Crunch & Roll

We're back with part two of Foxy's chat with South Coast radio's former agitator-in-chief! Presumably you've polished off part one and are fully au fait with Alex's origin story?
In this episode we find out more about his imperial phase. His all conquering Isle of White Radio show, his move to BBC Radio Solent and how he became king of the phone in.
Controversy was never too far away though - sometimes by design, other times by accident - and Alex talks us through some of those incidents. This includes the time a prank about a squirrel ended up with him being arrested; how an on-air comment ended up with 10,000 Mumsnet readers demanding his head on a spike; and getting involved with a notorious gangster.
 
These days Alex is involved Retro Staycations on the Isle of Wight: https://retrostaycations.co.uk/
Here's the socials: https://www.facebook.com/alexdykeshow | https://x.com/ALEXDYKE1
And some classic Dyke: https://www.aircheckdownloads.com/audio-search?term=Alex+dyke&sort_bef_combine=relevance_DESC
 
And feel free to support us on Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/crunchandroll
 

Before we start, Alex has asked us to let you know that his days as the enfant terrible of the South Coast are behind him. He's a changed man. No more controversy for him these days, oh no. Got it?
When you hear some of the stories over the two parts of Foxy's chat with Alex, you'll probably realise why he wants to clarify the reformation of his character!
He's probably best known for his substantial stints on Isle of Wight Radio and BBC Radio Solent, but did you know he one of his early gigs was in Aberdeen... at a radio station that paid him double to leave not long after arriving!
In this, the first of a two parter, Alex talks about the incident that made him rail against authority throughout his career; why he was a 'nearly man' thanks to Parky; and (trigger warning) his run ins with one Mr James Saville esq.
Look out for part 2, coming soon. Why not subscribe, then you won't miss it?
 
These days Alex is involved Retro Staycations on the Isle of Wight: https://retrostaycations.co.uk/
Here's the socials: https://www.facebook.com/alexdykeshow | https://x.com/ALEXDYKE1
 
And feel free to support us on Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/crunchandroll
 

I tell you what we we want, what we really, really want...
... a Head of Music who threw the Spice Girls debut single straight in the bin!
But what if he was right all along..?
This was one minor misstep though, in a fantastic 36 year career, entertaining audiences in East Anglia, the North East and Home Counties. 
John Darin chats to Foxy about his mad living arrangements when he moved to GNR; how as a manager, he tried to budget his way out of his on-air gig; and our old friend the radio station ghost makes a comeback. It's been a while.
 
Classic Darin: https://www.aircheckdownloads.com/audio-search?term=john+darin&sort_bef_combine=relevance_DESC
John's socials: https://x.com/johndarinradio // https://www.youtube.com/@JohnDarinRadio
 
Support us on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll
 
 

We've been asked loads why we don't have more people from Scottish radio on, and we can assure you it's not for the want of trying. But we think you'll agree we've bagged one of the absolute G's of Scottish radio here.
Like Madonna and Cher, he's instantly recognisable by a single moniker. And like Madonna and Cher he's excelled in his field. It remains to be seen how he suits a see-through body suit or a conical bra though.
His chat with Foxy is a joy, taking in his origin story as a successful knitwear salesman, an unbelievable management encounter on day three of a new job, and we get deep trying to figure out why there's a dearth of Scottish accents on English or national radio.
And of course we discuss hi-jinx on the high seas with tales from the legendary listener trips to Amsterdam, Boogie on the Boat.
 
Listen to Boogie in the Morning on Forth 1, weekdays 6-10: https://hellorayo.co.uk/forth/shows/boogie-in-the-morning
And Boogie & Arlene on Greatest Hits Radio, Sunday nights from 7: https://hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/presenters/boogie-arlene-ghr
Boogies socials: https://x.com/BoogsTweets / https://www.instagram.com/boogieinthemorning/
 
Support us on Ko_Fi and help keep us on your feed: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll
 
 

Foxy's guest in this episode is bit of a rebel.
The evil genius behind a pirate radio station at his school, busted by Ofcom and (accidentally) turning up to an awards do high as a kite.
But rather than doing stretch Strangeways, James Merritt has forged a stellar radio career.
Golden age Kiss 100, both Virgins, Heart and BRMB. Not bad for guy who wanted to get into radio after watching a Christian Slater film.
This episode also contains another losing-your-gig story that can firmly be filed under 'Only In Radio'. This one is possibly the strangest one yet.
 
Click here to listen to James on Virgin Radio and Virgin Radio Chilled: https://virginradio.co.uk/play/virginradiouk
There's loads of classic Merritt on Aircheck Downloads: https://www.aircheckdownloads.com/audio-search?term=james+merritt&sort_bef_combine=relevance_DESC
James on Twitter: https://x.com/james_merritt?lang=en-GB
And Insta: https://www.instagram.com/james_merritt/
 
Help keep us on your feed. Support us on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll
 

There's two for the price on one on this episode - we really do spoil you.
Their parents christened them Simon and Chris, but these two Oldham lads went with the far more exotic sounding surnames when forging their radio careers, so you'll know them as Jagger & Woody. And it's their names that serendipitously got them their big break. More on that in the episode.
They also chat to Foxy about getting the sack (a recuring theme in the early days), the one time they fell out, and how they almost ended up on one of the biggest shows on UK radio... but then, you know, radioy things happened.
 
You can hear these two legends on the Heart Wales drivetime show, from 4pm-7pm. https://www.heart.co.uk/radio/shows-presenters/jagger-and-woody/
And you can hear how they launched Heart South Wales back in 2014 - https://www.aircheckdownloads.com/audio-search?term=jagger&sort_bef_combine=relevance_DESC.
 
Your support of the podcast is always welcome and appreciated on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll
 
 

This is part 2 of Foxy's chat with former presenter, producer, music guru, TV bloke and pop-quiz-question-setter.
The first part is available now, but if you're up to date, prepare to hear about how he was probably responsible for popularising some of the most annoying songs of the early 00s; how TV wasn't for him; and how he came to be part of the most listened to feature on UK radio every day.
 
Support Crunch & Roll: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll
 
Listen to Ten to the Top, every weekday morning with Vernon Kaye on Radio 2, or catch up with on the podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06q6h18/episodes/downloads
Test your own level of music geekery with Lee's book, The Official Charts' Music Quiz Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Official-Charts-Music-Quiz-Book/dp/1789295017
 

People often ask how we choose our guests. The answer is quite simple. People who've had varied and interesting careers and have a good story to tell. And it always helps if we know them.
So getting this episode's guest on was a no-brainer.
Lee Thompson has been a presenter, producer, author, head of music, TV guy... and is now part of the most listened to feature on UK radio.
He tells a bloody good story, and he has plenty of them from working at Metro, Viking, Radio 2, Box TV and more.
In this, the first of two parts, he chats to Foxy about how he heard the "phenomenal" demo of a 16 year old, future radio star; chatting with one of the 90s most iconic stars; and getting sacked from a radio station in Wales for doing something truly mad!
Look out for part two, coming very soon.
 
Support Crunch & Roll: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll
 
Listen to Ten to the Top, every weekday morning with Vernon Kaye on Radio 2, or catch up with on the podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06q6h18/episodes/downloads
Test your own level of music geekery with Lee's book, The Official Charts' Music Quiz Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Official-Charts-Music-Quiz-Book/dp/1789295017
 

This is part two of Foxy's chat with the brilliant Allan Lake.
Part one is available now, if you want to hear his origin story.
In this episode he chats about how a cow nearly got his employers evicted from their studios; losing his "dream job"; and how the tragic death of a good friend and colleague affected him.
 
Support Crunch & Roll: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll
 

As Oscar Wild almost once said, "To lose one job may be regarded as a misfortune, to lose several looks like carelessness."
John Fox's guest on this episode admits to getting sacked a lot. He also admits he struggles with "where the line is". There could be a correlation...
Allan Lake is a brilliant, one-of-a-kind radio presenter. Lesser presenters would have sunk without trace after the feature that lost him his first job, but Allan came back stronger after every set back.
He has a CV many of us could only dream of: Capital, Absolute, Power FM, Red Dragon, Galaxy, Viking... 
One of the most notable entries on his CV though was his iconic Capital Disney evening show. And where do you go after entertaining the kids, that's right, a porn station! He'll make it make sense.
This is the first of another two-parter, in which he talks about accidentally taking the radio station off air before his first ever show; how he was hidden from a group PD; and what might explain his penchant for pushing things just that little bit too far.
Look out for the second episode soon.
 
Support Crunch & Roll on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll