Crunch & Roll – Details, episodes & analysis

Hey man! It's Griffo!

For those of you not familiar with Griffo's work, he's a legend of the airwaves in North Wales and Yorkshire. He's tighter than a gnat's chuff and has a voice that Morgan Freeman would kill for.

As one former boss told him in a snoop, "You make my station sound BIG"!

Foxy's know Griffo for almost a quarter of a century having worked with him at V*king FM, so he has some stories to hit him with off the bat. And there's plenty of stuff he didn't know about too, including how he got his first break on air at 16; how an engineer fell on him mid-link; and there's a classic instance of a laissez-faire interpretation of GDPR with regards Phonebox.

He also reads out a memo sent by an eccentric MD in 1999, subject line: Men's Toilets. It's INCREDIBLE.

Griffo's website: https://griffomedia.com/

Classic Griffo: https://www.aircheckdownloads.com/audio-search?term=griffo&sort_bef_combine=relevance_DESC

Twitter: https://x.com/GriffoMedia

Support Crunch & Roll: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

We all have those moments in our lives where we look back and think, why did I do that.

In radio terms, Paul Hayes 'why did I do that' moment was HUGE. Let's just say it involved a Richard Park, Ashley Tabor and a pizza.

Paul's done a decade on the mighty Magic in London, but his career has taken in big stations in the UK, Canada and UAE, so the guides us through stories from his time at Southern FM, Galaxy, Heart and more.

Including how he once rearranged a former PD's entire house, much to his anger; how his brother made a joke about his career trajectory that unfortunately came true; and how one boss took him out with "a wad of cash" in an attempt to change his mind about leaving!

Hear Paul in action on pretty much all his stations, here: https://www.aircheckdownloads.com/audio-search?term=paul+hayes&sort_bef_combine=relevance_DESC

Paul's on Magic early breakfast, 4am-6am, Monday to Friday: https://hellorayo.co.uk/magic/presenters/paul-hayes/

Paul's Twitter: https://x.com/hayesonair

Like what you hear? We'd be eternally grateful for any support you can give on Ko-Fi. https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

Has there ever been a more iconic evening show than Dave Kelly’s epoch-defining broadcast on Galaxy?

If you were to write the recipe for the perfect evening show, you’d use all the ingredients that made Dave’s show so perfect. Daft features – Tick. Dicking about – Tick. Pushing the boundaries of what you get away with – Tick. Bangers – Tick.

But what made this young fella from Northampton become the Don of Dusk?

Luckily you’ve found the podcast to answer that very question.

Galaxy wasn’t the only notable station on his CV. He had a good run at Capital and even turned his hand at doing breakfast on Radio City. He spills the beans on how all this came to pass, and in the case of City, the unfortunate ending.

He also reveals he might be one of the biggest radio geeks out there (don’t get him started on split jingles); how he cost Galaxy tens of thousands of pounds due to a couple of significant cock-ups; and how he’s not the only Dave Kelly in radio.

Dave now lives in the Cayman Islands and does shows for stations all over the world. Sucks to be Dave… But prepare to play the world’s smallest violin when plays the sympathy card regarding the price of frozen produce in the Caribbean.

Follow Dave on Twitter: https://twitter.com/davekellydj

Find out about his current station, X107.1 in the Cayman Islands: https://www.facebook.com/x1071/?locale=en_GB

And here’s some classic Dave in his Galaxy pomp: https://www.aircheckdownloads.com/audio-search?term=dave+kelly+galaxy&sort_bef_combine=relevance_DESC

If you enjoy the podcast, just want to give you a quick reminder that we’d be grateful if you would support us on Ko-Fi:  https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

Dirk Anthony is one of the most famous, or for some, infamous, radio bosses there's ever been. He pretty much ran the show at GWR and then Gcap, after the merger with Capital.

When you weald so much power for so long it's difficult for some to see beyond the 'big, scary boss' tag, and forget there's s real person with their own story, dealing with their own pressures.

So, not having had too many dealings Dirk in the past, Foxy was a bit nervous about grilling "the Guvnor"... but it's probably fair to say Dirk was more nervous!

We started right at the beginning, taking in his slightly fortuitous entry into the industry after initially taking on a trade. He lifts the lid on the GWR / Capital merger, and muses on a job he could / should have taken on. And he addresses the "bloody Aussies" feeling some people had, with great humility and understanding. Oh, he also tells us his real name - listen right to the end for that.

And whatever you thought you knew about Dirk, prepare to find out the real story.

Dirk is now a partner of the consultancy company Blank White Page (https://blankwhitepage.co.uk/) and has made the incredibly kind offer to help any Crunch & Roll listener who's struggling with life after radio to understand who their skills and experience can be invaluable in the outside world. Contact him at dirk.anthony@blankwhitepage.co.uk.

Foxy has referenced many of his radio heroes before - Moyles, Mark & Lard, Robin Banks - but the biggest poster on teenage Foxy's bedroom wall was that of Scott Makin.

It was his husky, Teesside tones and his lovely leather jacket that did it for him. But listen to the end to find out how our awe-fill presenter embarrassed himself in front of his icon the first time they met.

If you've lived in Yorkshire or the North East of England in the last 30ish years there's a good chance you've heard Scott doing his thing. He is undeniably 'King of Mids' but there's the most perfect story of how he ended up presenting Breakfast at Century, and how I did his best to sabotage this gem of a job offer.

You'll also hear about the time he met a former inmate listener in a bar, and a Full Monty performance featuring former guest Joel Ross (and what he'd do for £30 in the late 90s).

Warning: Contains gratuitous, misty-eyed mentions of Viking FM.

