Steve Penk
Encyclopedia
Steve Penk is a British
radio
and TV presenter. He was born Stephen Penkethman on 28 September 1961, in Rusholme, Manchester and is renowned for his wind-up
calls. Penk has worked for various national and local radio stations. He started his radio career at Piccadilly Radio in 1978 (subsequently rebranded Key 103
He then went on to work at Capital Radio
presenting the mid-morning show, and moved to Virgin Radio
to originally present drivetime, but never did and presented the breakfast slot after the departure of Chris Evans. Steve increased the audience by 300,000 listeners in the first 3 months.
After a year presenting the late shift on Capital Radio
networked to a number of other stations, Penk returned to Manchester
's Key 103
, However, he left at the end of 2006. Penk returned to the airwaves on Fox FM
in Oxfordshire in March 2007 as its new breakfast show presenter. It was effectively a return to the station as his late show for Capital was simulcast on Fox. However, he announced on 15 January 2008 he would be leaving the station by March 2008 due to 'internal politics'. As of 22 February 2008, Steve Penk is no longer at Fox FM
due to "commuting difficulties".
He also presented TV Nightmares, The Way They Were and a few series of TV's Naughtiest Blunders
on ITV1
.
On Thursday 4 September 2008, it was announced that Steve Penk had bought the entire share capital in the radio station 96.2 The Revolution
where he hosts the breakfast show and has big plans to make more acquisitions throughout the UK. Almost immediately after the purchase, Penk made whole-scale changes both to the schedule and to the play list. The changes led to outrage from some listeners to the station and departure of some of the station's DJs. However, since changing the stations format Penk has increased the audience.
In January 2010, Steve Penk was condemned by mental health charities for playing Van Halen
's "Jump"
on 96.2 The Revolution
Breakfast Show at the request of a motorist stuck on the M60
due to a suicidal woman on a bridge. Shortly after, the woman jumped 30 ft from the bridge, but only received minor injuries.
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...
radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and TV presenter. He was born Stephen Penkethman on 28 September 1961, in Rusholme, Manchester and is renowned for his wind-up
Prank call
A prank call is a form of practical joke committed over the telephone. Prank phone calls began to gain an America-wide following over a period of many years, as they gradually became a staple of the obscure and amusing cassette tapes traded amongst musicians, sound engineers, and media traders...
calls. Penk has worked for various national and local radio stations. He started his radio career at Piccadilly Radio in 1978 (subsequently rebranded 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 then went on to work at 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 :...
presenting the mid-morning show, and moved to 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...
to originally present drivetime, but never did and presented the breakfast slot after the departure of Chris Evans. Steve increased the audience by 300,000 listeners in the first 3 months.
After a year presenting the late shift on 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 :...
networked to a number of other stations, Penk returned to 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...
, However, he left at the end of 2006. Penk returned to the airwaves on Fox FM
Fox FM (United Kingdom)
Heart Oxfordshire was a local radio station broadcasting to Oxfordshire on 102.6 MHz FM from the Oxford transmitting station and 97.4 MHz FM from a relay station at Farthinghoe, near Banbury....
in Oxfordshire in March 2007 as its new breakfast show presenter. It was effectively a return to the station as his late show for Capital was simulcast on Fox. However, he announced on 15 January 2008 he would be leaving the station by March 2008 due to 'internal politics'. As of 22 February 2008, Steve Penk is no longer at Fox FM
Fox FM (United Kingdom)
Heart Oxfordshire was a local radio station broadcasting to Oxfordshire on 102.6 MHz FM from the Oxford transmitting station and 97.4 MHz FM from a relay station at Farthinghoe, near Banbury....
due to "commuting difficulties".
He also presented TV Nightmares, The Way They Were and a few series of TV's Naughtiest Blunders
TV's Naughtiest Blunders
TV's Naughtiest Blunders was an out-takes show, that ran from 2000 till 2005. It was shown on ITV and produced by Carlton Television. The show was narrated by Neil Morrissey and features edited out clips and mistakes made by people on TV...
on ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
.
On Thursday 4 September 2008, it was announced that Steve Penk had bought the entire share capital in the radio station 96.2 The Revolution
The Revolution (radio station)
The Revolution is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to the areas of Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside in Greater Manchester, England.-History:...
where he hosts the breakfast show and has big plans to make more acquisitions throughout the UK. Almost immediately after the purchase, Penk made whole-scale changes both to the schedule and to the play list. The changes led to outrage from some listeners to the station and departure of some of the station's DJs. However, since changing the stations format Penk has increased the audience.
In January 2010, Steve Penk was condemned by mental health charities for playing Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
's "Jump"
Jump (Van Halen song)
"Jump" is a song by the American rock group Van Halen. It is the only single the group released in their career to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It was released in 1984 as the second track on the album 1984...
on 96.2 The Revolution
The Revolution (radio station)
The Revolution is an Independent Local Radio station broadcasting to the areas of Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside in Greater Manchester, England.-History:...
Breakfast Show at the request of a motorist stuck on the M60
M60 motorway
The M60 motorway, or Manchester Orbital, is an orbital motorway circling Greater Manchester, a metropolitan county in North West England. It passes through all Greater Manchester's metropolitan boroughs except for Wigan and Bolton...
due to a suicidal woman on a bridge. Shortly after, the woman jumped 30 ft from the bridge, but only received minor injuries.
Television appearances
- Steve Penk's TV Nightmares
- Would I Lie To You?Would I Lie To You? (TV series)Would I Lie to You? is a comedy panel game made by Zeppotron for BBC One. It was first broadcast on 16 June 2007.-Format:The show was presented by Angus Deayton in 2007 and 2008, and by Rob Brydon from 2009 onwards...
(Pilot) - Russian RouletteRussian Roulette (game show)Russian Roulette is an American game show created by executive producer Gunnar Wetterberg that ran for two seasons on Game Show Network from June 3, 2002 to June 13, 2003. It was hosted by Mark L. Walberg, with Burton Richardson announcing. Todd Newton hosted an April Fool's Day episode in 2003....
- Blankety BlankBlankety BlankBlankety Blank is a British comedy game show based on the 1977–1978 Australian game show Blankety Blanks ....
- The Way They Were: Coronation Street Special
- TV's Naughtiest BlundersTV's Naughtiest BlundersTV's Naughtiest Blunders was an out-takes show, that ran from 2000 till 2005. It was shown on ITV and produced by Carlton Television. The show was narrated by Neil Morrissey and features edited out clips and mistakes made by people on TV...