Nino Firetto
Encyclopedia
Nino Firetto is a radio presenter, TV host and actor, currently based in Exeter
, England
.
to the Bristol music scene, before becoming a finalist in the 208 Radio Luxembourg "Celebrity DJ" competition. Firetto won a 30 minute guest slot on the radio station. Bitten by the radio bug, his broadcasting career started when he filled in at Radio 210 in Reading
and Radio Victory
in Portsmouth
. He was then signed to the English version of Radio Luxembourg
, before being chosen by Dave Cash
, the programme director of the new independent radio service for Bristol
, Radio West, to launch the service and host the breakfast show.
After a short period presenting the breakfast show, he moved to the weekends to present a Sony award–nominated children's show called Nino's Gang, a radio show that urged young listeners to sign up as free members to a musical gang that included 80's chart acts including Toyah
, Shakin' Stevens
, and Spandau Ballet
. In September 1984, Firetto began presenting the weekday evening Music Magazine.
After two years with Radio West, Firetto left in 1984 to pursue a very successful career in television, firstly on the Children's ITV flagship magazine programme Splash!. He also hosted the music strand on the Saturday morning children's show Get Fresh
. In 1987, Firetto was voted the Children's ITV Personality of the Year. He also became a top presenter on pan-European music channel Music Box
. He went on to present the British version of the dating game show Love me, love me not produced by TVS
for ITV; later, he presented a modern version of the seminal ITV
quiz show
Mr. and Mrs.
Other credits include hosting the weekly American football show for ITV called The American Match, showbiz correspondent for LNN's London Tonight
, and hosting the Malibu World Dance Championship strand on ITV's Summertime Special. Firetto became a regular guest on panel shows such as Give Us A Clue
, Whose Baby?, and What's My Line; but he retained his contact with radio, presenting breakfast on Galaxy 101 and on a national satellite service called "Night Tracks".
In 2000, Firetto became the morning host on Kestrel FM in Basingstoke
. Then, in February 2001, he moved to present the weekday drive programme for Wave 105
, the English regional station for the south coast. He remained there until June 2003.
In June 2007, he moved to the USA to work as weekend afternoon host and swing presenter for Adult Top 40 music station KLLC Alice 97.3
in San Francisco
.
Returning to the UK, Firetto now presents the breakfast show on Exeter FM
in Devon
.
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Biography
Nino Firetto shot to fame first as a DJ in the 1970s, then as a television personality in the 1980s. His career began in the night clubs of Bristol when he was just 15, introducing chart acts such as Tina Charles and Edwin StarrEdwin Starr
Edwin Starr was an American soul music singer. Starr is most famous for his Norman Whitfield produced singles of the 1970s, most notably the number one hit "War".-Biography:...
to the Bristol music scene, before becoming a finalist in the 208 Radio Luxembourg "Celebrity DJ" competition. Firetto won a 30 minute guest slot on the radio station. Bitten by the radio bug, his broadcasting career started when he filled in at Radio 210 in Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
and Radio Victory
Radio Victory
Radio Victory was the independent local radio station for Portsmouth in southern England. It was launched on 14 October 1975 and served south Hampshire, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight.-History:...
in Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
. He was then signed to the English version of 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 ....
, before being chosen by Dave Cash
Dave Cash
Dave Cash may refer to:* Dave Cash * Dave Cash * Dave Cash , Yiddish comedian- See also :* David Cash, birth name of American wrestler performing as "Kid Kash"...
, the programme director of the new independent radio service for Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, Radio West, to launch the service and host the breakfast show.
After a short period presenting the breakfast show, he moved to the weekends to present a Sony award–nominated children's show called Nino's Gang, a radio show that urged young listeners to sign up as free members to a musical gang that included 80's chart acts including Toyah
Toyah
Toyah may refer to:*Toyah Willcox, a singer, actress, and TV presenter, often referred to by her first name only*Toyah , the pop group fronted by Toyah Willcox between 1977 and 1983*Toyah, Texas, a town in Texas, USA...
, Shakin' Stevens
Shakin' Stevens
Shakin' Stevens, also known as "Shaky" is a platinum selling Welsh rock and roll singer and songwriter who holds the distinction of being the UK's biggest-selling singles artist of the 1980s . His recording and performing career began in the late 1960s, although it was not until 1980 that he saw...
, and Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet are a British band formed in London in the late 1970s. Initially inspired by, and an integral part of, the New Romantic fashion, their music has featured a mixture of funk, jazz, soul and synthpop. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s, achieving ten Top Ten singles...
. In September 1984, Firetto began presenting the weekday evening Music Magazine.
After two years with Radio West, Firetto left in 1984 to pursue a very successful career in television, firstly on the Children's ITV flagship magazine programme Splash!. He also hosted the music strand on the Saturday morning children's show Get Fresh
Get Fresh
Get Fresh was a children's television programme that ran from 1986 to 1988 in the United Kingdom.-Premise:Broadcast on the Children's ITV network, the show starred Gareth Jones , Charlotte Hindle, and a puppet named Gilbert the Alien...
