Crunch & Roll

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Jul 2025

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About the show

Tales from the dysfunctional world of radio, told by the people who have been there, done that and got the branded bomber jacket. Host John Fox chats to some of the great and the good (and the available) who made their name sitting in a padded room talking to themselves. Expect incredible stories, brutal honesty, juicy revelations, big old laughs and even the odd tear. Support Crunch & Roll on Ko-Fi - https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

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60 recent

July 14, 2025Episode 131 hr 8 min

S04 E13 - John Darin

I tell you what we we want, what we really, really want... ... a Head of Music who threw the Spice Girls debut single straight in the bin! But what if he was right all along..? This was one minor misstep though, in a fantastic 36 year career, entertaining audiences in East Anglia, the North East and Home Counties. John Darin chats to Foxy about his mad living arrangements when he moved to GNR; how as a manager, he tried to budget his way out of his on-air gig; and our old friend the radio station ghost makes a comeback. It's been a while. Classic Darin: https://www.aircheckdownloads.com/audio-search?term=john+darin&sort_bef_combine=relevance_DESC John's socials: https://x.com/johndarinradio // https://www.youtube.com/@JohnDarinRadio Support us on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

July 7, 2025Episode 121 hr 14 min

S04 E12 - Boogie

We've been asked loads why we don't have more people from Scottish radio on, and we can assure you it's not for the want of trying. But we think you'll agree we've bagged one of the absolute G's of Scottish radio here. Like Madonna and Cher, he's instantly recognisable by a single moniker. And like Madonna and Cher he's excelled in his field. It remains to be seen how he suits a see-through body suit or a conical bra though. His chat with Foxy is a joy, taking in his origin story as a successful knitwear salesman, an unbelievable management encounter on day three of a new job, and we get deep trying to figure out why there's a dearth of Scottish accents on English or national radio. And of course we discuss hi-jinx on the high seas with tales from the legendary listener trips to Amsterdam, Boogie on the Boat. Listen to Boogie in the Morning on Forth 1, weekdays 6-10: https://hellorayo.co.uk/forth/shows/boogie-in-the-morning And Boogie & Arlene on Greatest Hits Radio, Sunday nights from 7: https://hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/presenters/boogie-arlene-ghr Boogies socials: https://x.com/BoogsTweets / https://www.instagram.com/boogieinthemorning/ Support us on Ko_Fi and help keep us on your feed: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

June 30, 2025Episode 111 hr 12 min

S04 E11 - James Merritt

Foxy's guest in this episode is bit of a rebel. The evil genius behind a pirate radio station at his school, busted by Ofcom and (accidentally) turning up to an awards do high as a kite. But rather than doing stretch Strangeways, James Merritt has forged a stellar radio career. Golden age Kiss 100, both Virgins, Heart and BRMB. Not bad for guy who wanted to get into radio after watching a Christian Slater film. This episode also contains another losing-your-gig story that can firmly be filed under 'Only In Radio'. This one is possibly the strangest one yet. Click here to listen to James on Virgin Radio and Virgin Radio Chilled: https://virginradio.co.uk/play/virginradiouk There's loads of classic Merritt on Aircheck Downloads: https://www.aircheckdownloads.com/audio-search?term=james+merritt&sort_bef_combine=relevance_DESC James on Twitter: https://x.com/james_merritt?lang=en-GB And Insta: https://www.instagram.com/james_merritt/ Help keep us on your feed. Support us on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

June 23, 2025Episode 101 hr 0 min

S04 E10 - Jagger & Woody

There's two for the price on one on this episode - we really do spoil you. Their parents christened them Simon and Chris, but these two Oldham lads went with the far more exotic sounding surnames when forging their radio careers, so you'll know them as Jagger & Woody. And it's their names that serendipitously got them their big break. More on that in the episode. They also chat to Foxy about getting the sack (a recuring theme in the early days), the one time they fell out, and how they almost ended up on one of the biggest shows on UK radio... but then, you know, radioy things happened. You can hear these two legends on the Heart Wales drivetime show, from 4pm-7pm. https://www.heart.co.uk/radio/shows-presenters/jagger-and-woody/ And you can hear how they launched Heart South Wales back in 2014 - https://www.aircheckdownloads.com/audio-search?term=jagger&sort_bef_combine=relevance_DESC. Your support of the podcast is always welcome and appreciated on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

February 19, 2025Episode 947 min

S04 E09 - Lee Thompson (Part 2)

This is part 2 of Foxy's chat with former presenter, producer, music guru, TV bloke and pop-quiz-question-setter. The first part is available now, but if you're up to date, prepare to hear about how he was probably responsible for popularising some of the most annoying songs of the early 00s; how TV wasn't for him; and how he came to be part of the most listened to feature on UK radio every day. Support Crunch & Roll: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll Listen to Ten to the Top, every weekday morning with Vernon Kaye on Radio 2, or catch up with on the podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06q6h18/episodes/downloads Test your own level of music geekery with Lee's book, The Official Charts' Music Quiz Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Official-Charts-Music-Quiz-Book/dp/1789295017

