Nick Abbot
Encyclopedia
Nick Abbot is a British radio presenter, who has presented on numarious radio station in the uk for past 20 years.
, Edinburgh
and Brunel University
in Uxbridge
where he gained a degree in psychology. Abbot's career began as a Virgin Megastore
DJ. Beforehand however, Abbot presented student radio at Brunel University
's radio station, known as Radio Brunel.
In early 1987, he joined Radio Luxembourg
to present an overnight talk show. The show later became a phone in
, and eventually a 'straight to air' format was settled upon, where calls would be taken unscreened. This format quickly became a hit with listeners. At the time, the absence of the delay system to supposedly 'dump' bad language resulted in callers saying swear words just before they were cut off. It is believed that Abbot was one of the first (if not the first) to take calls straight to air, and LBC colleague Iain Lee
has often confessed that he stole some of his act from Nick (as well as Clive Bull
and Tommy Boyd
), perhaps hinting he got the inspiration for his "Triple M" show from Nick Abbot in addition to Boyd's "Human Zoo" show.
Later in October 1988, Abbot launched the new BBC
service for London BBC GLR. He presented the breakfast show for a year, however his contract was not renewed. He then returned to VMR, where he stayed until 1993.
Following a negative newspaper review by the writer Robin Katz, Abbot's outbursts on air eventually led to censure from the Broadcasting Complaints Commission and the Radio Authority
. Nick also called phone-in shows on other radio stations, speaking to the phone operators, and commenting on the usually elderly callers while listening to the programmes while on hold. Usually he failed to make it on air, but occasionally he did, including a memorable call to the Scottie McClue
show. In June 1994 Abbot was then moved to the Weekday 7-10pm Evening show where he had to tone down his act, mainly taking music requests.
Then in January 1995, Abbot moved back to the weekday late night show, this time from 11 pm :– 2 am, where he remained until April the same year, where he was moved to the Drivetime show from 4–7 pm. He was eventually given the boot from the station in September that year, leaving Virgin Radio
with a fine of £5,000 for a sexual reference about a fellow DJ and a further £20,000 for allowing a caller to graphically describe a sexual practice.
. He was then moved to Saturday evenings from 7.30–10 pm.
, which was now extended to 6 days a week and went out from 1-4 pm Sundays–Fridays.
's new management had re-hired Abbot to cover various shows on the station. He also took over the evening show for 6 weeks during the summer of 1997 as well as being used as holiday cover. In early 1998, Abbot took over the weekday afternoon show on Virgin Radio
from 1-4 pm, whilst still continuing with his Saturday evening show on Talk Radio. In May 1998 as well as his daily show on Virgin Radio
, Abbot took over the weekday evening show on Talk Radio UK from 7–9 pm, which meant he presented two shows a day.
Between March and September 1999, local London station LBC
hired both Abbot & McGiffin
for a Saturday evening phone-in show, similar in format to the duo's earlier Talk Radio stint. During this time, Abbot continued working for Virgin Radio
as a DJ. Throughout the summer of 2000, Abbot presented a Sunday morning phone in show on Virgin, while continuing to host the daily afternoon show. Later in the year, he moved to the drive time slot until leaving Virgin once again in May 2001. He also acted as holiday cover for Chris Evans
to host their late night phone in show for a week as holiday cover for regular presenter Adrian Allen
. October 2001 saw the beginning of a five-day stint at Manchester's Key 103
, during which he presented the 10pm-2am slot.
In January 2002, Abbot moved to Real Radio (Scotland)
where he again presented the late night phone in. Later in 2002, his show was networked across all three Real Radio
stations (Scotland, Wales & Yorkshire
).
Abbot presented his last Real Radio show on Thursday, 19 December 2002, subsequently deciding to take a break from radio for what was to be a number of years.
, presenting the Saturday morning show. Since then he has stood in for various presenters, including weekend breakfast, and has also been heard covering shows on digital station Planet Rock
, which became a regular gig from 17 December 2005 onwards, presenting on Saturdays and Sundays from 2–6 pm.
