Meet Dan Noble, who at the age of 22, is one of the youngest radio presenters in the UK so far. He started his radio at the age of 16 volunteering at a community radio station in Surrey before embarking on his journey professionally when he got his foot in the door at Radio Jackie. The rest, as they say, is history, along with gaining much valuable experience in learning the more professional side of all things radio. In the years in-between has seen him, not just present radio shows, but also interview the crème-de-le-crème of the UK’s music industry. Now he may well have taken inspiration from some of the radio greats such as Christian O’Connell, Iain Lee as well as the great Chris Moyles and Greg James but Dan Noble is very much his own man. You can hear him on both Absolute Radio and Kerrang Radio
“I get to play some of my favourite songs and a lot of creative freedom to say what I like (within reason)”
Right, you’re 22 and one of the youngest radio presenters in the country, how do you feel about that?
I feel very lucky to be honest! I’ve wanted to work in radio for a very long time so to be able to present on national radio is very much something I don’t take for granted.
What is it about radio that made you want to get into it?
Radio is unlike any other form of media. You’re able to interact in real-time with breaking stories, music news and your audience which is what makes it so special. It’s also a very intimate thing, people listen to the radio throughout their day, through their highs and lows. I think the main reason I wanted to get into it is because I started out as a listener myself, listening to presenters like Iain Lee and Chris Moyles and realising when I was a teenager that radio is so much more than “that was x and this is y”
And what is it about presenting on the radio that you enjoy about it?
I get to play some of my favourite songs and a lot of creative freedom to say what I like (within reason), so it really feels like I’m chatting to my mates just I’m in a room on my own with a microphone ha! I also like seeing the impact it has on listeners, whether they’re just texting in to say they’re enjoying the show or if something I’ve done has entertained them.
During your childhood which radio stations did you listen to and which radio presenters did you like listening to?
I grew up mainly listening to Absolute Radio, hearing presenters like Christian O’Connell, Iain Lee and Geoff Lloyd who weren’t afraid of ‘pushing the boat out’ with their shows.
You first started by doing local radio in Surrey. How did you get into that and what you reckon you gained in regards to experience?
So, my “journey” for want of a better phrase started at a community station, where I volunteered for a few years. This helped so much with getting experience without the pressure of messing up! (and of course, there were lots of mess-ups), I then presented at a local commercial station called Radio Jackie where I learned a lot about the discipline of a professional live radio show and other important parts of the job like the legal side of things.
You currently present two different shows on to different stations; Absolute and Kerrang Radio, is the style of the shows different bearing in mind one’s geared towards (various) rock and the other plays all sorts?
Yeah, I’d say the two shows are fairly different. The playlists of course are quite different to each other, and in music radio you often tailor your content to the artists you play – so I’ll be talking about Slipknot on Kerrang but Blossoms on Absolute for example.
Another perk about working in radio is covering large music festivals such as Glastonbury, R+L (Reading and Leeds), Isle of Wight and Download etc. Is this something you’ve ever considered?
Ahhh have I missed festivals this year! Absolute Radio are always at the Isle of Wight festival and I’m really hoping to be able to go there when festivals are back on, nothing beats walking around in wellies and drinking a luke-warm cider while trying to find your mates at the other side of the field
If you ever did which one, or one’s, would you go for?
Isle of Wight and Glastonbury are next on my list!
You’ve had presenting experience equating seven years now, are there any other presenters out there in radio that you particularly admire?
There are so many great presenters to get inspiration from like Greg James and Chris Moyles, but there are also some younger presenters who are really making waves right now like Jordan Lee at Hits Radio and Sam Darlaston at Kiss.
Completely random one for you now; you’re given your own show from scratch, up to you what it’s about, and you can pick your own time-slot. What type of show would it be about and what time would it go out?
Putting the horrendously early starts to one side, I’d love to do a breakfast show in the future with a co-host to bounce off. When you can tell breakfast presenters get on as friends, you feel like you’re in the “club” or the friendship group when you listen and get involved, and that’s what makes great breakfast radio for me personally.
How has radio been affected in light of the current Covid 19 situation, has it affected the way you work?
Like in all walks of life, it’s been affected a fair bit. Many presenters (including myself) are currently working remotely which has its pro’s and con’s. I’m looking forward to getting back in the studio though!
What you we expect from you later in the year and into 2021?
Like most people most of my 2020 plans have changed a fair bit but they’ll hopefully be some exciting things for 2021!
And finally, where can people listen to you and at what time?
Absolute Radio Fri/Sat from 10pm and Mondays 12-6am
Kerrang Radio Mon-Thurs 6-9pm
