Heart North West and Wales
Encyclopedia
Heart North West and Wales is an Independent Local Radio
station broadcasting to Cheshire
, the Wirral Peninsula
and North Wales
. The station began broadcasting on 2 July 2010 as a result of a merger between Heart Cheshire and North East Wales
(formerly Marcher Sound), Heart Wirral (formerly Wirral's Buzz) and Heart North Wales Coast (formerly Coast 96.3). It is broadcast from its studios in Gwersyllt
, Wrexham
, the former headquarters of Marcher Radio Group
.
These stations were owned and operated by the Marcher Radio Group
until the GWR Group's purchase in 2000. Five years later, the owners merged with Capital Radio
to form GCap Media
(later Global Radio). By 2008, locally-produced programming had been cut back to daily four-hour breakfast shows and a regional weekday drivetime show from Wrexham for the Marcher, Coast and Wirral areas, although Coast retained an opt-out for Welsh language programming. The stations were rebranded as Heart
a year later.
On 21 June 2010, Global Radio announced it would merge the stations as part of plans to reduce the Heart network of stations from 33 to 16. The new station began broadcasting from Wrexham on Friday 2 July 2010, leading to the closure of studios in Bangor.
The former North Wales Coast station retains an opt-out for an hour-long Welsh medium programme six days a week and early morning news bulletins in the Welsh language.
N.B. Alistair James presents weekday drivetime and Saturday breakfast on Heart Cymru, which shares studios with Heart North West & Wales.
On 96.3FM, Welsh language bulletins are broadcast at 6am & 6:30am on weekdays and at 8am & 9am on weekends.
Head of News
Broadcast Journalists
Independent Local Radio
Independent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The same name is used for Independent Local Radio in Ireland.-Development of ILR:...
station broadcasting to Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, the Wirral Peninsula
Wirral Peninsula
Wirral or the Wirral is a peninsula in North West England. It is bounded by three bodies of water: to the west by the River Dee, forming a boundary with Wales, to the east by the River Mersey and to the north by the Irish Sea. Both terms "Wirral" and "the Wirral" are used locally , although the...
and North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
. The station began broadcasting on 2 July 2010 as a result of a merger between Heart Cheshire and North East Wales
Heart Cheshire and North East Wales
Heart Cheshire and North East Wales was an independent radio station broadcasting to north east Wales and north west England from its Mold Road studios in Gwersyllt, Wrexham, also shared with Gold and Heart Wirral.The station was owned by Global Radio who purchased the previous owner, GCap Media,...
(formerly Marcher Sound), Heart Wirral (formerly Wirral's Buzz) and Heart North Wales Coast (formerly Coast 96.3). It is broadcast from its studios in Gwersyllt
Gwersyllt
Gwersyllt is an urban village and a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales....
, Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
, the former headquarters of Marcher Radio Group
Marcher Radio Group
Marcher Radio Group Ltd, previously Marcher Sound Ltd, was a former British media organisation which operated several radio stations in north Wales and north west England...
.
History
The regional station originally broadcast as three separate stations - Marcher Sound began broadcasting to North East Wales and Cheshire in January 1983, MFM 97.1 (later Wirral's Buzz) served the Wirral and parts of east Flintshire since March 1989 and Marcher Coast (later Coast 96.3) broadcast to the North Wales Coast from August 1993 onwards.These stations were owned and operated by the Marcher Radio Group
Marcher Radio Group
Marcher Radio Group Ltd, previously Marcher Sound Ltd, was a former British media organisation which operated several radio stations in north Wales and north west England...
until the GWR Group's purchase in 2000. Five years later, the owners merged with Capital Radio
Capital Radio
Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...
to form GCap Media
GCap Media
GCap Media was a British commercial radio company formed from the merger of the Capital Radio Group and GWR Group. The merger was completed in May 2005. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. On 31 March 2008 the company agreed a takeover by...
(later Global Radio). By 2008, locally-produced programming had been cut back to daily four-hour breakfast shows and a regional weekday drivetime show from Wrexham for the Marcher, Coast and Wirral areas, although Coast retained an opt-out for Welsh language programming. The stations were rebranded as Heart
Heart Network
Heart is a radio network of 17 adult contemporary independent local radio stations in central & southern England and north Wales. Each station broadcasts local breakfast and drive time shows and simulcasts network programming at all other times...
a year later.
On 21 June 2010, Global Radio announced it would merge the stations as part of plans to reduce the Heart network of stations from 33 to 16. The new station began broadcasting from Wrexham on Friday 2 July 2010, leading to the closure of studios in Bangor.
The former North Wales Coast station retains an opt-out for an hour-long Welsh medium programme six days a week and early morning news bulletins in the Welsh language.