In addition to that, in 2006, Abbot returned to the FM airwaves on a brief stint sitting in for Caroline Feraday
's weekend show (10 pm– 1 am, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights) on LBC 97.3
, from 10–19 February. However, he lost his voice during his second February show, cutting the show short and being replaced by a recording of his friend and former Virgin and Talk colleague/sparring partner Wendy Lloyd. He was also unable to present the following evening's show, but returned on 17 February for the final three shows of his reappearance.
Abbot then took over a regular weekly slot on the station every Saturday night from 10pm-1am.
Abbot's show has a clear unique style amongst other LBC presenters. It becomes normal for an amusing summary of the week's news at the start of the show during his opening jingle, "Boogie Woogie" by Liberace
, replacing the theme tune he had previously used - "The Beautiful People" by Marilyn Manson
. Throughout the show, Nick plays various amusing sound clips including amusing quotes from films such as The Terminator
, and clips from his former co-presenter Carol McGiffin
.
In late 2007, Abbot took over LBC
's Weekday evening show from 7-10pm whilst still continuing with the Planet Rock
weekend show, which ended in September 2008.
He has published a book, which is available as a digital download from the Amazon UK Kindle store. See http://www.amazon.co.uk/2010-wrapped-like-mmmm-chips/dp/B004FPZ6DM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1292911672&sr=8-1
History
Nick Abbot was born 22 August 1960, and was educated at George Heriot's SchoolGeorge Heriot's School
George Heriot's School is an independent primary and secondary school on Lauriston Place in the Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, with around 1600 pupils, 155 teaching staff and 80 non-teaching staff. It was established in 1628 as George Heriot's Hospital, by bequest of the royal goldsmith George...
, Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and Brunel University
Brunel University
Brunel University is a public research university located in Uxbridge, London, United Kingdom. The university is named after the Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel....
in Uxbridge
Uxbridge
Uxbridge is a large town located in north west London, England and is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon. It forms part of the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is located west-northwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres...
where he gained a degree in psychology. Abbot's career began as a Virgin Megastore
Virgin Megastore
Virgin Megastores is an international chain of record shops, founded by Sir Richard Branson on London's Oxford Street in early 1971. Virgin Megastores are best described today as entertainment retailers....
DJ. Beforehand however, Abbot presented student radio at Brunel University
Brunel University
Brunel University is a public research university located in Uxbridge, London, United Kingdom. The university is named after the Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel....
's radio station, known as Radio Brunel.
In early 1987, he joined Radio Luxembourg
Radio Luxembourg (English)
Radio Luxembourg is a commercial broadcaster in many languages from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is nowadays known in most non-English languages as RTL ....
to present an overnight talk show. The show later became a phone in
Phone in
In broadcasting, a phone-in or call-in is a programme format in which viewers or listeners are invited to air their live comments by telephone, usually in respect of a specific topic selected for discussion on the day of the broadcast. On radio , it is common for an entire programme to be dedicated...
, and eventually a 'straight to air' format was settled upon, where calls would be taken unscreened. This format quickly became a hit with listeners. At the time, the absence of the delay system to supposedly 'dump' bad language resulted in callers saying swear words just before they were cut off. It is believed that Abbot was one of the first (if not the first) to take calls straight to air, and LBC colleague Iain Lee
Iain Lee
Iain Lee is a British comedian, and a television and radio presenter. His career began when he performed stand-up comedy gigs across venues in London. He subsequently became co-presenter of the comedy current affairs show The 11 O'Clock Show on Channel 4 and RI:SE...
has often confessed that he stole some of his act from Nick (as well as Clive Bull
Clive Bull
Bull Clive is an award-winning radio talk show host, best known for presenting a late-night show on LBC 97.3 in London, England.-Background:...
and Tommy Boyd
Tommy Boyd
Timothy Leslie Boyd , better known as Tommy Boyd, is a British radio and television presenter who now lives in Chichester, West Sussex.-Early career:...
), perhaps hinting he got the inspiration for his "Triple M" show from Nick Abbot in addition to Boyd's "Human Zoo" show.
Later in October 1988, Abbot launched the new BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
service for London BBC GLR. He presented the breakfast show for a year, however his contract was not renewed. He then returned to VMR, where he stayed until 1993.
