BBC Radio Solent

From Free net encyclopedia

BBC Radio Solent is the BBC Local Radio service for the Isle of Wight and the English counties of Hampshire and Dorset. Its studios are located in Southampton, in the same building as the BBC South Today news studios.

The station is named for the Solent, the estuary between Southampton/Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.

It broadcasts on 96.1 (Rowridge on the Isle of Wight) FM and 999 (Fareham) AM for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and 103.8 (Bincombe Hill, between Dorchester and Weymouth) FM and 1359 (Fern Barrow, close to Bournemouth University) AM for Dorset, DAB and via its website using Real Player. It began broadcasting on December 31 1970.

The Rowridge mast also carries national radio frequencies and TV. Bincombe Hill also carries Wessex FM on 97.2FM. The coverage is weak north of Winchester, and the best coverage over Hampshire comes from Radio Berkshire on 104.1FM.

Julian Clegg does the breakfast show from 6 - 9am. Bald-headed Jon Cuthill hosts from 9 - 12.30pm. Richard Cartridge follows in the afternoon and then Tristan Pascoe is in the chair for Drivetime from 4pm. From 7pm, BBC local radio in the South and South-East share evening programmes, starting with Charlie Crocker, who broadcasts from the studios of Radio Kent and Paul Miller from 10pm - 1am, who is based at the Radio Solent studios.

Kenny Everett once worked at the station around 1972. Other Solent legends include Slyv Willoughby and Nick Girdler (who left in March 2006).