My Radio Station

Whilst I was in New York, I started wondering what I would do if I won the lottery. I decided that I'd start my own radio station. It would be a national Contemporary Hit Radio station, and wouldn't carry advertising (because I wouldn't need to make money) so would finally offer real competition to Radio 1. This then got me thinking about the schedule and which presenters I would want on my station. So I gave myself a challenge, and later extended it to Robin Blamires as well. The challenge was simple: come up with a full seven day/24 hour schedule for a CHR station, that didn't carry advertising. That was rule number one - it had to be a national CHR station. I decided this because that kind of station is my favourite and also because Robin would otherwise have chosen soul jocks and I wouldn't have known any of them! The only other rule was that any presenter that was 'signed' to your station must be offered a job of equal or greater status than their current position. For example, signing Chris Moyles to weekend overnights would not be allowed, but he could do the breakfast show. A rule that I've added in myself is, well, it's not really a rule, more of a policy: the schedule must give opportunity to new and upcoming talent with the aim to break new presenters. These are generally people that I've been to university with, and I've even given myself a two hour slot. Oh come on, you would, wouldn't you?! It's taken me five attempts, but I've finally gotten to the point where I feel I can unveil the line-up of MY radio station. This is the fifth and final (I hope) version.

MONDAY - THURSDAY
12AM Joe Haddow (worked as a cover jock on BBC Berkshire)
3AM Pete Cooper (former University of Westminster)
6AM The Danny Wallace Breakfast Show (Has presented on Classic FM, XFM and 6Music)
10AM Emma B (from Heart 106.2)
1PM Adam & Ruddy (Key 103 - watch this space!)
4PM Greg James (Radio 1)
8PM Russell Howard (6Music)
10PM Alexa Chung (TV presenter - T4)

I picked both Joe and Pete as part of the station's pledge to support new talent, and because they are two of the best presenters I've come across since being at uni. The slots they've been given are obviously at night and so gives them a great chance to start their career and develop their skills.
I think Danny Wallace is one of the funniest and genuinely nicest guys in the media industry at the moment, and has leapt to the heights of national celebrity. He is of course a radio boy and has never really had a proper chance to show this side of him off, and so I feel he could do that with this show. Would have a side kick.
I would love to say Emma B was picked because I think of her as a great talent, but I can't. I don't think there are many, if any, really good female jocks in the market at the moment, and so I've picked Emma because she's quite good, and because I felt I should have a woman in this slot, rather than on merit. George Lamb was going to have this slot originally.
Adam & Ruddy are a new duo who have an evening slot on Key 103 on Sundays. Expect big things from them. They're brilliant.
I think Greg James is fantastic. I would actively make an effort to listen to Radio at any slot if I knew Greg was on. He's still pretty raw but could well be a brilliant broadcaster in years to come.
Russell Howard is hilarious and was great on 6Music. As you'll see, I've made a point of having a comedian in that slot 6 nights a week, which I think will provide entertainment in a slot that struggles with competition from things like television and the cinema.
Alexa Chung was chosen, partly due to the problems that I had with decided upon female presenters, but also because she's good on TV and I think she'd be good on this station. It'd be good to hear another female voice at this stage too.

FRIDAY
12AM Joe Haddow
3AM Pete Cooper
6AM The Danny Wallace Breakfast Show
10AM Emma B
1PM Adam & Ruddy
4PM Greg James
8PM Alexa Chung
10PM Des Paul's Dance Show (95.8 Capital FM)

The only real change here is Alexa moves into an early slot, making way for Des Paul to present his dance show. I was in two minds about having a dance show, but decided to go with it. It'd be an experiment and we'd see how we got on. Des Paul was chosen due to my lack of knowledge of dance presenters.

SATURDAY
12AM Sam Impey (Mix 107 and University of Westminster)
4AM Robin Blamires (University of Westminster)
7AM Stephen Sullivan (95.8 Capital FM and Invicta FM)
10AM Ryan Seacrest (95.8 Capital FM, American Idol, and thousands of US stations)
12PM Horne and Corden (Comedians, Actors, TV presenters)
2PM Alex James (Classic FM)
4PM Goodlass and Marshall (Former University of Westminster)
8PM Michael McIntyre (Comedian)
10PM Des Paul Dance Show

Sam(mantha) Impey would give the station another female voice, and along with Robin is another off the Westminster production line to present the weekend overnights.
Stephen Sullivan is experienced in a variety of different slots on Invicta and Capital and is a solid jock, whose links are very tight.
Ryan Seacrest is an interesting choice I know. He did a few shows for Capital (and presumably the One Network) a few years back, and I heard him on z100 whilst I was in New York, and thought he'd suit a nice two hour block on a Saturday morning, and therefore the show has a big name (certainly in America).
I've taken a rather large risk with Horne and Corden. So far their TV presenting career has been hit and miss, as has their sketch show, but I still don't think that this detracts from the fact that they're hilariously funny men, and would be interesting to see (hear) how they got on, especially as I'd tell them to calm down and stop going OTT. It would also mean less of Corden's stomach would be seen by the nation.
Alex James is simply a great broadcaster. Great voice, and reputable as he was in Blur.
Goodlass & Marshall are a fantastic double act straight from university once again, who would follow where Horne and Corden left off. I did think about having a sports show, but decided against it in the end.
Michael McIntyre, the nice guy of comedy, who doesn't swear and generally seems a nice bloke. Possible the most famous comedian in the UK at the moment, he would continue in the 8pm comedy slot.

SUNDAY
12AM Sam Impey
4AM Robin Blamires
7AM Stephen Sullivan
10AM Richard Hammond (Local BBC and BBC Radio 2, TV presenter)
12PM Holly Willoughby (TV presenter)
2PM Alex James
4PM Goodlass and Marshall
8PM Simon Brodkin (stand-up comedian)
10PM Chris Chilvers (me)

Although a bit older than the rest of our team, Richard Hammond is considered a very cool older man and is another nice guy who is a radio guy at heart. A great broadcaster.
Holly Willoughby was chosen because: a) she's female b) she's a great TV presenter c) she's cool.
Simon Brodkin is a hilarious stand up comedian who has done some TV work and hasn't had his big break yet. Hopefully this would help.
And well, you'd have to give yourself a show hey? It's only 2 hours after all.

Right well there it is, my ideal station schedule. What do you think of it?