Virgin Radio
Abbot was part of the original line-up on Virgin Radio in April 1993. Here he presented the weekday late night phone in show Sundays-Thursdays from 10 pm – 2 am. The programme was a mixture of music and phone-ins. However, as Abbot is a presenter who is not afraid to speak his mind, he often voiced his opinions about other stations and presenters and it was this that eventually led him in to trouble.Following a negative newspaper review by the writer Robin Katz, Abbot's outbursts on air eventually led to censure from the Broadcasting Complaints Commission and the Radio Authority
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...
. Nick also called phone-in shows on other radio stations, speaking to the phone operators, and commenting on the usually elderly callers while listening to the programmes while on hold. Usually he failed to make it on air, but occasionally he did, including a memorable call to the Scottie McClue
Scottie McClue
Scottie McClue is the on-air pseudonym of media consultant, actor, writer and broadcaster Colin Lamont, whoin 1992 as Senior producer and presenter at Red Rose Gold in Preston, created the persona for the Scottie McClue Mega Phone-In, networked on various Independent Local Radio stations across the...
show. In June 1994 Abbot was then moved to the Weekday 7-10pm Evening show where he had to tone down his act, mainly taking music requests.
Then in January 1995, Abbot moved back to the weekday late night show, this time from 11 pm :– 2 am, where he remained until April the same year, where he was moved to the Drivetime show from 4–7 pm. He was eventually given the boot from the station in September that year, leaving Virgin Radio
Virgin Radio
Absolute Radio is one of the UK's three Independent National Radio stations. The station rebranded to its current name at 7.45am on 29 September 2008.The station is based in London and plays popular rock music...
with a fine of £5,000 for a sexual reference about a fellow DJ and a further £20,000 for allowing a caller to graphically describe a sexual practice.
Talk Radio
In the summer of 1996, Abbot was heard on Talk Radio UK acting as holiday cover. He was eventually offered a regular show during the summer of 1997 on Saturday afternoons, alongside Carol McGiffinCarol McGiffin
Carol Deirdre McGiffin is an English broadcaster of radio and television, best known for her regular appearances on daytime talk show Loose Women. She married Chris Evans in 1991; the couple separated in 1994 and divorced in 1998....
. He was then moved to Saturday evenings from 7.30–10 pm.
Black Thursday
Thursday 12 November was known as Black Thursday as Talk Radio UK had been taken over by new management and many presenters and staff were being fired left right and centre. Abbot was one of the many casualties. He still continued with his weekday show on Virgin RadioVirgin Radio
Absolute Radio is one of the UK's three Independent National Radio stations. The station rebranded to its current name at 7.45am on 29 September 2008.The station is based in London and plays popular rock music...
, which was now extended to 6 days a week and went out from 1-4 pm Sundays–Fridays.
Return to Virgin
It was also during this period that Virgin RadioVirgin Radio
Absolute Radio is one of the UK's three Independent National Radio stations. The station rebranded to its current name at 7.45am on 29 September 2008.The station is based in London and plays popular rock music...
's new management had re-hired Abbot to cover various shows on the station. He also took over the evening show for 6 weeks during the summer of 1997 as well as being used as holiday cover. In early 1998, Abbot took over the weekday afternoon show on Virgin Radio
Virgin Radio
Absolute Radio is one of the UK's three Independent National Radio stations. The station rebranded to its current name at 7.45am on 29 September 2008.The station is based in London and plays popular rock music...
from 1-4 pm, whilst still continuing with his Saturday evening show on Talk Radio. In May 1998 as well as his daily show on Virgin Radio
Virgin Radio
Absolute Radio is one of the UK's three Independent National Radio stations. The station rebranded to its current name at 7.45am on 29 September 2008.The station is based in London and plays popular rock music...
, Abbot took over the weekday evening show on Talk Radio UK from 7–9 pm, which meant he presented two shows a day.
