circa. 1998 - somehow - I have no idea how, Southern FM managed to ditch the stale "Classic Hits" formula, turn into a mainstream pop station ala. Capital's "Todays Best Musak" AND have an evening show entitled "Last Bus to Whitehawk".
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circa. 1998 - somehow - I have no idea how, Southern FM managed to ditch the stale "Classic Hits" formula, turn into a mainstream pop station ala. Capital's "Todays Best Musak" AND have an evening show entitled "Last Bus to Whitehawk". |
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"Last Bus..." ran for 6 years from 1998-2004, hosted by one Terry Garoghan and if you missed it - well you missed some cracking radio. It rolled out evenings Mon-Thurs at 10pm-midnight (for a while 8pm-11pm), revolving around one or other pointless competition (What Have I Got In My Hand?, Frozen Chickens and Money for Jam to name but a few) for the sole excuse of people ringing up for commentry on the world, a gaining of extended knowledge of useless statistics and generally pointless conversations. In the process, managed to pick up two Sony Awards along the way (beating such names as Chris Moyles [oh yes...] and Jonathan Ross). The exchange between the listeners and whoever happened to be loitering in the studio at the time made it but quite possibly in an age where everything is so rigidly playlisted, controlled and oh so "pc" was a breath of fresh air (who remembers the "vote for the most overplayed track on southernfm" competition? or the complete p**s take of their "four tunes for a fortune" competition).
Here's Brief 
clip
from one of the earlier shows.
In September 2005, Terry took over the helm for breakfast on Juice Brighton hosting their breakfast show - the show format is of a similar nature but it being breakfast time, more music, a little less chat and phone in with the listening public - still well worth a listen though and you could win yourself a kipper in the post!. Juice is on 107.2FM in Brighton and on the Sussex DAB multiplex.
Disappointing after only a year on air, Juice decided not to renew his contract - the last show aired on September 15th 2006.
Over the years I've saved an assortment of clips from the shows which I've found especially amusing (no don't ask why either...) and you can peruse & listen to them here
Other stations that are within reach now.....
Arrow FM - Hastings SSL, a music selection slightly upbeat of "classic hits", although they did have John Innman as a DJ for a bit, which was interesting....
Sovereign Radio - Eastbourne SSL, complete with authentic "classic hits" sound, most amusing bit heard some weeks after the launch where it transpired that during a Sunday news buletin, last nights lottery results were made up due to the newsreader not having them to hand.
MercuryFM - in Crawley and Tonbridge now part of GWR's "todays best mix" bandwagon.
and finally..
Hastings Rock who lost out to Arrow for the SSL in Hastings, can be heard as an RSL at times, who at least have a firm music policy and know exactly what it should be. Its rock. And in a strange twist of fate, am now involved with in supporting their IT & first users of my Playout system. Site designed by them folk at Webminds.
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