Hamilton and Dene return to The Wireless

05/09/2012 - 07:59 | 9 Replies More

Presenters David Hamilton and Graham Dene are at the centre of a new radio station aimed at “grown ups” and operated by charity Age UK.

The Wireless is a service for the over 50s and has been online since May, but will join a couple of DAB multiplexes providing “a mix of music, entertainment and information to improve later life in the UK”.

It will fill a space left by the likes of SAGA Radio, and before that Melody Radio. Other than BBC local radio – featuring Sony award-winning Beryl and Betty – few stations now target this market, with an honourable mention to the community station Angel Radio in Havant, which also broadcasts on DAB across South Hampshire, and plays predominantly music recorded before 1960.

Ofcom licensing documents now show that the regulator has agreed to vary licences to allow the Greater London III and Yorkshire DAB digital radio multiplexes to carry the station, which is expected to launch on DAB in the next few weeks. The two new DAB services will together cover around 12 million people.

The station, which is produced for Age UK by USP Content, already features specialist music programmes, including Jazz with David Freeman, Rock with Simon Crosse, and a weekly Classic Countdown from Daryl Denham. David Hamilton presents a daily morning show while Graham Dene presents each afternoon. Graham has most recently been heard covering bank holiday programmes on BBC Surrey and Sussex.

At the station’s online launch, Tom Wright CBE, Group Chief Executive of Age UK, said: “Research shows that people over 55 years of age listen to radio more than any other age group, so we wanted to create a platform that caters for this audience. We are thrilled to launch an entertaining and informative new radio station that provides the UK’s older demographic with more choice about what they want to listen to.

The Wireless will provide an entertaining outlet that helps us to share some of our extensive information and advice on improving later life, as well as encouraging our supporters to get involved in our campaigning and fundraising. We also want to hand the microphone over to people in later life, providing a platform for listeners to express their own views and help shape what content we produce and air so it’s as much their station as the charity’s.”

Radio Today is following the story, and will have more on “The Wireless” closer to the DAB launch.

Written by: Radio Today

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Category: Industry News

  • Watlingfen

    But you’re not on ‘The Wireless’ unless you’re on FM/VHF at least – DAB is crap and a failure and London & Yorkshire (!), come on, do get ‘real’ you’re not replacing SAGA and all the promotion on earth wont get you the SAGA audience unless you go real radio (FM or AM) through real wireless sets so we – all over England – can take you out into the garden on a sunny day .

  • Polarstar69

    I have to reply to watlington… DAB radio is great if used correctly I have had it for nearly 10 years and I will not change… its clearer and I can talk my portable radio (DAB) into the garden into my glass houses.. garage and receptio is good I mainly listen to Smooth/Smooth 70′s . so lets not think of going backwards to days of hissing and interference I can remember back in the sixties and the AM/FM bands.
    Polarstar69

  • Almorr

    Just got a Internet Wi-Fi Radio for my birthday, can get over 20, 000 stations, but I have limited it to 10 Favourites, perhaps that is the radio of the future, I have had a DAB radio for 9 years, seen quite a lot of changes, bring back Primetime Radio, it was sad to see that go.

    • http://www.facebook.com/ddwig Dave Wiggy Wiggins

      I am with you on this as well i just hope primetime radio do come on back on dab everywhere now it would be good to hear david hamilton he is a good presenter and that is true

  • david gillbee

    having been with melody,primetime and saga digital from there beginings to there untimely demise . i welcome any service that can plug the gap in this much ignored age group.DAB and FM are fine and necessary but internet is now easier to use and do not forget the sky raft and freeview

  • david gillbee

    its a funny old world…when thing turn full circle.

  • http://www.facebook.com/ddwig Dave Wiggy Wiggins

    I Am I Reading This Wright All Have My Pc Gone Mad One Or The Other Now I See This News That This Good Dam Presenter
    And This Top Good D.j. David Hamilton Is Coming Back On To The Radio I Just Hope David Hamilton Will Take Over Mark Goodier Job On Smooth Radio Now Mark Goodier Is Leaving Smooth Radio That Would Be So Good Wright Now It Make Me So So So So So Happy Now Come On David Hamilton Take Over Mark Goodier Show On Smooth Radio Please David Hamilton That Be Good

  • http://www.facebook.com/cliveinblack Clive West

    Graham Dene has also been presenting on Radio Jackie recently. He’s covering the breakfast show next week.

  • http://www.facebook.com/ddwig Dave Wiggy Wiggins

    This radio station name the wireless for grown ups their webpage has gone so i do just hope this good presenter david hamilton do get on to smooth radio now or onto classic fm now or onto gold now or magic now

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