Former Radio City broadcaster Leanne Campbell is set to kickstart the region’s weekends with a new mid-morning show every Friday on BBC Radio Merseyside.
Campbell is one of Merseyside’s best-known voices, following a long and hugely successful career in commercial radio.
She spent over two decades at Hits Radio – formerly Radio City – where she became a fan favourite thanks to her deep affection for her home city and connection with listeners from across the region.
Now, she will bring her unmistakable Scouse energy to BBC Radio Merseyside every Friday, just in time for the weekend.
She said: “I love my audience. They’ve always supported me, and when you think about it, we’ve grown up together.
“We have partied together… we’ve settled down together, got married and had our kids together. Now we’re older and wiser – allegedly – and we want to know what’s going on in the world and share our opinions on it, which we can now do at BBC Radio Merseyside!”
After 22 years on air, Campbell, who was recently named Merseyside Women of the Year, says she is still driven by the buzz of broadcasting and the connection she shares with her listeners. It is a love she again puts down to her local roots and affinity with coming from Liverpool: “I don’t know where it comes from – I just work dead hard. I’m a Scouser, so I’m a grafter, and I don’t want anything I haven’t earned,” she explained.
She also feels privileged to be adding her name to a prestigious list of broadcasters who’ve sat in the presenter’s chair over the years at her new station: “One of the things I really hope I can do is show audiences that Radio Merseyside really is for everyone.
“I’ve been listening to it for years – some of the broadcasters who’ve called this place home are radio legends – and I can’t believe my name is now being added to that list.
One of those legends is Tony Snell. On welcoming Leanne to Radio Merseyside, he said: “I’ve been trying to get Leanne to join Radio Merseyside for years… Turns out the only way she’d come is if I gave her one of my shows! I love being on the radio, but if you can believe it, I love not being on the radio too.
“Taking Friday’s back for me is something I’ve been thinking about for a while, and it’s the right time – lots of jobs at home to sort and they won’t do themselves.”
BBC Radio Merseyside executive editor, Ben Anderson, added: “Radio Merseyside is going from strength to strength – we’re growing audiences and we’re bringing the big national awards back home. I think Leanne will help us to grow even more quickly, and she absolutely deserves her place on our line-up. This has always been the home of Merseyside’s best broadcasters, and Leanne undoubtedly fits the bill.”
BBC Local provides impartial, high-quality and distinctive output rooted in the communities of England like BBC Radio Merseyside – one of 39 local radio stations, online news and digital output, market-leading regional news bulletins on BBC One and unrivalled local sports coverage.
Campbell’s first show on BBC Radio Merseyside airs Friday 10 April.
