After the lifting on sanctions restricting the time spent playing music (so-called 'needle time') in 1988, GWR FM became more and more music-led, playing Top 40 chart music during the daytime, and specialist music (big band music, rock, rap etc.) The final local programme was broadcast on Friday 16 July 2010 by long-standing breakfast presenters Ian Burrage and Laura James. In fact the station management at the time did try to secure the name Great Western Radio, however it was already the trading name of a Bristol electronics shop, who refused to relinquish the title. Radio presenter/producer/VO/host/Researcher. Find out more about Claire. The choice of on-air name proved to be simple when the The programming on this relay was identical to the Bristol service, aside from jingles and sweepers that stated 'GWR Weston', and had separate advertisements for North Somerset listeners. was gradually phased out. Ben also regularly hosts lifestyle awards, events, and fundraisers. Miranda Rae is currently a TV and Radio presenter voice over artist, narrator and compere. The above are just the ones we have seen – if we have missed any we are happy to update. Plus, Gok Wan was on the show chatting about about quick nutritious Asian food and life after lockdown! They are tweeting farewell messages as each local or regional breakfast show is about to go networked, and some drive presenters replaced. Claire Carter. This merger was approved by the Independent Broadcasting Authority and was completed in September 1985. #Cornwall pic.twitter.com/vsn93lR7Pj, — James Dundon (@dundonradio) May 16, 2019, I’m leaving Heart… pic.twitter.com/ADKgwGdzoH, — Rich Williams (@itsrichwilliams) May 16, 2019. It should also be noted that GWR's oldies service was originally called Brunel Classic Gold, after the Great Western Railway's founding father Isambard Kingdom Brunel. However, for official licensing purposes, GWR Bath and Bristol were listed as one station and audience figures from RAJAR were combined with GWR Swindon. Currently freelancing with BBC previously Heart Fm Wiltshire - Heart breakfast with Ben and Mel. The station started a full service commercial radio station on 96.3 MHz FM and 1260 kHz AM (238 metres medium wave) – the culmination of a merger between two companies bidding for the Bristol and Bath radio licence (Radio Avonside and Bristol Channel) awarded by the then Independent Broadcasting Authority. The new station, Heart West Country, began broadcasting from Bristol on the same date. RadioToday estimates around 70 of the 90 radio presenters on-air at the moment around the UK will not be on Heart when the changes commence at the end of May. GWR FM at last become popular, with the rise in listening figures confirming this. and Roger Day (ex Caroline, Piccadilly, and latterly BRMB) were brought in, but to no avail. Heart 96.3 (formerly GWR FM Bristol) is a radio station serving Bristol and surrounding areas and broadcasting on 96.3 MHz in Bristol and Weston-super-Mare. About. Great music & chat on the only live Saturday lunchtime radio show in Gloucestershire, from 12pm. Thank you. Launched in 1981 as Radio West, it was merged with neighbouring Wiltshire Radio and relaunched under the name GWR in 1985, retaining the name through several changes of ownership until rebranding in March 2009. More.. On 13 March 2009, Ofcom issued GWR Bristol with a "yellow card" after a content sampling report showed that only 47% of GWR Bristol's music was from the past 2 years, much lower than its minimum 75%. In 1992, a re-launch of the station saw The New GWR-FM become the hub of what was The Mix Network, a network of radio stations owned by the GWR Group (latterly GCap Media) covering southern England and Wales. In 2002 the Radio Authority renewed GWR FM's licence. Then turn over to Heart Wiltshire when I loss the Heart Bristol signal and listen to Ben and Mel. Editorial area: Exeter, ... Annaliese Dayes Presenter Ben Atkinson Presenter Ed Crofts Evening Producer James Dundon Presenter Tom Campbell from Heart North East Drive writes: “Thank you. A … GWR Radio Bath debuted on 22 May 1987, as a separate station, later known as Bath's GWR FM and Heart Bath. Despite protests from outside Bristol, GWR FM continued to be popular with RAJAR listening figures showing an average 14% listening share of all radio broadcast in the area.[6]. The Points West website. Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden Jamie & Amanda were here with Heart's Make Me A Millionaire. The initials GWR have an association with the Great Western Railway especially in the South West of England, and there is a popular misconception with listeners that the station stands for Great Western Radio. This is the same scenario applies to its sister stations GWR FM Bath and Classic Gold 1260. GWR Radio launched Brunel Radio on 15 November 1988, a "golden oldies" station on 1260 kHz in Bristol, and 936/1161 kHz AM in Wiltshire. Presenter & Broadcaster | DJ | Event Host | Voiceover . Indeed, neighbouring GWR Wiltshire was called Wiltshire Radio (WR) before its merger with Radio West. Radio West formally closed at just after midnight on Monday 9 September 1985 with a special final programme hosted by Trevor Fry and the final closedown announcement from Mark Seaman (the station's programme