This was when Radio 2 was well worth listening to, especially during the early hours. Steve Madden left Radio 2 in October 1998, around the same time as John Dunn retired from Drivetime and was replaced by Katrina from Katrina and the Waves (I believe it was her reward for winning Eurovision in 1997). Madden had a namesake with a brand of shoes, hence one of his catchphrases used to be: "what more could a boy want from a pair of shoes?" or something like that - he also had other catchphrases that he used on air (something to do with a milkman, perhaps?) but I cannot recall them at this moment. Radio 2 used to be so short-staffed during the early hours and so the presenters themselves had to read the news because no duty newsreader was available. I used to enjoy the 1.30 am Pause for Thoughts during the early hours of Wednesday mornings (Tuesday nights in radio listings) when the Reverend Frank Topping (aka the man who had married Ken and Deirdre Barlow in Coronation Street in 1981, lest we forget) did the PFT, which was repeated two hours later at 3.30 am. I had an interest in religion back then as I had started to go to church and so the Rev Topping's messages were really insightful.
Thanks for putting this on! I love Steve madden. It used to be him and Alex Lester through the night and he has gone too! So much talent wasted and hugely missed. Radio 2 isn't even live through the night anymore and its terrible! Steve and Alex were like mates keeping you company through the night. Bring em back pleeeeease!
This takes me back to my period of night driving back in the early 90’s. Steve Madden followed by Alex Lester. I remember Steve used to play Van Morrison, Bright Side of the Road and always referred to the “Tommy Cooper “ impression towards the end of the song!!
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This was when Radio 2 was well worth listening to, especially during the early hours. Steve Madden left Radio 2 in October 1998, around the same time as John Dunn retired from Drivetime and was replaced by Katrina from Katrina and the Waves (I believe it was her reward for winning Eurovision in 1997). Madden had a namesake with a brand of shoes, hence one of his catchphrases used to be: "what more could a boy want from a pair of shoes?" or something like that - he also had other catchphrases that he used on air (something to do with a milkman, perhaps?) but I cannot recall them at this moment.
Radio 2 used to be so short-staffed during the early hours and so the presenters themselves had to read the news because no duty newsreader was available. I used to enjoy the 1.30 am Pause for Thoughts during the early hours of Wednesday mornings (Tuesday nights in radio listings) when the Reverend Frank Topping (aka the man who had married Ken and Deirdre Barlow in Coronation Street in 1981, lest we forget) did the PFT, which was repeated two hours later at 3.30 am. I had an interest in religion back then as I had started to go to church and so the Rev Topping's messages were really insightful.
Thanks for putting this on! I love Steve madden. It used to be him and Alex Lester through the night and he has gone too! So much talent wasted and hugely missed. Radio 2 isn't even live through the night anymore and its terrible! Steve and Alex were like mates keeping you company through the night. Bring em back pleeeeease!
This takes me back to my period of night driving back in the early 90’s. Steve Madden followed by Alex Lester. I remember Steve used to play Van Morrison, Bright Side of the Road and always referred to the “Tommy Cooper “ impression towards the end of the song!!
Well said, Nick. I would stay up listening to Steve Madden and Alex Lester. Nightride, with a little night music. I do miss them both.
13:16 Steve Madden Doing The News & Presenting his Radio 2 Show at Broadcasting House