Presenter

Tim Disney

OFF AIR THIS WEEK

About

More from Tim Disney

Best known as the morning show presenter at Trent FM in Nottingham during the nineties. Tim has worked all over the UK and been heard across the East Midlands on Gem 106 and the West Midlands on Free Radio. He's also appeared on Trax FM, Gold and Chiltern FM, and was launch programme manager for Juice 107.6 in Brighton. More recently he's been working in television as an archive producer at ITV. Tim's family roots go a long way back in Lincolnshire, originally from Normandy, the Disney family's local home was Norton Disney.

On air

Not on this station this week

Full schedule

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Behind the Voice

Get to know Tim

A short Q&A, straight from Tim, in their own words.

The show

How would you describe your show in one sentence?: Early, but cheerful.
What makes your show, your show?: I don't take any of it seriously. If I've played some good songs that have jogged a memory or two or made you smile with something I've said, that'll do for me.
Favourite features or games to do on air?: TV Twist is fun each morning at 8.20. It's infuriating when you think you know the TV theme tune or the voice, but can't quite pin it down.
What kind of listener will love your show?: Someone who wants good company as much as good content. If they like warmth, energy, music, and a presenter who doesn't take themselves too seriously, they'll feel at home.

Their journey

How did you first get into radio?: I realised I would regret not trying to get into radio and set about doing everything in my power to make it happen. It was a journey of ups and downs, but I eventually succeeded. Radio has been good to me over the last forty years. Forty years! Where does the time go?
What's been your path to where you are now?: I tried various routes. Some were pointless, such as being a DJ at a local venue, but ironically, it led me into meeting someone who'd been a roadie for my local radio station. When I left the venue, I kept hassling the radio station to hire me as a roadie. That gave me a foot in the door and I got to know the presenters and staff at the station. While I was doing that, I was also presenting on my local hospital radio station for experience. I submitted my demo tape to the programme controller and because they knew me and I proved I had the potential, they gave me a one-off show to try me out. That went well and I've been working in radio and TV ever since. There weren't many opportunities. There were nowhere near as many radio stations back then as there are today. To say it was competitive would be an understatement.
Did you always want to be on air?: Yes, but for me it was always about the music, not recognition. I discovered many songs that have become lifelong friends through listening to the radio and I wanted to be able to share my favourites with others. Radio was really the only way to do that when I was growing up, unlike today where we're all globally interconnected by a smartphone in our pockets.
Best moment on air so far?: I'm not sure about best moment, but my strangest moment was with an American singer/songwriter who spent most of our time together in the studio rubbing my leg with her foot. She gave me a very nice kiss at the end of it. I'm still not sure if I should have called the police or booked a room at the Holiday Inn.
Any interviews or moments you're especially proud of?: My very first interview at hospital radio with the comedy legend Norman Wisdom. To me and to many others, he was a REAL star. Listening back to it now, I can hear how generous he was and how easy he made it for a young and naive cub presenter.
Toughest moment in radio?: Firing someone. Radio is more fun in front of the microphone than it is from behind a manager's desk.

The listeners

What do you enjoy most about interacting with listeners?: Everyone's got a story to tell. Never judge someone by what they do or how they look. People never cease to amaze and fascinate me.
A message or moment from a listener that's stuck with you?: During the gulf war I was once accused by a listener of being a warmonger for playing Matthew & Son by Cat Stevens and another took umbrage with me saying Fat Larry's Band because they thought I said he was fat. People can be very odd, no matter what line of business you work in. Nowadays, they're busy bothering YouTubers.

Music & influences

Earliest memory of listening to radio?: I think I was lucky enough to catch the tail-end of the old-school radio listener experience. It sounds like a cliche, but I actually DID have a small transistor radio (a Pye Poppet) and as a kid, I'd listen to it beneath the bed sheets at night. I'd listen to Rob Jones on Radio Luxembourg, lots of commercial radio too and when I was a teenager in the 80s, the fantastic offshore radio station Laser 558.
Biggest broadcasting influences?: There are lots, but I'll name a couple for you. Steve Wright, because that man showed me that he worked harder than you'll ever know to prepare those afternoon shows and Janice Long. She communicated her warmth and personality through the radio so effortlessly and came across as a genuinely good-natured soul.
One song you'll never get bored of?: Revolution by The Beatles. That crunchy lead-guitar part played by John on his Epiphone Casino sounds so good!
What kind of music do you love off air?: I collect vinyl, so I listen to a lot of music when I'm not on-air. I tend to listen to the type of music that I don't play on the radio. I'm particularly fond of the music of the sixties and often pick up rare singles. You really wouldn't want me to play that stuff on the radio. In general, I tend to listen to a mix of music across the 60s, 70s and 80s. That's why I love being a part of Magna Mix. We've got three incredible decades of music to choose from.
A track that always gets a reaction on your show?: I once played Twilight Cafe by Susan Fassbender on another radio station. I couldn't believe the reaction. Some people absolutely loved it while others hated it with a passion. I loved it, but that's the great thing about music. It unites and sometimes divides but there is always something for everyone.

Magna

What does being part of Magna Radio mean to you?: I love it. Great people to work with. Many of us have worked together at other radio stations before coming to Magna Mix.
What excites you most about what we're building here?: It looked as though local radio was going to die in Lincolnshire, but we're back and that's only been made possible by the enormously warm reception and support we've received from the people of this county, both listeners and local businesses that believe in us. That kind of loyalty and commitment is something special and priceless.

Quickfire

Tea or coffee?: Coffee I think, although tea has a cheeky charm if it's very strong and hot. The secret with tea is to never wash the cup. It keeps getting better!
Early start or late finish?: Early start every time. It's painful, but it's worth it. I'm a spent force by the early afternoon.
One word to describe your show: Epoch-making! (That's still technically one word and my intent is not completely serious.)
Guilty pleasure song?: Easy one! Holiday Rap by M.C Miker G and D.J Sven. The best part is some really embarrassing beatboxing from Miker G. It's so wrong that it's right.
Something people wouldn't expect about you: I once had a fight with a man whilst I was dressed as a tuna fish in Weston-super-Mare. I'm saving the details of that for my memoirs!
Hidden talents or unusual skills?: I can crouch without my heels leaving the floor. Apparently, this is weird, or so I've been told, but not to me or millions of people in Asia.

Looking ahead

What would you love to achieve on air?: To me, the magic of radio is that its reach is wide and yet it still feels intimate. That's what I'm always aiming for.
Where do you want to take your show next?: Out to dinner and then whisk it off for a weekend away in Cleethorpes.

Meet the rest of the team