Hear Scott on BBC Radio Tees and BBC Radio Newcastle, weekday afternoons from 2: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04kbx4b

Get your ears around a bit of classic Scott on Aircheck Downloads: https://www.aircheckdownloads.com/uk-airchecks/hallam-fm-sheffield/2010s/scott-makin-apr-9th-2013-655

Follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ScottMakinRadio

A greased eel. The fur of a chinchilla. A babies bum.

When it comes to smoothness, this lot just aren't cutting the mustard, because Rossie's voice is smoother than an otter in socks, sliding down a lubed-up iceberg.

But you don't have a CV like his by simply having a great voice. His claim that he's the only person Parky never called up on the XD to give the hairdryer treatment to is probably testament to that.

He's had stints working at Radio City, Radio Aire and imperial phase Capital, but now hosts one of the biggest shows around, breakfast on Greatest Hits Radio.

And with such an accomplished CV it makes sense that he's a brilliant story teller with brilliant stories to tell.

Like the time he pinched a celebs booze stash at Party in the Park; how he almost didn't do his first show at Capital thanks to nerves; and an unfortunate (but hilarious) selfie incident.

And did we mention his voice..?

Catch Rossie on Great Hits Radio Breakfast: https://planetradio.co.uk/greatest-hits/west-midlands/

There's TONS of classic Rossie on Aircheck Downloads: https://www.aircheckdownloads.com/audio-search?term=simon+ross&sort_bef_combine=relevance_DESC

And here he is on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rossie7dj

When considering a 'radio name', you could literally choose ANYTHING. But we find out early on in this episode that Dick chose, well, Dick. To be fair, it did lead to the best named breakfast show radio have ever seen! But as he helpfully suggests, "Don't Google 'Dick Stone'".

Dick is a programming stalwart, running Ram, Trent, the Hit Music Network, Capital East Mids and the Smooth network. Most people reading this will probably have worked for him for goodness sake!

But we also find out about his days before he was the boss, when he had to mimic another presenter to get his first professional gig.

We also find out that he once took some presenters hostage in his office. Kind of.

If you're enjoying Crunch & Roll, please give us a nice review on your podcast app.

And subscribe / follow us, so you get every new episode as soon as they drop.

We're also on Ko-Fi if you'd like to buy us a coffee (or radio station mugs off Ebay) - Just click here: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

Read Dick's insightful and sage radio blog here: https://dick-stone.com/blog/

And follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DickStone

The guest on this episode could be called a 'one station man'.... that is if he hadn't moved somewhere else almost exactly ten years ago!

Nigel Freshman*, or Fresh to his listeners, was undeniably 'Mr Beacon' until his love affair with the station turned sour and he moved to Smooth West Midlands where he still plies his trade.

So he's pretty much a legend in the West Midlands and can’t walk down Bilston high street without getting mobbed!

It's another episode full of tremendous stories and brutal honesty. Well, life would be boring if we all thought the same things...

He tells us about a recent medical diagnosis, the crazy times with a former co-presenter, how his fancy car put him in a new bosses bad books, his part in what is now the most cited case in media law... and his thoughts on his final couple of years at Beacon, in which Foxy admits to never being so awkward...

You can hear Fresh on the Smooth Radio West Midlands Breakfast Show, weekdays 6-10: https://www.smoothradio.com/westmids/

And Aircheck Downloads have a couple of clips from back in the Beacon days: https://www.aircheckdownloads.com/audio-search?term=fresh&sort_bef_combine=relevance_DESC

And follow Fresh on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nigelfreshman

If you're enjoying Crunch & Roll, please give us a nice review on your podcast app.

And subscribe / follow us, so you get every new episode as soon as they drop.

We're also on Ko-Fi if you'd like to buy us a coffee (although I can't guarantee it won't be something stronger) - Just click here: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

*Listen after the credits to find out the real story of his name.

Hold on to your headphones, Tiger Tim's roaring onto Crunch & Roll, and he's grrrrrrrrrreat! (Sorry).

Early on in his chat with Foxy he tells us that it is "no holes barred"...

He's happy to to go through the many highs and some notable lows of his career, spanning Capital and BRMB to TFM and Minster, and plenty more besides.

We've cover how he was once told he couldn't say his own name right by one manager, the magic of warming up for Chris Tarrant every morning, and turning down a big gig for the sake of his health and sanity.

There's strong language and adult content in this episode. And if you are affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, you're not alone and there's help and support at www.drinkaware.co.uk.

If you're a regular listener to the podcast, firstly thank you - we love you. But if you'd like to support the podcast / contribute to the 969media Christmas party, we'd be eternally grateful if you would click here: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

Check out Tim's magic here: https://timlichfield.com/

Listen to Tim on YorkMix Radio from 3pm weekdays: https://yorkmix.com/radio/

This episodes finds you just before Christmas 2023. Tis the season of good will to all men... except one former boss who features in this episode! But be assured the rest of Foxy's chat with Darren Daley is a real Christmas cracker.

He's been in the game since Cliff Richard was number 1 in the charts with Saviours' Day, so has plenty of stories to tell.

Luckily for us he's kept all his correspondence from radio stations from the last 35+ years, and reads out some of the more noteworthy examples. Fair to say he wasn't on former Radio 1 controller Johnny Beerling's Christmas card list.

There's chat about how Radio City legend Phil Eason gave him his first break one memorable Boxing Day.

And the tale of a naked Australian producer ruining the news on a unfortunately serious news day.

There's strong language and adult content in this episode.

If you're a regular listener to the podcast, firstly thank you - we love you. But if you'd like to support the podcast / contribute to the 969media Christmas party, we'd be eternally grateful if you would click here: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll