Crunch & Roll

S02 E06 - Martin Kelner

Listeners to Five Live's Fighting Talk will know each episode ends with the two highest scorers defending a controversial or unpopular opinion in order to win the episode.
So, in that vain: Martin Kelner knows nothing about radio and deserved to be paid less than a horse.
Of course he knows nothing about radio. He's only spent the best part of half a century in the industry. Radio 2? Radio Who more like! So what if he introduced Caroline Aherne and Jake Yapp to us? Victoria Wood was absolutely right to walk out on his interview with her. And Edouard Lapaglie has carried him for years!
Actually, that might be a Defend the Indefensible too far.
Martin is, as Foxy puts it, radio royalty. So we insist you be upstanding while listening to this episode.
There's strong language and we must warn you that this episode includes the funniest story ever told on this podcast, so spare undergarments may be required.
 
See Martin's Tweets here: https://twitter.com/martinkelner
Hear Extra Time with Martin Kelner on TalkSport, Friday and Saturday nights from 1am.
Martin's books 'Sit Down and Cheer - A history of sport on TV' and 'When Will I Be Famous - Travels through the dark side of show business' are available to buy now. And his new book, 'Screen Break', will be available in mid-2023 so keep an eye out for that.
 

S02 E05 - Emma Scott

Emma Scott is not a police officer. She wanted to be but ended up on a YTS at her local radio station instead.
The constabulary's loss is certainly radio's gain.
We LOVED our chat with Emma. It's honest, hilarious and FULL of showbiz encounters. She certainly made her feelings about a certain red-haired, Mancunian crooner absolutely clear!
So get ready to find out which station she found soul destroying; which boss she called the very worst swear word; and what she thinks about the presenter at every radio station who drinks from a big Sports Direct mug.
There's strong language and adult content as usual.
 
Find out about Emma's excellent showcase for new, unsigned acts is here: https://www.plugginbaby.com/radio-show/. And if you're interested in joining the growing roster of stations hosting the show, she'd love to hear from you.
And she's written a book! Get it here: https://www.plugginbaby.com/product/if-it-was-my-band/
All her other socials can be found here: https://linktr.ee/emma_scott
 

S02 E04 - Stephanie Hirst (Part 2)

This is part two of John Fox's chat with Stephanie Hirst.
Part one covered her early career, so we pick up here with her time at Galaxy 105, Hit40UK and generally taking over the radio world.
She chats about leaving Viking for Galaxy ("It was all a bit of a mess"); explains the on-air magic she had with JoJo and Danny; and presenting the chart from Alan Partridge's studio.
There's some strong language and adult stories in this episode.
 
If you haven't heard Steph's first episode yet, here it is: https://crunchandroll.podbean.com/e/s02-e03-stephanie-hirst-part-1/
Everything you could possibly want to know about what Steph's up to nowadays is on her website: https://www.stephaniehirst.co.uk/
Listen to previous episodes of Belters on Hits Radio: https://planetradio.co.uk/hits-radio/shows/steph-hirst-belters/
And her Thowbacks show is here: https://planetradio.co.uk/hits-radio/shows/sunday-throwback/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StephanieHirst
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanie.hirst/

S02 E03 - Stephanie Hirst (Part 1)

We could write anything here and it wouldn't matter because you just want the sweet, sweet Stephanie Hirst content. But I'm duty-bound to write at least a few words on the first of two episodes featuring one of UK radio's biggest and most loved personalities.
In this episode: Toolan gives a young Steph some sage advice; how she pestered her way into a gig on Minster FM ("I AM what you're looking for"); and how her first, illicit, on-air shifts were curtailed by an itemised phone bill.
So enjoy this episode, and keep an eye out for part 2 coming soon after. You could subscribe so you don't miss it. Just a thought...
There's some strong language and adult stories in this episode.
 
