Manchester Local Radio Station Reborn
From 3 April BBC GMR is no more - it is to be rebranded under the sparkling new name of… Radio Manchester…. Radio Manchester is of course the name under which Manchester’s local radio station was first launched in the 1970s. I remember the 60’s sounding jingle with rollicking drums, piping brass and, sung in a Mike Sammes Singers style ‘bah bah bah bah… on Radio Maan-ches-tahh!’
Later it succumbed to the name GMR ‘Greater Manchester Radio’. The post-1974 county was abolished in 1993 but the initials lived on - until now. In the age of search engines and relevant keywords, GMR has no meaning - but did it ever have any?
I’m informed the new Radio Manchester will be a station reborn, following frantic behind-the-scenes activity in New Broadcasting House Oxford Rd in the days leading up to the re-launch.
I can recommend two shows in advance, both of which will capture the spirit of Manchester in different ways.
Phil Wood, chatty and verbose voice of afternoon radio in Manchester, will move to a late night slot during the week. I understand the new show will capture a feel of nighttime Manchester. I’m sure it will be a great listen for expats, who for some time now have been able to listen over the internet.
My other recommendation is Terry Christian’s show, which will move to Saturday nights. Terry plays a textbook selection of classic Manchester tracks, some by famous names like Happy Mondays, Morrissey and Ian Brown, and some obscure but fascinating ones. Recently for instance, he played a song called ‘Claremont Road’ by the artist Prince Cool. Prince who? That’s what I thought but the track, written about the road in Moss Side, located five minutes from where I live, was brilliant.
To listen to Radio Manchester, tune into 95.1 FM, find it on digital radio, or point your browser at