James Stannage
Encyclopedia
James Stannage, born 22 February 1950, is a British
late night talk show
radio host. He is best known for presenting The Late Night James Stannage Talk Show on Manchester
's Key 103
. He was dismissed from Key 103 in June 2005 after numerous warnings and a history of run-ins with regulator OFCOM
.
and Jasper Carrott
. He was renowned for his abrasive and aggressive style even then, so much so that the Bishop of Salford
publicly condemned him as a bad influence.
After leaving Piccadilly Radio, he went on to work for other local radio stations such as TFM Radio
during the 1980s before returning to Piccadilly 1152
in 1989. In the early days of his second stint at Piccadilly, his style was mellower than it had been before, but as time wore on became increasingly aggressive again and insulting comments to callers were stoked up as well.
Stannage was a well known fellow around Manchester as a result of his Key 103
talk show. In many surveys, Stannage came out as the number one Manchester DJ.
talk show presenter, Pete Price. Infrequently, each would "slag" the other off on their respective shows. Upon Stannage's sacking, Pete posted on his forum a topic entitled "James Stannage Sacked"
Radio Group, owners of Key 103
received a fine of £125,000 (then a record for UK radio) after reading out comments and jokes submitted by a listener about the death of Ken Bigley (just two days after his death was confirmed) in October and November 2004.
Key 103
received several fines during Stannage's 20-year career on the station, formerly Piccadilly Radio. One outburst cost £15,000 and in 2001, Stannage came under fire for describing First World War soldiers as "thick and ignorant" and he was questioned by police in the same year over allegations that he made a racist remark on his show. In May 2004, he got into trouble because of his jokes in the aftermath of the death of Chinese cockle pickers
in Morecambe Bay
.
As the station is based online, it is not subject to the same regulations as conventional radio stations, allowing the likes of Stannage to voice their outspoken opinions. The station launched on Sunday 9 September 2007 at 9.00pm. According to the site's own figures, over 150,000 people viewed the site pre-launch.
's album Jasper Carrott Live at Drury Lane features a routine about James Stannage.
) while his younger son Dominic Stannage is a member of Manchester rock band "Hiatus". Both Darren and Dominic work full time for NK Theatre Arts at the Forum Theatre in Stockport
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
late night talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
radio host. He is best known for presenting The Late Night James Stannage Talk Show on Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
's Key 103
Key 103
Key 103 is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to the city of Manchester and the north west of England. Its output is principally contemporary pop and dance music. Formerly owned by Trans World Communications, EMAP and now by Bauer Radio, Key 103 is part of Bauer's Place Network of...
. He was dismissed from Key 103 in June 2005 after numerous warnings and a history of run-ins with regulator OFCOM
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
.
Early life
James Stannage originally started out as an amateur actor and secondary school teacher and spent a few years in San Francisco studying drama.Radio career
He first worked for Piccadilly Radio in the mid-1970s, presenting his own late-night phone-in show. Occasional guests on the show were Mike HardingMike Harding
Mike Harding is an English singer, songwriter, comedian, author, poet and broadcaster. He is known as 'The Rochdale Cowboy' after one of his hit records...
and Jasper Carrott
Jasper Carrott
Jasper Carrott OBE is a British comedian, actor, television presenter and personality.-Early life:...
. He was renowned for his abrasive and aggressive style even then, so much so that the Bishop of Salford
Bishop of Salford
The Bishop of Salford is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford in the Province of Liverpool, England.With the gradual abolition of the legal restrictions on the activities of Catholics in England and Wales in the early 19th century, Rome decided to proceed to bridge the gap of the...
publicly condemned him as a bad influence.
After leaving Piccadilly Radio, he went on to work for other local radio stations such as TFM Radio
TFM Radio
TFM Radio is a Thornaby-on-Tees based Independent Local Radio station. Launched in June 1975 as Radio Tees, with the callsign "You've got a friend on 257" it was the first independent local radio station serving the area of the Tees Valley with parts of North Yorkshire and County Durham...
during the 1980s before returning to Piccadilly 1152
Piccadilly Magic 1152
NB Piccadilly Radio re-directs here. See also Key 103Piccadilly Magic 1152 , began broadcasting as Piccadilly Radio, which was Manchester's first commercial radio station.-Early years:...
in 1989. In the early days of his second stint at Piccadilly, his style was mellower than it had been before, but as time wore on became increasingly aggressive again and insulting comments to callers were stoked up as well.