Between March and September 1999, local London station LBC
LBC
LBC Radio operates two London-based radio stations, with news and talk formats. LBC was Britain's first legal commercial Independent Local Radio station, providing a service of news and information to London. It began broadcasting on 8 October 1973, a week ahead of Capital Radio...
hired both Abbot & McGiffin
Carol McGiffin
Carol Deirdre McGiffin is an English broadcaster of radio and television, best known for her regular appearances on daytime talk show Loose Women. She married Chris Evans in 1991; the couple separated in 1994 and divorced in 1998....
for a Saturday evening phone-in show, similar in format to the duo's earlier Talk Radio stint. During this time, Abbot continued working for Virgin Radio
Virgin Radio
Absolute Radio is one of the UK's three Independent National Radio stations. The station rebranded to its current name at 7.45am on 29 September 2008.The station is based in London and plays popular rock music...
as a DJ. Throughout the summer of 2000, Abbot presented a Sunday morning phone in show on Virgin, while continuing to host the daily afternoon show. Later in the year, he moved to the drive time slot until leaving Virgin once again in May 2001. He also acted as holiday cover for Chris Evans
Chris Evans
Christopher James "Chris" Evans is an English broadcaster, businessman and producer for radio & television.-Early life:Evans was born in 1966, in Warrington, Cheshire, England, the youngest child of bookmaker...
Real Radio
Two months later, he joined Real Radio (Wales)Real Radio (Wales)
Real Radio Wales is a Regional Radio station owned and operated by GMG Radio and forming part of the Real Radio network. The station broadcasts from studios at Morganstown in Cardiff on various FM frequencies, DAB via the MXR Severn Estuary multiplex and across the UK on digital satellite TV...
to host their late night phone in show for a week as holiday cover for regular presenter Adrian Allen
Adrian Allen
Adrian Allen is a radio presenter, who is well-known for his previous work at talk based radio station LBC 97.3. He was born in Sunderland on 27 January 1962 in the North-East region of England and has broadcast on various stations in Great Britain, including LBC, Century 106 and Real...
. October 2001 saw the beginning of a five-day stint at Manchester'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...
, during which he presented the 10pm-2am slot.
In January 2002, Abbot moved to Real Radio (Scotland)
Real Radio (Scotland)
Real Radio Scotland is an Independent Local Radio station in Central and Southern Scotland, owned and operated by GMG Radio. The station broadcasts from studios at Ballieston in the east end of the Glasgow on 100.3 & 101.1FM and on DAB.- Background :...
where he again presented the late night phone in. Later in 2002, his show was networked across all three Real Radio
Real Radio
Real Radio is a network of adult contemporary independent local radio stations in England, Scotland and Wales and is operated by . Each station broadcasts local breakfast through to drive time shows and network programming in the evening and through the night...
stations (Scotland, Wales & Yorkshire
Real Radio (Yorkshire)
Real Radio Yorkshire is an independent local radio station that broadcasts across South and West Yorkshire. It is the third regional radio station within the Real Radio brand...
).
Abbot presented his last Real Radio show on Thursday, 19 December 2002, subsequently deciding to take a break from radio for what was to be a number of years.
The return to the radio
On Saturday, 3 September 2005 Abbot was heard on London's 102.2 Smooth FM102.2 Smooth FM
102.2 Smooth FM was an Independent Local Radio station for Greater London. It replaced 102.2 Jazz FM on the 7 June 2005 at 10am, with the help of R&B singer Lemar and the then breakfast show host Jon Scragg...
, presenting the Saturday morning show. Since then he has stood in for various presenters, including weekend breakfast, and has also been heard covering shows on digital station Planet Rock
Planet Rock
Planet Rock may refer to:* "Planet Rock" , a 1982 song by Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force* Planet Rock: The Album, a 1986 album containing the song...
, which became a regular gig from 17 December 2005 onwards, presenting on Saturdays and Sundays from 2–6 pm.
In addition to that, in 2006, Abbot returned to the FM airwaves on a brief stint sitting in for Caroline Feraday
Caroline Feraday
Radio Broadcasting =She joined Capital FM at the age of 18, after studying journalism and earlier stints at BBC Radio Kent and Invicta FM, spent five years as the station's Flying Eye travel reporter on Foxy's Drivetime and Tarrant at Breakfast, and presented Capital's London Chart show. In 2001...
