Central Radio presenter lineup

Multi-award winning presenter, Danny Matthews, will host the Central Radio Breakfast Show when the station launches across the Fylde coast early next month.

Real local radio is returning to Blackpool and the Fylde coast in September, with the launch of a brand-new commercial station on DAB, Central Radio, transmitting from the top of Blackpool Tower.

Central is delighted to confirm the signing of UK commercial radio multi award-winning presenter, Danny Matthews, who will host the station’s flagship breakfast show, weekdays between 6 and 10am.

Danny has more than 30 years of commercial radio experience under his belt, beginning with a stint at Piccadilly Radio (Key 103) in the late 1980s. He has worked at stations across the North West, including spells at Rock FM, Magic, Real Radio and Capital Gold, but is perhaps best known for his hugely successful decade long stint as the host of the highly popular ‘The Bay Breakfast’ in Lancaster, which later became Heart Breakfast following a rebrand by owners, Global.

‘The Bay Breakfast with Danny Matthews’ was named UK Local Breakfast Show of the Year at the Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards in 2012. Also during his spell on the breakfast show, The Bay was named Station of the Year at the Arqiva’s in 2010, and his broadcasting won the National Award for Social Action, after the devastating floods of Storm Desmond that hit Lancaster in 2016.

Over the last few years, Danny has specialised in the live entertainment circuit, working at scores of premium events as a stage host and Master of Ceremonies.

‘’I can’t wait to be part of this exciting new radio station for the Fylde coast,’’ said Danny.

‘’Waking up the people of Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde every morning will be a great privilege, and I can’t wait to get started.

‘’’Central Breakfast with Danny Matthews’ will be a truly local breakfast show, with great music, local news and information, and of course, we’ll try and have a good laugh along the way.’’

Nathan Hill, Central Radio’s Station Director, added: ‘’We’re over the moon to have Danny on board on breakfast.

‘’His reputation for delivering quality, highly entertaining programming is second to none. He remains a very popular presenter across the North West, and is a name listeners trust to provide them with a perfect start to their day.

“These are exciting times for broadcasting in our town, and we hope that Central Radio will become the new ‘local’ radio station which will be the first choice for great music and local information for our listeners in Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde.”

Joining Danny on Central’s exciting new schedule is listener favourite, Martin Emery.

Martin who joins the line-up initially for weekend mid-mornings, has been a popular presenter at a string of stations across the North West for more than 30 years, including a hugely successful four-

year stint on the breakfast show on Bolton and Bury’s Tower FM, a spell on Drive on Warrington’s Wire FM, as well as shows on the former Wish FM, Imagine FM, The Bay and Radio Wave.

Martin is also well known for his professional voiceover work, and listeners will also be familiar with him as the voice of ‘DJ Andy’, a presenter on the fictional station ‘Forever FM’, with Martin starring in both series of Peter Kay’s TV comedy, Car Share, on BBC One.

‘’These are exciting times for local radio on the Fylde coast,’’ said Martin.

‘’It will be a pleasure to broadcast to such a fantastic area once again, giving our listeners the chance to enjoy real local radio, something they’ve badly missed over the last couple of years.’’

ABOVE: Danny Matthews and Martin Emery in the studio.

Elsewhere on the Central Radio line-up, also confirmed is Dom Molloy at Drivetime. Dom previously hosted the Evening Show at The Revolution, as well as fronting shows at stations in Warrington and Chorley.

Former breakfast host on The Bay, Lyndsey Kerr, will present Weekend Breakfast, with Nathan Hill hosting the weekday mid-morning slot, Steve James weekend lunchtimes, and James MacDonald weekend drive.

Central Radio will be available as part of the switch on of the new Blackpool DAB multiplex next month. Listeners will need to rescan their devices to find Central, along with other stations not currently available.

The new station will appeal directly to those who work, study and live in Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde, with an exciting variety of music from the 70s to present day, plus a wide range of local news, sport and information.

Central Radio will broadcast on DAB+ to a local audience of approximately 260,000 people across Blackpool and surrounding areas, and will also broadcast via a dedicated app, online and via home connected devices and smart speakers. Listeners can find out more about the new station at www.central.radio , or by the station’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Pre-launch, discounted advertising packages for local businesses are also available by emailing nathan@central.radio or by calling 07428 107 107.