BBC Essex

**BBC Essex** is British local public radio station owned by British Broadcasting Corporation. The station broadcasts talk shows, local news and music programmings.

## History

**BBC Essex** launched on 5 November 1986. It broke from the naming convention of **BBC Radio (county name)** so as to avoid confusion with Essex Radio (later Essex FM, now Heart Essex). There had also been a pirate station called Radio Essex in the 1960s, and currently there is an independent radio station called Radio Essex.

**BBC Essex** set out to be different from existing BBC local stations, which were often perceived as rather "stuffy" and "worthy". It launched with a more up-beat sound, an almost "tabloid" news style and younger presenters than most stations; **BBC Essex** symbol also did not feature the traditional BBC logo. However, over the years the style has been toned down and the format is now more in line with the rest of the BBC local radio network.

The station has also employed a number of high-profile presenters including James Whale, Jonathan Overend (BBC Radio 5 Live), Tim 'Timbo' Lloyd (twice winner of Best Local DJ at the Sony Radio Awards), Mark Pougatch (***ITV Sport***), Dermot O'Leary (National radio & TV presenter) and music promoter Eric 'Monster' Hall.

According to RAJAR, as of July 2014 the station has a listenership figure of 228,000 which equates to 18% of the audience reach.

A revised programme schedule at the station occurred in September 2015 following the appointment of Lou Birt as Managing Editor in April 2015, following the departure of predecessor Gerald Main, who held the role from 2007 until February 2015.

## Programmings

The majority of the station's programming is produced and broadcast from their Chelmsford studios. During off-peak hours, **BBC Essex** also carries regional programming for the East, produced from sister stations BBC Radio Norfolk, BBC Radio Suffolk, BBC Radio Cambridgeshire and BBC Radio Northampton. As with all BBC Local Radio stations, it also airs the networked weekday evening shows, originating from BBC Radio Leeds and produced independently by Wire Free Productions. During the station's downtime, **BBC Essex** simulcasts BBC Radio 5 Live overnight.

## External links

* Official website

* National stations
* Regional stations
* Local stations

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