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mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Mark is an experienced talk and music presenter in networked and local programmes for both commercial and BBC radio stations. His broadcasting CV includes fronting first ‘Drive’ (2002-2010) then ‘Breakfast’ (2010-2012) on Classic FM. In addition, he has worked on Virgin Radio, Heart London, BBC 5 live and, most recently, as host of BBC Radio York’s Breakfast Show, as well as freelance stints on national commercial station Smooth Radio and London’s Magic 105.4.

Andrew Robson, Head of BBC Local Radio Development, said: “Mark is a fantastically talented presenter with a great track record in both music and talk presentation. His warm style and sharp sense of humour should make weekday evenings on BBC Local Radio a great listen.”

The show will be known simply as ‘Mark Forrest’ and will be broadcast from the studio at BBC Radio Leeds. Wire Free Productions will produce the programme.

Speaking from his home in Swaledale in the Yorkshire Dales, Mark said: “This is a tremendous opportunity. Not only is this a brand new show which will be syndicated across all 39 BBC Local Radio stations in England and the Channel Islands, but it has simply never been done before. I’m hosting a programme which will take the very best stories from around the country and present them to a national audience. That is a challenge but a very exciting one – I can’t wait to get started.”

Husain Husaini from Wire Free Productions will be executive producer on the programme. He welcomed Mark’s appointment: "We are really looking forward to working with Mark, he is a very capable and versatile broadcaster who knows the local radio audience well which makes him perfect for this new show."

All BBC Local Radio stations will broadcast the ‘Mark Forrest’ programme, except in instances such as major breaking news stories or sport commentaries

BBC Media Centre..

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Mark has also been covering on Smooth and Magic recently.

ColinB · Guest

A regurgitated press release about someone who works in local radio about whom I've never heard and in whom I am not in the least bit interested. Nice one Mark!

Rolling Eyes

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

I'm not surprised he's back in local radio as he was dreadful during his period on Classic FM Sad

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mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Ian Robinson · Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 5:13 pm Post subject:

Wait a minute... so one bloke in Yorkshire is hosting a show that is to be broadcast at the same time across the whole of the UK? Not only is that not "simply never been done before" but it's a pretty poor definition of "Local" radio.

ColinB · Guest

The BBC is de-localising much its "local" radio output in England by introducing a kind of "Local Radio Engand" where selected local programming is networked in order to make best use of resources. That's what they're saying anyhow. Perhaps "BBC Unlocal Radio" will be its new branding.

There's a Facebook group whose aim is to raise public awareness of this silly plan:

http://www.facebook.com/bbcwesayno

You might be interested in this story, which announces that Matthew Bannister is to present the national "BBC Local" evening output. The new show will be syndicated across all 39 BBC local radio stations in England and the Channel Islands from Monday 7 January 2013, on weekdays between 7-10 pm. Yes - I know what you're thinking.... the whole thing is barking mad!

http://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/09/matthew-bannister-wins-bbc-local-evenings/

Ian Robinson · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 6:42 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the Facebook link.

ColinB · Guest

Rillington · Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 5 Location: Manchester

I was expecting Matthew Bannister to be the presenter but I'm sure that Mark Forrest will do a good job, presenting this new BBC Radio England show.

To be honest I don't know why they decided to do this as it would have made as much, if not more, sense simply to join 5 Live at 7pm rather than broadcasting a show which will have no relevance to anyone on what is supposed to be local radio, not national radio.

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Matthew Bannister speaks out about Radio 1 and his venture.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/oct/21/matthew-bannister-radio-1

oldraver · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1175 Location: London

This topic was the Letter Of The Week, in this week's Radio Times. It wasn't favourable.

The reply from Jane Anderson, the Radio Editor, was that she plans to follow this up, once Mr Forrest has had a chance to bed in his new show, but in the meantime, would like to know what listeners think. So, if you do listen to local radio, or even if not, but you care about this latest act of cultural vandalism, then could you please email your views to feedback@radiotimes.com..putting Local Radio in the subject line.
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Ian Robinson · Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 1:33 pm Post subject:

Regardless of whether the show's any good (and few people seem to think it is) the BBC have picked a spectacularly stupid time to launch it. During all the bad weather lately, the national news keep saying "tune into your local BBC station for updates" - except you can't, because Mark Forrest is talking about something 200 miles away!

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19334 Location: Cheshire

Totally agree Ian, what is the point of local radio if it's national?

It's not something I listen to very much though.

H
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Angela W · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 7202 Location: North Yorkshire

I think it is peculiar that they have this national show and then at 10pm the stations seem to do their own thing again. Confused

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