers turned to take over the popular Saturday morning TV show.
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When not behind the microphone Gordon is a motivational speaker, an expert at handwriting analysis and a member of the Magic Circle.
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Little known fact: in his spare time Gordon plays the washboard!
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What's the show about? Gordon will be sorting out listeners' problems, taking calls on the day's talking points and meeting the big names visiting the area.
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Quote: "I think my interviewing technique means that the listener gets the information and answers they want, and 'just that little bit more'.
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"Last time I was on SCR we were talking about the live animal exports from Shoreham - I'm looking forward to important stories like that which are dear to the hearts of people in Sussex."
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1.00-4.00pm Tommy Boyd
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Tommy Boyd has been described as one of the most original and thought-provoking presenters on the radio.
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He was one of the original staff at Talk Radio but his career started at the former 91Èȱ¬ Radio Brighton while he was studying at the University of Sussex.
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He's also well known as a TV presenter, hosting Magpie and The Wide Awake Club on ITV.
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Little known fact: as well as a radio jockey, he's also been a racing jockey, he once come third at Cheltenham racecourse.
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What's the show about? His new afternoon show will include fascinating facts, a good argument and old favourites like the return of the Wonderful Hour.
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Quote: "I love living in the South. I'm just a bit embarrassed about the Isle of White."
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5.00-6.00pm Surrey Drivetime with Mark Carter
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Mark Carter was born in Surrey and has lived in the county ever since.
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He has had
a passion for radio for many years but initially took up a far more sensible
profession, working in financial services.
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Mark has worked for a variety of
commercial stations across the South, including a year of co-presenting with our
new voice at breakfast Fred Marden.
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He joined 91Èȱ¬ Southern Counties Radio
initially as a newsreader at the beginning of 2003, later being
promoted to the grand heights of News and Programmes Editor with
responsibility for overseeing the day-to-day output of the station.
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Now he's
looking forward to getting back behind the microphone on a regular basis.
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Little known fact:
Mark holds the record as 91Èȱ¬ Southern Counties Radio's tallest-ever employee.
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What's the show about?
A comprehensive round-up of the day's top stories from across Surrey, North East
Hampshire and around the world, along with great music and the essential drivetime travel news.
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Quote: "So far in my time working for 91Èȱ¬ Southern Counties Radio I've flown over
Surrey in a hot air balloon, performed a makeover on some rather smelly public
toilets and even managed to fracture and dislocate my arm whilst presenting the
afternoon show! Who knows what will happen next?"
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LB2
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