Familiar faces behind the voices of The Voice
With a new North Devon radio station set to launch on the airwaves in and around Barnstaple, the Journal caught up with the new presenters of The Voice 106 FM.
YOU may not recognise the faces in this photo but their voices could soon become familiar.
They are the presenters of North Devon's new radio station, The Voice 106 FM.
The station, which will be based in new studios on Barnstaple Square, will be officially launched by Town Mayor Ian Roome on Tuesday, November 9.
The station will operate under a Restricted Service Licence (RSL) granted by telecommunications regulator Ofcom and will broadcast across Barnstaple and the surrounding area for 28 days.
The station will go live at 9am with the return of former Heart presenters Hopps and Chapple who will present the breakfast show on weekdays from 6am to 10am.
Joining them at the station will be The Voice's founder Ian Starling who will host mid-morning shows from 10am to 1pm.
Ian will be followed by Martin King in the afternoon from 1pm to 4pm while the drive-time slot from 4pm to 7pm will be hosted by Paul Andrews who has previously presented shows on Star FM and Kestrel FM in Hampshire.
Paul, who has lived in North Devon with his family for 12 years, said: "North Devon is a special place and I'm passionate about the area's unique character.
"It has a personality of its own and needs its own radio station to serve the diversity of both its rural and town communities."
Other presenters to feature on The Voice will include former Lantern FM hosts PJ and Spanky, Westcountry television presenter Seth Conway, Barnstaple DJ Lee Wardle and Torrington-born presenter and former Black Thunder crew member, Rachel Knight.
All the presenters are working for free throughout the 28 day RSL.
As well as the usual mix of music and chat the station will also provide local news, traffic reports and weekday evening shows which will showcase local bands and artists.
North Devon businesses, charities and community groups will also be heavily involved with features on the station.
Ian Starling, who has campaigned for a new local station since the closure of Heart in August, said: "This is a very exciting time for us all.
"We've got some great presenters on board, all of whom share a passion for North Devon and understand the need for a local service.
"Although the RSL will only allow us to broadcast for 28 days, I hope it will prove successful enough to pave the way for a more permanent service in the near future."
The Voice is already broadcasting a series of preview programmes on its website. For more information visit www.thevoice106.co.uk.
17 Comments
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by Veronica, Bideford
Wednesday, November 03 2010, 11:15PM
“Good luck with the new station, I can't wait to have proper local radio back in N. Devon, you've got Martin King back, it would be great if you could get other original Lantern presenters back, people like Keith 'Keefers' Oliver and Robbie Ryan, they were always such fun to listen to.”
by Veronica, Bideford
Wednesday, November 03 2010, 11:12PM
“Can't wait to have proper local radio back in North Devon again, you've got Martin King back, it would be great if you could bring back some more of the original Lantern presenters again, people like Keith 'Keefers' Oliver and Robbie Ryan.”
by Lee Wardle, Barnstaple
Tuesday, November 02 2010, 8:22PM
“Message from the station manager.
" "I know we will not please all the listeners all the time but what we are endeavouring to give is another choice. No one can say we didnt try even if a spectacular failure...which it will not be. However we will lose it again if we dont use it. I too enjoy Radio Devon, and in fact still like some of Hearts output...but what they dont provide a unique service to North Devon, which I feel is wanted."
IAN STARLING”
by Lee Wardle, Barnstaple
Tuesday, November 02 2010, 12:25AM
“Jason,
Reference "surveys" I refer you to my second comment. :)
"You can also influence the choices by taking 2 minutes to complete out quick music survey! http://thevoice106.co.uk"
Why not log on and and complete the survey!?
Regards
Lee Wardle”
by jason, braunton
Monday, November 01 2010, 10:42PM
“i never suggested he is trying to alienate the rest of devon.but i am concerned at how a local local station can be viably maintained beyond the initial honeymoon period. any business needs sound structure and volunteer services do not a sound business make.as for advertisers...well.. who is their audience? does anyone know? we live in times of amalgamation ,minnows get eaten by sharks, never the other way round! i wish the enterprise well, but am dubious about the viability of it.as for Hopps and chapple etc etc..how about getting local newcomers to be DJ's for a day? see! I can be positive about it if I try!”
by James, London
Monday, November 01 2010, 4:35PM
“Oh, and did I mention that throughout the 28-day licence the people on the station will be working on a voluntary basis? Now that's dedication for you!”
by James, London
Monday, November 01 2010, 4:25PM
“Jason, it may surprise you to learn that Graham Torrington's "pornographic radio" programme now features on your beloved BBC Radio Devon on weekend nights! He moved to BBC Local Radio in the South West when, like the well known Heart presenters in North Devon, he lost his programme due to the decisions of Heart management in London.
The Voice will not have this sort of programming on it and will also show people the meaning of true 'music variety', if you look at the schedule now available on the station's website you will see many varied programmes, including one featuring local bands.
Ian Starling has done a wonderful job for listeners in North Devon with getting a new local radio station on air in such a short time (he hasn't paid me to say that!) and he should be congratulated.
He is not trying to alienate the rest of North Devon, It is simply due to restrictions in the licence that it can only broadcast to a small area and for a limited time on FM at this time, but with the support of listeners and advertisers he can do all he can to press Ofcom to grant a more permanent and more powerful licence wattage-wise! Besides, anybody with internet access in North Devon will be able to listen online if they can't pick up the FM signal.
And Hopps and Chapple's jaded careers you say? Well, it may also surprise you to learn that since Heart's programmes moved from Barnstaple to Exeter earlier this year, the new regional station's listening figures have dropped below what they were when programmes came from Barnstaple! So they were obviously popular with some people!”
by jason, braunton
Monday, November 01 2010, 1:26PM
“actually Trevor I have been finding that radio Devon has been doing a great job of keeping me, a natural local, fully informed of local road probs and transport etc and far from being a dirge of Devonport/plight of Plymouth etc ( nice of you to show respect to your fellow devonians!) has been enjoyably balanced with features on north devon arts and so on. What killed my appreciation for Local 'Heart/Lantern radio was the pornographic radio item presented by graham torrington (some years ago- 'Late Night love' i think it was called)) which seemed nothing more than Radio porn. I want to enjoy radio not listen to sexual problems/fantasies. Radio has a responsibilty to its listeners and as Jonathan Ross has found to his cost, ('Sachgate Affair'), insulting others and expressing comments in bad taste does not go down well with the majority of us. Judi Spiers has a great sense of humour and knows instinctively how to present items which never offend but always entertain and inform.If 'The Voice' is to succeed it needs to do more than attempt to rekindle the jaded careers of people such as 'Hopps and chapple' etc. Perhaps it would be good if we were actually asked what we like to hear. So far there has been no questionaire. no survey, and no interest in finding out what we locals do want. But then since 'The Voice' will only be heard in Barnstaple what does it matter???!”
by trevor, barnstaple
Sunday, October 31 2010, 4:40PM
“I wonder what Jason means when he calls Radio Devon "local".Is it the durge of Devonport,the demise of derriford or the plight of Plymouth he wants to hear,if so stay with that station.As for me,I'm trying "The Voice".
All the best with the station Ian.”
by jason, braunton
Saturday, October 30 2010, 12:26PM
“seems a lot of effort and expense for 28 days....appropriately being launched as the fireworks season starts.!.... lots of noise, lots of dazzle, but at the end of the day just burnt out bits of plastic and cardboard tubes when everyone has gone home...sorry to be a party pooper but businesses need more than egos and press releases to survive.I shall not listen to it as I am content with Radio Devon!! local news..local traffic...and a great mix of music and conversation., and Judi Spiers!!!!!!!!”