organiser). The choice of on-air name proved to be simple when the BBC aired a series called Shoestring complete with the fictitious Radio West. Local news and shows were combined with networked programmes in each of its areas. My daily commute was listening is Ed, Troy and Paulina on Heart Bristol. How to listen to Smooth Radio presenters Kate Garraway, Jenni Falconer, Myleene Klass, Angie Greaves, Tina Hobley and more. JK & Kelly Brook will host the Heart drivetime show in London. For a list of all former "GWR FM" stations, see, "Survey Period Ending 14th December 2008", OFCOM UK Radio Licenses – Analogue: GWR FM (Bristol & Bath), Global Radio to halve number of local Heart stations, List of radio stations in the United Kingdom, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Heart_Bristol&oldid=994361276, Defunct radio stations in the United Kingdom, Articles with dead external links from January 2020, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 1982–2001: Watershed Centre, Canons Road, Bristol, 2001–present: Passage Street, Bristol (also houses Classic Gold 1260, Heart Bath and Chill), This page was last edited on 15 December 2020, at 09:34. Network radio presenter for the GWR group. But here’s the secret. Best of luck to @JamieTheakston and @AmandaHolden who take over Heart Breakfast…you’ll smash it! See our Available Page for more details. Roger Bennett joined Radio Bristol in 1970. I’m leaving Heart at the end of this month. Presenters at a number of Heart stations are starting to tell listeners they are leaving their radio shows at the end of May. Des Clarke will host drivetime across Scotland having moved over from Capital Breakfast in April. Broadcasting across the North East is an honour, so it’s only fair that somebody else has a go. A Bath ILR licence was awarded by the IBA in 1986. From BBC Radio 5 Broadcaster to TV presenter, from mainstream commercial radio to Head of Specialist Programmes for Galaxy Radio, club DJ and music specialist to newspaper columnist, Miranda Rae certainly has more strings to her bow than most. Your energy, love and support has made this a chapter in my life I will re-read forever. Your energy, love and support has made this a chapter in my life I will re-read forever.”, Chris Kirk from Heart North Lancashire & Cumbria says: “Thank you for this amazing experience. [10] The new station, Heart West Country, began broadcasting from Bristol on 16 July 2010.[11]. It’s been phenomenal.”, Jack Miles from Heart Devon Drive said: “THANK YOU. GWR Radio began splitting frequencies as required by the government – which declared its desire to end simulcasting on both FM and AM. All programming being shared from GWR Bristol, local output was provided for a time at breakfast only. [8][9] Ofcom are now planning to monitor the station again soon after its rebrand to Heart. Share. Radio West began broadcasting on Tuesday 27 October 1981, eleven years after the region's first local radio station BBC Radio Bristol launched. Main cover presenter for Heart South West (Devon & Cornwall) and Heart West Country (Bristol, Bath & Somerset), regularly covering Breakfast, Drive and Weekend Shows. There is no Heart East Midlands any more, it turned into Gem. It's the last day for all the Heart breakfast presenters around the country. Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden Join Jamie and Amanda for the UK's best Breakfast Show packed with feel good moments - and chances to win £2,000 playing Wake Up and Win! Without you, there's not a show! Kelly Brook (Heart Drivetime in London, Saturday mid-mornings) Des Clarke (Heart Drivetime in Central Scotland) Rich Clarke (Heart Drivetime in the South of England) Ed James (Heart Drivetime in the West Midlands) Jason King (Heart Drivetime in London, Saturday mid-mornings) Emma Morton-Smith (Heart Drivetime in Yorkshire) Tune in every night to hear the biggest songs Sam Fm has to … Global Radio have been lovely people to work for.”, Heart Yorkshire Drive presenter Rich Williams says: “My time on Heart Yorkshire will finish at the end of May… Thank you so, so much if you’v ever tuned in, text through, called the show or taken part in anything I’ve done on air.”, So happy to announce ….from Monday the 3rd of June I will be the host of @thisisheart Drivetime from 4pm across the West. Programme and presenter information from the regional news and sport programme for the West. Main cover for Heart Thames Valley Drivetime. 1 year ago. pic.twitter.com/eCPco7craH, — Tom Campbell (@TomCampbell) May 16, 2019. Heart Bristol merged with sister stations in Somerset and Bath to form Heart West Country. The current 23 breakfast shows across England, Scotland and Wales will become one – with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden launching a new show on June 3rd. 3. But when Heart FM presenter James Stewart started at Bristol University a decade ago he quickly became “a hermit”. GWR Bristol GWR FM Orchard FM Heart 102.6 Somerset GWR Bath Heart 103 Bath: Contact Heart West Country. Without you, there’s not a show!”, Elise Evans from Heart West Midlands Drive says: “I am obviously so gutted as it’s been the most incredible period of my life.”, James Dundon from Heart Cornwall Drive posted a video saying: “I’ve loved it, just great, thanks for being a part of it.