The Man Who Changed Radio 1

Writer, broadcaster and radio producer Matthew Bannister came to public attention in 1993 when director general John Birt appointed him as Controller of Radio 1. Then into its third decade on air, the network still maintained much of its original style with presenters such as Dave Lee-Travis and Simon Bates all approaching middle age who weren’t in keeping with its original 13 to 25 demographic. A graduate of Law, Bannister began his career as a reporter at Radio Nottingham before moving to Capital. He joined Radio 1 in 1983 as a presenter on Newsbeat before joining GLR which burst onto the airwaves with fresh young talent including Chris Evans, Chris Morris and a post NME Danny Baker. Such enthusiasm he took to Radio 1 and even recruited Evans alongside new voices including Jo Whiley, Steve Lamacq and Zoe Ball. This was the era of Britpop and boys with guitars aptly fitted the new sound of Radio 1. More recently, Bannister has spearheaded the popular podcast Folk On Foot first broadcast in 2018.  I caught up with one of the visionary figures in British broadcasting to talk: radio, eras and his recollections on a glittering career in entertainment. Ladies and gentlemen Matthew Bannister