The James Stannage Show
His show was in the format of a phone-in where callers could discuss anything they wanted, from sport, religion, current affairs or politics. Stannage would often argue his case severely (which were usually anti-politics and anti-religion) if he disagreed with callers.Stannage was a well known fellow around Manchester as a result of his Key 103
Key 103
Key 103 is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to the city of Manchester and the north west of England. Its output is principally contemporary pop and dance music. Formerly owned by Trans World Communications, EMAP and now by Bauer Radio, Key 103 is part of Bauer's Place Network of...
talk show. In many surveys, Stannage came out as the number one Manchester DJ.
Rivals
Throughout his career, James Stannage made many friends, but just as many enemies. One such was Radio CityRadio City 96.7
Radio City 96.7 is a British Independent Local Radio station, based in Liverpool, that serves Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales...
talk show presenter, Pete Price. Infrequently, each would "slag" the other off on their respective shows. Upon Stannage's sacking, Pete posted on his forum a topic entitled "James Stannage Sacked"
Fines
On 24 November 2005, EmapEMAP
Emap Limited is a British media company, specialising in the production of business-to-business magazines, and the organisation of business events and conferences...
Radio Group, owners of Key 103
Key 103
Key 103 is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to the city of Manchester and the north west of England. Its output is principally contemporary pop and dance music. Formerly owned by Trans World Communications, EMAP and now by Bauer Radio, Key 103 is part of Bauer's Place Network of...
received a fine of £125,000 (then a record for UK radio) after reading out comments and jokes submitted by a listener about the death of Ken Bigley (just two days after his death was confirmed) in October and November 2004.
Key 103
Key 103
Key 103 is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to the city of Manchester and the north west of England. Its output is principally contemporary pop and dance music. Formerly owned by Trans World Communications, EMAP and now by Bauer Radio, Key 103 is part of Bauer's Place Network of...
received several fines during Stannage's 20-year career on the station, formerly Piccadilly Radio. One outburst cost £15,000 and in 2001, Stannage came under fire for describing First World War soldiers as "thick and ignorant" and he was questioned by police in the same year over allegations that he made a racist remark on his show. In May 2004, he got into trouble because of his jokes in the aftermath of the death of Chinese cockle pickers
2004 Morecambe Bay cockling disaster
The Morecambe Bay cockling disaster occurred on the evening of 5 February 2004 at Morecambe Bay in North West England, when at least 21 cockle pickers were drowned by an incoming tide off the Lancashire/Cumbrian coast....
in Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay is a large bay in northwest England, nearly due east of the Isle of Man and just to the south of the Lake District National Park. It is the largest expanse of intertidal mudflats and sand in the United Kingdom, covering a total area of 310 km².-Natural features:The rivers Leven,...
.
Manchester Radio Online
James Stannage is currently one of the presenters on the Manchester online radio station, simply titled 'ManchesterRadioOnline.Com', alongside Dave Foran (Dairy Lee Dave) Sean Holland and Jay Smith (New Music First), Dan Shaw, Matty Shaw and Paul (Ripman) Ripley - and is occasionally joined in the studio by one of the station's producers, Tony Filer (aka 'Wrestler').As the station is based online, it is not subject to the same regulations as conventional radio stations, allowing the likes of Stannage to voice their outspoken opinions. The station launched on Sunday 9 September 2007 at 9.00pm. According to the site's own figures, over 150,000 people viewed the site pre-launch.
Miscellaneous
Comedian Jasper CarrottJasper Carrott
Jasper Carrott OBE is a British comedian, actor, television presenter and personality.-Early life:...
's album Jasper Carrott Live at Drury Lane features a routine about James Stannage.
Family
James has two grown up sons, and two young grandchildren. His elder son Darren Stannage is a sports journalist (currently working for Sky News RadioSky News Radio
Sky News Radio is the radio arm of the Sky News division of British Sky Broadcasting. It has been operating since June 1999, providing a news bulletin service for UK commercial radio stations operators across the UK and for a number of English-speaking radio stations across the world.The Sky News...
) while his younger son Dominic Stannage is a member of Manchester rock band "Hiatus". Both Darren and Dominic work full time for NK Theatre Arts at the Forum Theatre in Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
.