James Whale & Ken Livingstone to join
LBC 97.3, London’s biggest conversation, is
bringing James Whale back home to late night talk radio this summer, as
he hosts a week of shows on London’s dedicated talk radio station.
From Sunday 17th August, James will be standing in for LBC 97.3’s regular late night host Clive Bull. He will present six live phone-in shows from 10pm to 1am each night. This will be the second time James has been a presenter on LBC 97.3 – in 1994 he hosted a weekend afternoon show on the station.
The multi Sony Award winning James Whale began his successful career as a talk radio host in 1974 at Metro Radio in Newcastle. In the 1990s, he hosted The James Whale Show, a simultaneous television and radio programme, broadcast live on ITV. From 1995 – 2008, he hosted regular phone-ins on talkSPORT, including his highly popular late night show.
LBC 97.3 has also announced that Ken Livingstone will be hosting his own weekend talk radio show, starting on Saturday 30th August. The former Mayor of London will present the Saturday lunchtime show, broadcast live every week from 10.00am – 2.00pm. The announcement follows Ken’s highly successful debut as a radio presenter on LBC 97.3 earlier this year, when he hosted the weekday afternoon show while the regular afternoon host, Jeni Barnett, was on holiday.
Whale said: “I’m really excited to be going back to LBC 97.3, where I’ve worked before. LBC was always very important to me – especially programmes by the late Adrian Love, as he was one of my inspirations. And I’m also very excited to prove that James Whale and Ken Livingstone can work together.”
Former Mayor Livingstone said: “I’m really looking forward to having my own show on LBC 97.3. Let’s be honest, a week of Nick Ferrari presenting the breakfast show can only be cured by a morning of Ken.”
LBC 97.3's Programme Director Jonathan Richards was delighted to have the pair on board. He said: "I'm happy to welcome James Whale back to talk radio in London. He's a class act who appreciates the art of great conversation and revels in a commercial radio environment.
"I'm also delighted that Ken Livingstone is joining our team of intelligent and creative presenters on a permanent basis. Ken brings unique insight to LBC 97.3 after eight years as Mayor. His week on LBC 97.3 earlier this year displayed his passion for London, a point that was not lost on even the most sceptical of listeners."