101: Simon Mayo - Presenter, Radio 1, 2, 5 Live, Nottingham & Brighton

From working as a car park attendant and being turned down by the BBC - to hosting some of the biggest slots on the UK’s largest stations.

In this hour of ‘Radio Moments – Conversations’, Simon Mayo speaks candidly about his life and career, from his early experiences at hospital and student radio, through his days at BBC Radio Brighton and Radio Nottingham. Then - spotted by the BBC - he climbs quickly to Radio 1, where he graduates to the breakfast show and then on to the mid-morning show where his Confessions feature thrives.

When BBC Radio 5 Live calls, Simon rises to the challenge, and he talks here about how it felt to be on air as the tragedy of 9/11 unfolded. He discusses too Kermode and Mayo's Film Review and why it has captured a new audience.

Alongside his 5 Live work, he begins at Radio 2, eventually being asked to take on the drive show, which had been hosted previously by Chris Evans – and Simon’s early hero Johnnie Walker. That show, famously, ends in a way Simon would not have chosen and he reflects on what might have been done differently.

The new Scala Radio called – and Simon talks about his first commercial radio experiences. Plus - what does Simon make of radio’s role in the extraordinary conditions created by the COVID 19 virus?

In his own words – this is the Simon Mayo story.

Hear the whole ‘Radio Moments Conversations’ series here – and sign up for the regular podcast for this ongoing series. Music by Larry Bryant.