Takeover Radio 103.2 FM Leicester | First UK Radio Station for Children | The Early Years

Credits:
1. John Coster - Graham Coley interview - Leicester Market
2. Tom Ross - Abbey Park - Studio Footage
3. BBC - East Midlands
4. CBBC - Saturday Morning Show
5. Channel 4 Learning - First Edition
6. National Space Centre - Leicester
Takeover Radio 103.2 FM was the first station in the UK that gave children editorial control over their programmes and allowed them to present shows live.
The concept of Takeover Radio started in September 1996 when three children took over a Saturday night slot on a temporary radio station in Market Harborough, Leicestershire called 'Valley FM'. The station was run under the (then) Radio Authority format of a Restricted Service Licence (RSL) for short term broadcasts.
In July 2001, Charity status by the Charity's Commission took place and Takeover Radio was chosen to be one of only 15 radio stations to trial the new access Radio project for the Radio Authority.
On 5 March 2002, Takeover Radio was officially launched on 103.2 FM across the City of Leicester and live on the web at www.takeoverradio.com
In 2004, The Government agreed to allow the new radio regulator Ofcom to issue full-time radio licences. Takeover Radio were successful in applying for one of these, called a Community Radio License. The license was extended for another five years in 2010.
As well as the radio, "Takeover Radio" branched out into other areas. In 2003, the organisation began publishing a magazine for young people entitled "Retune". The magazine gave readers further insight into the station and the presenters, along with information on other organisations and events specifically for young people in and around the Leicestershire.
The magazine ceased publication in 2005 due to the end of funding that had previously been awarded to run the project.
In 2005, due to the redevelopment of The Shires Shopping Centre, later to become Highcross Leicester, the organisation moved its offices and studios to a new location within a local business area known as St. John's Business Park formally known as Corahs Knitware. This would be the home of Takeover Radio until March 2010, when a move to the historic Abbey Park, Leicester was completed.
Former Presenters & Daytime Presenters:
1. Jim Gray (Jim Salveson) - Formerly breakfast show presenter at XFM Manchester.
2. Andy May - former presenter for BBC Radio 5 Live, Newsbeat and 60 Seconds and presently presenting on 'Real Madrid TV'.
3. Will Kisby - currently a producer at Classic FM and LBC.
4. Dylan Rana - Former presenter of "The Alternative", is currently the host and owner of the "dylanisfine" RUclips and Twitch channel.
5. Mercedes Cotton - Former Presenter Saturday Mornings, BoomBox.
6. Kristian Brocksopp - Former Presenter, currently broadcast engineer at the BBC.
Last Air Date of Station:
Takeover Radio 103.2 in Leicester, England's last air date was Sunday, January 1st, 2023. The station first aired on Tuesday, March 5th 2002. The possible cause of its closure was reported to have been having financial difficulties, the diverse impact of Covid and breaching part of its licence commitment as prescribed by OFCOM. However this has NOT been officially confirmed.