's weekend show (10 pm– 1 am, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights) on LBC 97.3
LBC 97.3
LBC 97.3 is a London-based talk and phone-in radio station. It is one half of the latest incarnation of LBC, the news and speech service which was Britain's first commercial radio station when it went on air in October 1973...
, from 10–19 February. However, he lost his voice during his second February show, cutting the show short and being replaced by a recording of his friend and former Virgin and Talk colleague/sparring partner Wendy Lloyd. He was also unable to present the following evening's show, but returned on 17 February for the final three shows of his reappearance.
Abbot then took over a regular weekly slot on the station every Saturday night from 10pm-1am.
Abbot's show has a clear unique style amongst other LBC presenters. It becomes normal for an amusing summary of the week's news at the start of the show during his opening jingle, "Boogie Woogie" by Liberace
Liberace
Wladziu Valentino Liberace , best known simply as Liberace, was a famous American pianist and vocalist.In a career that spanned four decades of concerts, recordings, motion pictures, television and endorsements, Liberace became world-renowned...
, replacing the theme tune he had previously used - "The Beautiful People" by Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson
Marilyn Manson may refer to:* Marilyn Manson , an American rock musician* Marilyn Manson , the American rock band led by the singer of the same name...
. Throughout the show, Nick plays various amusing sound clips including amusing quotes from films such as The Terminator
The Terminator
The Terminator is a 1984 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron, co-written by Cameron and William Wisher Jr., and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, and Linda Hamilton. The film was produced by Hemdale Film Corporation and distributed by Orion Pictures, and filmed in Los...
, and clips from his former co-presenter Carol McGiffin
Carol McGiffin
Carol Deirdre McGiffin is an English broadcaster of radio and television, best known for her regular appearances on daytime talk show Loose Women. She married Chris Evans in 1991; the couple separated in 1994 and divorced in 1998....
.
In late 2007, Abbot took over LBC
LBC
LBC Radio operates two London-based radio stations, with news and talk formats. LBC was Britain's first legal commercial Independent Local Radio station, providing a service of news and information to London. It began broadcasting on 8 October 1973, a week ahead of Capital Radio...
's Weekday evening show from 7-10pm whilst still continuing with the Planet Rock
Planet Rock
Planet Rock may refer to:* "Planet Rock" , a 1982 song by Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force* Planet Rock: The Album, a 1986 album containing the song...
weekend show, which ended in September 2008.
Current work
After more than a year presenting the weekday evening show, Abbot returned to the Saturday night slot on LBC in March 2009.He has published a book, which is available as a digital download from the Amazon UK Kindle store. See http://www.amazon.co.uk/2010-wrapped-like-mmmm-chips/dp/B004FPZ6DM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1292911672&sr=8-1
Memorable quotes
- The masses are asses
- The World Wide Wait - When referring to the Internet
- You can't say happiness without saying 'penis'
- It's got an Intel (bing-bong-bing-bong) Inside - "You have to make that sound every time you say Intel (bing-bong-bing-bong) - it's the law!"
- DVDVD - (Instead of DVD)
- It gets tiring being so right about everything all the time
- What a nice lady!
- Oh no, we seem to have run out of time on that call (When caller starts to sing and plays 3 second countdown)
- If this gets any bigger I am going to hang my shirt on it and put it out the window.
- YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, you tube - It's a round sponge, covered in chocolate, with a smashing orangey bit in the middle! (Referring to Jaffa Cakes)
- Woodwork squeaks - out come the freaks.
- You can take all the time you need, this is a live show
- Minding my own affairs!
- "The war on drugs" - how's that going?
- Mmmmmmmm sooooo yummy!
- Have the lights just come back on? or was I in a trance during that last call?
- As I said! The whole world's gone crazy!!
- Civilisation has peaked its downhill all the way now ! A hundred years time and the lethargic and stupid would have wiped out the human race.
- There is no past/present/future, time is an illusion I blame the clock and the camera.
- Radio is like Gordon Brown.IE, twist the little knob too far and it gets all loud and distorted.
- I don't know. So I'll make it up.
External links
- NickAbbot.com - The Unofficial Nick Abbot Site
- LBC Plus - Nick Abbot's LBC Premium Podcasts (Requires subscription)