Embargoed until 7am on Wednesday, August 8
THREE LEGENDS SEAL TRANSFER TO STAR RADIO
PRESS CALL WITH INTERVIEW AND PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES: 3PM, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, LUMLEY CASTLE – DH3 4NX.
THE Three Legends behind the North East football fans’ favourite phone-in are being brought back to the FM airwaves after signing a deal with Star Radio.
The iconic Three Legends show, which was abruptly axed by Real Radio last month after a 14-year run and despite consistently high ratings, will now be broadcast by Star Radio from Monday (13th).
Star Radio - which covers Darlington, Durham and North Yorkshire – will re-introduce the phone-in to its traditional daily 6pm to 8pm slot, but initially will only involve Middlesbrough legend Bernie Slaven. Former Newcastle star Malcolm Macdonald and Sunderland’s FA Cup winner Micky Horswill will join at a later date due to ongoing contractual issues with their former employer.
The show will also be broadcast via Koast Radio, an online community-based station in Northumberland, which announced its own signing of the Legends last week. Star Radio will also look to form partnerships with other North East community stations, to ensure the Three Legends show is broadcast to as many of the region’s football fans as possible.
Until Bernie can be joined by his two traditional radio team-mates, he will have a number of stand-in guests to represent the region’s teams, as the show continues with its successful format of debating team performances and transfer speculation, while taking calls from listeners.
Former Middlesbrough striker Bernie said he is delighted to be joining Darlington-based Star Radio.
“This is a great move for us, and one I’m really looking forward to getting started with on Monday. I know Malcolm and Micky will be counting the days until they can join me, and I am sure the many fantastic football fans we’ve spoken to so many times over the years will come with us too,” he said.
“We know for ourselves how massive football is in North East communities, so it’s important to us that we’ve joined a radio station that has a real community focus.”
Mark Reason, Managing Director of Star Radio, said it is important to involve the community in a show which has the reputation of the Three Legends.
“This is an iconic and hugely successful regional radio show, which has built up a huge fan following over the many years it has been broadcasting. We are delighted to be able to bring it back to FM in the North East,” he said.
“We are committed to giving it to as wide an audience as possible, as we understand how important football is to the communities in this region. For that reason, we will look to build up a network of local community stations to work with.
“At a time when other broadcasters are becoming national concerns, we want to confirm our place as being a North East radio station serving the region’s communities and bringing them the regional content they want to hear.”
ENDS
For more information, please contact Deborah Johnson on 07727 139145 or
NOTES TO EDITORS – ABOUT STAR RADIO
Star Radio North East is owned by UKRD and broadcasts across Durham, Darlington and North Yorkshire. It has a total audience reach of 108,000 adults, and is now in its eighth successive quarter of growth in listener figures, according to the latest Rajar data. Star Radio North East was formed in 2009 through a merger of Alpha, Minster Northallerton and Durham FM. It operates on FM, online and on mobile through its app for iPhone and Android. For more information, visit