102: David Symonds - Presenter, BBC Light, Home, Radio 1,2, Capital, Victory

He was the disgraced schoolboy who was to become the first presenter on Capital Radio in 1973 – and on-air in the first week of Radio 1.

In this hour of Radio Moments – Conversations, David Symonds talks about his life journey from the challenges of his youth  - and his acting ambition  - through his early days on air in New Zealand. He tells of his early days announcing programmes for the Home Service and Light Programme – and preparing to go on-air on early evening across the first week of Radio 1’s life. He also opens up about the crime which was the catalyst for his Radio1 departure.

Invited to join Capital Radio, David is second only to Richard Attenborough as the station made its debut in 1973 – and he shares what he thought about the station’s early strategy. Moving then into programme management himself, he relates his thinking as he launched Radio Victory.

Back to the BBC, it’s a return to continuity at Radio 4 before being invited to host a new late afternoon programme on Radio 2 as it ventures into a ‘beautiful music’ format – and David tells of his feelings when that too came to an abrupt end.

After some time on-air in LA, it was back to London for Radio 4 and then Capital Gold, before adjourning to Cyprus and then to France.

In his own word – this is the David Symonds story.

Hear the whole ‘Radio Moments Conversations’ series here – and sign up for the regular podcast for this ongoing series. Music by Larry Bryant.