Monday–Friday
| Time | Main presenter(s)/programme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0100 – 0400 | All 80s, All Night (automated) | Leicester Square Leicester Square Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 0400 - 0600 | Nicola Bonn (97.1 & 103.4 FM only from 0500) | |
| 0500 - 0600 | Alistair James (96.3 FM only, pre-recorded) | Gwersyllt Gwersyllt Gwersyllt is an urban village and a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales.... , Wrexham Wrexham Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England... |
| 0600 – 1000 | Spence MacDonald & Angela Jay: Heart Breakfast | Gwersyllt Gwersyllt Gwersyllt is an urban village and a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales.... , Wrexham Wrexham Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England... |
| 1000 – 1300 | Toby Anstis Toby Anstis Toby Anstis is a radio presenter on Global Radio's Heart Network of stations. He presents his morning show weekdays from 10.00am - 1.00pm across the Heart branded network.... |
Leicester Square Leicester Square Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 1300 – 1600 | Nick Snaith | |
| 1600 – 1900 | Richard Straffon: Heart Drivetime (Local) | Gwersyllt Gwersyllt Gwersyllt is an urban village and a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales.... , Wrexham Wrexham Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England... |
| 1900 – 2200 | Simon Dale | Leicester Square Leicester Square Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 2200 – 0100 | Simon Beale Simon Beale Simon Beale is a radio presenter on the Heart Network which includes London's Heart 106.2.He presents The Late Show Sundays to Thursdays between 10pm and 1am.... |
|
Friday variation
| Time | Main presenter(s) | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 - 0000 | Club Classics with Simon Dale | Leicester Square Leicester Square Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
Saturday
| Time | Main presenter(s)/programme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0000 - 0200 | Club Classics (automated) | Leicester Square Leicester Square Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 0200 – 0600 | Vanessa Elms | |
| 0600 - 0800 | Matt Wilkinson | |
| 0800 – 1200 | Fiona Sadler: Heart Breakfast (Local) | Gwersyllt Gwersyllt Gwersyllt is an urban village and a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales.... , Wrexham Wrexham Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England... |
| 1200 – 1600 | Nick Snaith | Leicester Square Leicester Square Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 1600 – 1900 | Emma Bunton Emma Bunton Emma Lee Bunton is an English pop singer/songwriter and TV and radio presenter. She was a member of the 1990s girl group, the Spice Girls, in which she was known as Baby Spice as she was the youngest member. In 2010, she joined the judging panel on ITV's Dancing on Ice... |
|
| 1900 – 0000 | Club Classics with Steve Denyer | |
Sunday
| Time | Main presenter(s)/programme | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0000 - 0200 | Club Classics (automated) | Leicester Square Leicester Square Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 0200 – 0600 | Vanessa Elms | |
| 0600 - 0800 | Matt Wilkinson (97.1 & 103.4 FM only from 0700) | |
| 0700 - 0800 | Alistair James (96.3 FM only, pre-recorded) | Gwersyllt Gwersyllt Gwersyllt is an urban village and a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales.... , Wrexham Wrexham Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England... |
| 0800 – 1200 | Fiona Sadler: Heart Breakfast (Local) | Gwersyllt Gwersyllt Gwersyllt is an urban village and a local government community, the lowest tier of local government, part of Wrexham County Borough in Wales.... , Wrexham Wrexham Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England... |
| 1200 – 1600 | Jason Donovan Jason Donovan Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989... |
Leicester Square Leicester Square Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west... , London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... |
| 1600 – 1900 | Rich Clarke Richard Clarke (radio personality) Richard "Rich" Clarke is a British radio presenter and DJ from Worcester, England currently employed by Global Radio as a presenter on Capital FM and The Vodafone Big Top 40.-Student radio:... & Kat Shoob Kat Shoob Katherine 'Kat' Shoob is a British radio presenter on The Vodafone Big Top 40.Shoob modelled for Maxim in September 2006.Shoob presented The Mint, a phone-in quiz that was shown on ITV1 and ITV2... : The Vodafone Freebees Big Top 40 |
|
| 1900 – 2200 | Chris Skinner | |
| 2200 - 0100 | Simon Beale Simon Beale Simon Beale is a radio presenter on the Heart Network which includes London's Heart 106.2.He presents The Late Show Sundays to Thursdays between 10pm and 1am.... |
N.B. Alistair James presents weekday drivetime and Saturday breakfast on Heart Cymru, which shares studios with Heart North West & Wales.
News
Heart North West and Wales broadcasts local news updates weekdays half hourly between 6am and 9am, then hourly from 9am to 6pm. At the weekend, local news is broadcast hourly between 8am and 11am. National news updates are broadcast at 7pm weekdays and at 6am, 7am, 12noon, 1pm and 2pm at the weekend.On 96.3FM, Welsh language bulletins are broadcast at 6am & 6:30am on weekdays and at 8am & 9am on weekends.
Head of News
- Alex Davies
Broadcast Journalists
- Andy Downton
- Natasia Moore