Voices of UK radio - Mike Read

Born 1951 in Manchester (where his father Les played football for United in the forties), Mike Read had his first crack at show business as a singer in clubs around the City. He later moved South and whilst commentating on cricket match in Surrey, someone suggested he should put his voice to use as a disc jockey. Eventually he became presenter on the local Thames Valley Radio station., and soon after moved to RTL Radio Luxembourg.

He joined Radio 1 late 1978 as host of a Saturday night 8-10pm show playing 'new wave' type records broadcast from his home town. His later (Jan 1981) Radio 1 breakfast show is well remembered for his amusing impressions of Radio 1 disc-jockeys as he read out the day's schedule. In January 1984 he famously took the single 'Relax' by Frankie Goes to Hollywood off the air half-way through, because of the records' sexual inferences. This led to a BBC airplay ban (except for on the Top 40 show). The record became number 1 in the UK Charts!

 In 1977 he helped launch the 'Guinness British Hit Singles' book with Tim and Jo Rice. A keen tennis player and friend of Cliff Richard, Mike has won ten National Broadcaster of the Year awards. Mike presented the Radio 1 breakfast show for over five years, until April 1986. On British television, Mike Read presented Pop Quiz, Saturday Superstore and of course Top of the Pops.

He left Radio 1 in 1991. He was soon heard on London's local station Capital Gold, as well as national station Classic FM. Mike reported to UK newspapers in Sept 2002 that he planned to marry interior designer Eileen Johnston in 2003. Mike has written the music, lyrics and/or book, for 6 stage musicals including Great Expectations and A Christmas Carol. He has had many songs recorded by major artists such as Cliff Richard, Don McLean, David Essex.

 In 2004 he presented on Magic Radio 999. January 2004 found Mike Read taking part in the popular ITV reality jungle show I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! with nine other UK celebrities including singers John Lydon and Peter Andre. He was first to be voted out of the charity money raising show after eight days in the Australian outback. Mike said he was disappointed that he had not carried out a 'Bushtucker Trial'. From 2005 he was heard on the newly launched Radio London (Big L) an AM, internet and satellite radio station.