Everything you could possibly want to know about what Steph's up to nowadays is on her website: https://www.stephaniehirst.co.uk/
Listen to previous episodes of Belters on Hits Radio: https://planetradio.co.uk/hits-radio/shows/steph-hirst-belters/
And her Thowback show is here: https://planetradio.co.uk/hits-radio/shows/sunday-throwback/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StephanieHirst
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanie.hirst/
 

S02 E02 - Lucio

All aboard the latest episode of Crunch & Roll!
It features Lucio chatting to John Fox about his eventful radio career and what he's up to now. See if you can work it out from the subtle clues in this description...
He's been on pretty much every major commercial station in Britain - XFM, Absolute, Capital, Kerrang, Galaxy... Actually, he's been on every commercial station in Britain as presenter of Hit 40 UK.
In this episode he tells us the story of how he almost got himself and his group PD shot; How he would wind up some guy called Ashley (who just so happened to pay his wages) on air; And how he got sacked by an all-staff email - YAY! RADIO!
Would he choo-choo-choose to make a return to radio or has his broadcasting career permanently hit the buffers? You'll find that out too.
There's strong language and adult content.
Enjoy the ride!

S02 E01 - Joel Ross

We often get messages to Crunch & Roll Towers, suggesting guests that people would like to hear featured. And the one name that comes up more than any other is Joel Ross.
Those who know him will know exactly why that is. And if you don't know him, you'll understand by the end of this episode.
One person who DM'd us said "I hear a lot of Joel's stories, they impress and horrify me in equal measure".
Joel is a 100mph story-telling machine, and his stories all happen to be solid gold. And for the cherry on the top, he doesn't really have a filter.
So, after a little bit of geekery at the beginning, strap in for the story of an eventful trip to Amsterdam with a well-known former colleague; How he had to deal with a bailiff at the door during a breakfast show; And the real story about his departure from Radio 1.
There's some fruity language and adult content, which we know is the reason you're here.
 
Find Joel on Twitter: twitter.com/joelrossradio
And listen to him on the Rock FM Breakfast Show, Monday to Friday, 6-10: https://planetradio.co.uk/rock-fm/

Crunch & Roll - Series 2 Preview

This is Crunch & Roll - a window into the dysfunctional world of the radio industry.
If you loved the last series, then you'll love what's to come. If you didn't, what are you even doing here?
In the coming weeks you'll hear stories about how one of our guests almost got himself, and his group PD shot; How another thought he was about to hit the bigtime, only to be handed his sandwiches wrapped in a roadmap; Another was sent to a newly-acquired station to be a spy; And another who may or may not have been responsible for the collapse of a top-flight footballer's marriage.
Sensationalist? Us?
This is just a taste of what's to come. Oh, and as you've probably come to expect, there's plenty of industrial language involved.

S01 E12 - Rick Houghton

Dear reader, it is late on a Friday evening. The 969media team are toasting the the completion of another barnstorming episode of Crunch & Roll with a dry sherry. Then comes the message. Perhaps some parts of this episode could, as the great Frank Spencer once said, get us in a little bit of trouble.
Immediately our heroes spring into action, armed with nought but a chinagraph pencil and a razor blade. Hours later, the necessary edits have been made. The tape on the floor goes into the safe, perhaps one day to see the light of day...
What is left is a 9.75/10, but at least we won't get sued.
Rick Houghton is this week's guest. He's a legend of radio in the north of England and in Dubai. Part of the all-conquering Radio City line up of the 90s and 2000s and pioneer of radio in the Middle East.
His stories include giving away gold bars on air in Dubai, a PD who lived in a campervan in the radio station car park, and being more popular than Boyzone in Liverpool!
CAUTION: This episode contains a mention of an Optimod (as well as strong language and adult content).

S01 E11 - Jim Coulson

Have you worked at Kerrang? Jim has. Xfm? He's worked there too. Net FM? Bit niche, but he's plied his trade there too.
Jim tells a great story, and he's got lots of them.
Like the one about the boss who sacked him, then ended up his boss again somewhere else soon not long after. Awkward. And how collecting song requests on the critical illness ward for his hospital radio station made him a better person. And last but not least, the finer details of a catalogue of errors made by a former PD. Shots fired!
This is a cracker - Enjoy!
Oh, strong language and adult content etc.
 
Follow Jim on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jimcoulson
His Bewildered Dad blog is here: https://www.bewildereddad.com/
And his website is: https://www.jimcoulson.com/

S01 E10 - Simon Monk

Monk (noun) - a member of a religious community of men typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
This one didn't get the memo. He's a radio guy who's been there, done that and got the branded bomber jacket.
Simon was once Foxy's boss, so expect some "one time, at Signal" chat; along with incredible stories involving cat litter, pork balls, a death threat, a never before heard revelation and some excellent stories about his former boss and friend, John Myers.
This episode contains strong language and adult content.
 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pcsimjim
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcsimjim/
BFBS: https://radio.bfbs.com/