February 17, 2025Episode 853 min

S04 E08 - Lee Thompson (Part 1)

People often ask how we choose our guests. The answer is quite simple. People who've had varied and interesting careers and have a good story to tell. And it always helps if we know them. So getting this episode's guest on was a no-brainer. Lee Thompson has been a presenter, producer, author, head of music, TV guy... and is now part of the most listened to feature on UK radio. He tells a bloody good story, and he has plenty of them from working at Metro, Viking, Radio 2, Box TV and more. In this, the first of two parts, he chats to Foxy about how he heard the "phenomenal" demo of a 16 year old, future radio star; chatting with one of the 90s most iconic stars; and getting sacked from a radio station in Wales for doing something truly mad! Look out for part two, coming very soon. Support Crunch & Roll: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll Listen to Ten to the Top, every weekday morning with Vernon Kaye on Radio 2, or catch up with on the podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p06q6h18/episodes/downloads Test your own level of music geekery with Lee's book, The Official Charts' Music Quiz Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Official-Charts-Music-Quiz-Book/dp/1789295017

February 12, 2025Episode 748 min

S04 E07 - Allan Lake (Part 2)

This is part two of Foxy's chat with the brilliant Allan Lake. Part one is available now, if you want to hear his origin story. In this episode he chats about how a cow nearly got his employers evicted from their studios; losing his "dream job"; and how the tragic death of a good friend and colleague affected him. Support Crunch & Roll: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

February 10, 2025Episode 650 min

S04 E06 - Allan Lake (Part 1)

As Oscar Wild almost once said, "To lose one job may be regarded as a misfortune, to lose several looks like carelessness." John Fox's guest on this episode admits to getting sacked a lot. He also admits he struggles with "where the line is". There could be a correlation... Allan Lake is a brilliant, one-of-a-kind radio presenter. Lesser presenters would have sunk without trace after the feature that lost him his first job, but Allan came back stronger after every set back. He has a CV many of us could only dream of: Capital, Absolute, Power FM, Red Dragon, Galaxy, Viking... One of the most notable entries on his CV though was his iconic Capital Disney evening show. And where do you go after entertaining the kids, that's right, a porn station! He'll make it make sense. This is the first of another two-parter, in which he talks about accidentally taking the radio station off air before his first ever show; how he was hidden from a group PD; and what might explain his penchant for pushing things just that little bit too far. Look out for the second episode soon. Support Crunch & Roll on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

February 3, 2025Episode 41 hr 1 min

S04 E05 - Sally Bailey

We've heard lots of reasons why people get into radio on this podcast. Often it stems from a childhood obsession, starting with good old Bedroom FM, then maybe doing mobile discos, hospital radio and what have you... It's almost a calling. For the guest of this episode though, that really wasn't the case. She just wanted to dress up as her local radio station's mascot! After realising her ambition, she then went on to become one of the most heard voices on UK radio. Sally Bailey presented the ubiquitous, showbiz evening show Music Control. She also had iconic stints on Galaxy and Red Dragon, forming memorable double-acts with with Kam Kelly and Kevin Hughes. In fact, if you were to say "Kam and..." or "Kevin and..." to a generation of radio people they'd all know the only acceptable response is "Sally". These days, Sally is one of the hardest-working and most recognisable voiceovers in the UK, as well as doing a daily show on Virgin Radio Chilled. In this episode hear about how she worked for free for a ridiculously long time; which global mega-star made her cry; and who she did an "abysmal" demo with to try and get on Capital. Sally's on Virgin Radio Chilled, weekdays 10-2: https://virginradio.co.uk/play/virginradiochilled Hear some classic Kam and Sally here, including their very first episode: https://www.aircheckdownloads.com/uk-airchecks/corecontrol/2000s/kam-sally-first-show-sept-2nd-2002-723 Sally's voiceover website: https://www.bristolvoiceover.co.uk/ Help keep the Crunch & Roll episodes coming, and support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll

January 29, 2025Episode 441 min

S04 E04 - Adam Cole (Part 2)

This is the second part of John Fox's chat with Manchester radio stalwart Adam Cole. Catch up on part one if you've not heard it yet... ... because this episode he swaps Moss Side for Miami. Hear about how this hot jock ended up reading the news; presenting a breakfast show with his boss; and probably the most uncompassionate and brutal sacking we've ever heard about ("In for a penny, I've got nothing to lose"). It's a rollercoaster. Adam’s current project is the spiky upstart in the MCR radio market, and it’s rather good. Have a listen: https://www.thisisthebuzz.com/ Here’s some classic Cole cuts: https://aircheckdownloads.com/audio-search?term=adam+cole&sort_bef_combine=relevance_DESC Help keep the Crunch & Roll episodes coming, and support us on Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/crunchandroll