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Press Releases
Alan Simpson joins Radio Ulster
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Alan Simpson is to present a brand new afternoon programme on 91Èȱ¬ Radio Ulster.
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The very tall and very talkative Portrush man will go on air on Monday 27
November 2006 in the 3.00 to 5.00pm slot.
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The vibrant and funny Alan proved to be a popular presenter during his stint on
Radio Ulster during the summer, receiving a positive response from
listeners.
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His appointment is the latest in a series of schedule changes aimed
at helping Radio Ulster continue to be a dynamic station offering the best
in programmes, presenters and choice for listeners.
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Head of Radio Ulster, Susan Lovell, says: "91Èȱ¬ Radio Ulster has had one of
its best years ever - with more people listening than ever before.
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"I look
forward to Alan becoming part of our great success story and part of our
listeners' lives.
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"Alan is a natural entertainer with great warmth and wit, a fresh tone and
strong local connections.
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"His new afternoon show will continue 91Èȱ¬ Radio
Ulster's tradition of giving our listeners the very best presentation talent in
just the right slot.
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"Here you'll find not only entertainment and great music,
but also a sense of the social pulse of Northern Ireland, what's on and what's
worth talking about."
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Alan has been in the entertainment business for around 20 years now and is
known for his work with one of Northern Ireland's best known nightclubs and for
hosting events such as the Milk Cup, Irish Cup Finals and international
matches, the Portrush Raft Race, the International Air Show, the recent Fatboy
Slim Beach Party and a range of charity events.
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Alan's Radio Ulster programme will be a two-hour lively entertainment and
music programme with live studio guests and music performances.
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Alan says: "Not in my wildest dreams did I think my two week run on 91Èȱ¬ Radio
Ulster would result in me getting a contract. I thought I'd be lucky if they
let me become a tea boy.
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"Needless to say I am absolutely ecstatic and over the
moon at being given this huge opportunity and I can't wait to strike up a
relationship with 91Èȱ¬ Radio Ulster listeners and hopefully be welcomed into
their everyday lives.
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"I won't necessarily be rifling through Hugo's CDs, but I
hope plenty of his listeners stay on to listen to me.
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"I'm really chuffed that I, a Portrush man, am being given the chance to chat
to people from all over on a day-to-day basis and it's such a privilege for me
to be joining a great team of presenters on the most listened to station in the
Northern Ireland."
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Peter Johnston, Head of Broadcasting, 91Èȱ¬ Northern Ireland, says: "We are
delighted to welcome Alan to the 91Èȱ¬ Radio Ulster team.
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"He is a fresh new
talent on the airwaves and his friendly, funny nature won him plenty of fans
when he was last on air here.
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"We're sure he will become a valued and popular
presenter on 91Èȱ¬ Radio Ulster."
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Independent production company Clean Slate Productions will produce Alan
Simpson on Radio Ulster.
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Notes to Editors
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Alan Simpson will continue his nightclub work while working with Radio Ulster.
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More information on Alan Simpson's new programme will be available
closer to his first broadcast on Monday 27 November 2006.
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Alan Simpson biography
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The tall and talkative, warm and witty, Alan Simpson is the new presenter of Radio Ulster's 3.00 to 5.00pm slot from Mondays to Fridays.
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Portrush man Alan is a fresh new talent to the airwaves. He first hosted his own entertainment-based programme on Radio Ulster for a short stint during the summer of 2006.
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Alan, a self-professed "bletherer" who describes himself as "forever young, perpetually silly", has been in the entertainment industry for more than 20 years.
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Best known for his work with one of Northern Ireland's best-known nightclubs, which he continues to do, Alan also comperes at a number of high profile events, including the Milk Cup, Irish Cup Finals, international matches, the International Air Show, the Portrush Raft Race, major concerts, such as the recent Fatboy Slim Beach party in Portrush, and a range of charity events.
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Born in Ballymoney, in "black and white" as Alan says, his family moved to the "Hugo country" of Strabane when he was a child before moving to his beloved Portrush when he was nine-years-old.
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Alan was educated in Coleraine Academical Institute, where actor James Nesbitt, 91Èȱ¬ Northern Ireland presenter Mark Carruthers and comedian Alan McKee also attended.
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Alan has always been comfortable behind a microphone.
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At his first job in a shirt factory Alan says that he used to sneak into the office to use the Tannoy system to tell jokes to other staff while his boss was away.
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His penchant for entertaining others soon landed him in trouble, however, when his boss returned unexpected one day, only to fire Alan for his antics.
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A Northern Ireland man through and through, Alan moved to London in his early twenties, only to return to his home of Portrush because he "didn't know anyone".
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On returning home, Alan moved into concert promotions, bringing bands such as Ian Dury and the Blockheads, The Stranglers and The Undertones to Portrush.
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In the early Eighties Alan moved into DJ-ing, playing disco classics at one of Northern Ireland's most famous nightclubs.
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Alan continues to enjoy a long career with this nightclub and has become a well known name for organising major dance events in Portrush.
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Alan cites talking to new people, from "the ordinary to the extraordinary", and his home of Portrush as his passions.
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91Èȱ¬ Northern Ireland Press Office
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