. In 1987, Firetto was voted the Children's ITV Personality of the Year. He also became a top presenter on pan-European music channel Music Box
Music Box (TV)
Music Box Ltd. was a television production company that developed from a pioneering pan-European 24-hour cable and satellite channel that ran from March 1984 to 30 January 1987, originally one of three channels along with PREM1ERE and The Children's Channel, that formed Thorn EMI's venture into...
. He went on to present the British version of the dating game show Love me, love me not produced by TVS
Television South
Television South was the ITV franchise holder in the south and south east of England between 1 January 1982 and 31 December 1992. The company operated under various names, initially as Television South plc and then following reorganisation in 1989 as TVS Entertainment plc, with its UK...
for ITV; later, he presented a modern version of the seminal ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
quiz show
Quiz Show
Quiz Show is a 1994 American historical drama film produced and directed by Robert Redford. Adapted by Paul Attanasio from Richard Goodwin's memoir Remembering America, the film is based upon the Twenty One quiz show scandal of the 1950s...
Mr. and Mrs.
Mr. and Mrs.
Mr. & Mrs. is a television show that originated in Canada in 1963, debuting in Britain shortly afterwards. The Canadian version was produced at CFTO-TV in Toronto and ran on the CTV network for 780 episodes, and was hosted by Roy Ward Dickson, who was also the show's creator...
Other credits include hosting the weekly American football show for ITV called The American Match, showbiz correspondent for LNN's London Tonight
London Tonight
London Tonight is a regional news programme broadcast on ITV London . Produced by ITN, the programme is broadcast at 6pm every weeknight, also including local sports news and local features of interest.Like all regional news programmes on ITV in England and Wales and Channel Television, it uses...
, and hosting the Malibu World Dance Championship strand on ITV's Summertime Special. Firetto became a regular guest on panel shows such as Give Us A Clue
Give Us A Clue
Give Us a Clue is a British televised game show version of charades which was broadcast on ITV from 1979 to 1992. The original host was Michael Aspel from 1979 to 1983, followed by Michael Parkinson from 1984 to 1992. The show featured two teams, one captained by Lionel Blair and the other by Una...
, Whose Baby?, and What's My Line; but he retained his contact with radio, presenting breakfast on Galaxy 101 and on a national satellite service called "Night Tracks".
In 2000, Firetto became the morning host on Kestrel FM in Basingstoke
Basingstoke
Basingstoke is a town in northeast Hampshire, in south central England. It lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon. It is southwest of London, northeast of Southampton, southwest of Reading and northeast of the county town, Winchester. In 2008 it had an estimated population of...
. Then, in February 2001, he moved to present the weekday drive programme for Wave 105
Wave 105
Wave 105 is a UK regional commercial radio station broadcasting across Dorset, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and parts of West Sussex and Wiltshire. Playing a mix of adult contemporary music, it combines presenter-led shows with local news and information, entertainment guides and competitions. The...
, the English regional station for the south coast. He remained there until June 2003.
In June 2007, he moved to the USA to work as weekend afternoon host and swing presenter for Adult Top 40 music station KLLC Alice 97.3
KLLC
KLLC is a commercial radio station located in San Francisco, California, broadcasting to the San Francisco Bay Area. KLLC airs an Adult Top 40 music format same as KZZO in Sacramento and on 97.3 HD-2 is Chill With Alice, a Chill format channel...
in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
.
Returning to the UK, Firetto now presents the breakfast show on Exeter FM
Exeter FM
-About:Exeter FM is a locally focused radio station for Exeter and the surrounding area that is designed to appeal to a broad range of adult listeners, particularly those aged 35–54, with a full service of comprehensive news and local information, engaging speech features and conversation and a...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
.
Trivia
- During his time in Los Angeles, in 2005, Firetto lived with actors Charlie SheenCharlie SheenCarlos Irwin Estevez , better known by his stage name Charlie Sheen, is an American film and television actor. He is the youngest son of actor Martin Sheen....
and Denise RichardsDenise RichardsDenise Lee Richards is an American actress and former fashion model of Croatian and Welsh descent. She has appeared in films including Starship Troopers, Wild Things, and The World Is Not Enough...
, staying in their pool house. - Following an ongoing joke between Firetto and the editor of the Express & EchoExpress & EchoEstablished in 1904, the Express & Echo is a paid-for newspaper for Exeter and its surrounding area....
newspaper in Exeter, Firetto donned Speedo-style swimwearSwim briefsA swim brief, or racing brief, refers to any briefs style male swimsuit such as those worn in competitive swimming and diving. The popularity of the Australian Speedo brand racing brief has led to the use of its name to refer to any racing brief, regardless of the maker...
for his radio show to raise money for the charity Dream-A-Way.