Presenter's tuned in to personal radio shows

Nov 25 2009 by Karen Dent, The Journal

A BBC radio presenter and producer has taken his talents freelance to set up a business making personalised radio shows.

Jamie Wilkinson, who can still be heard on BBC Newcastle and BBC Tees, originally had the idea for Bespoke Radio 10 years ago, when he put together a programme for his grandmother’s 80th birthday using her favourite songs interspersed with anecdotes about her.

“She loved it. The idea’s been bubbling away ever since,” said Mr Wilkinson. “I did a couple for friends and family for birthday presents and the reaction was so good.”

Mr Wilkinson spends around a day creating each show, which is made up from the subject’s favourite songs, plus stories about them, presented on a CD with a personalised cover. The shows range in length and subject matter from Christmas to birthdays and stag and hen parties. He said: “The emotional hook is when they hear the voicemail messages from their friends and family.

“I did a wedding one for a civil ceremony. It was like This Is Your Life, I interviewed them and mixed it with their favourite music and they sent the CDs out to the wedding guests.”

Mr Wilkinson, who makes the shows at home in Gateshead, has received orders from all over the UK.

He said: “I think people are finding it on the web. I’ve done a few locally from word of mouth.”

He runs Bespoke Radio alongside his podcast enterprise CarterCaine Productions, which made the audio tours for Alnwick Garden and the National Glass Centre in Sunderland. But he is confident the personalised radio shows will become his main business.

“For the last three months I’ve been putting the time and energy in,” said Mr Wilkinson. “It’s nice to feel you are in control of your own destiny.”