Get to know Greatest Hits Radio’s Martin Starke
Martin brings the Good Times to your afternoon with the biggest songs of the 70s, 80s & 90s!
Martin Starke is on Greatest Hits Radio across the South, weekdays from 1-4pm. He's here through the afternoon playing the biggest songs of the 70s, 80s and 90s, plus he has your chance to win life-changing amounts of cash.
At 1pm, Martin starts his show with a whole hour of lunchtime anthems - the songs that guarantee the Good Times! Plus, you’ll get to hear what’s on across the South and not forgetting your requests every week on Free Play Friday.
What do you love about your show on Greatest Hits Radio?
I get to play so much good music, from Wham! and Stevie Wonder to Queen and The Beatles. Radio is such a wonderful companion to so many people and it’s an honour to be a small part of their day.
What do the Good Times sound like to you?
It’s about the right song for the moment. That uplifting anthem when you’re in need of motivation, the sing-along classic at a gig, or the epic masterpiece when you have the time to sit and enjoy it. The song that always makes you smile when you need it most, or the track that takes you back to that special place.
Which song is your Good Times anthem?
There are far too many to choose from. Angel of Harlem by U2, Disco 2000 by Pulp, or maybe Champagne Supernova by Oasis. The last one being great value for money on a pub jukebox!
What is your go-to driving song?
I’ve got such fond memories of watching classic sitcoms and Only Fools and Horses was always my favourite, so whenever I have a long journey, it always starts with Tom Robinson Band and 2-4-6-8 Motorway from the Jolly Boys Outing episode. Roachford’s Cuddly Toy is another great driving song.
As well as presenting on Greatest Hits Radio, what are you up to now?
I enjoy DJ’ing live and hosting events, but I’m also a big football fan and at the weekend I can be found presenting the Total Saints Podcast. You can check it out here.
When can I listen to Martin Starke on Greatest Hits Radio?
Martin Starke hosts weekday afternoons from 1-4pm on Greatest Hits Radio across the South. Listen on FM, DAB radio, or by asking your smart speaker to "Play Greatest Hits Radio".
Who else presents shows on Greatest Hits Radio?
Ken Bruce
Greatest Hits Radio is the home of the legend that is Ken Bruce, weekdays 10am-1pm - including PopMaster, the UK's biggest music quiz for 25 years and counting.
Find out more about Ken and PopMaster.
Simon Mayo
Simon Mayo hosts Drivetime every weekday at 4pm and The Album Show on Sundays from 1pm.
Simon said of his Drivetime show: "I think the thing about Drivetime is that it is like the flip side of breakfast. You kind of know what an awful lot of people are doing, it's the end of most people's day, they're doing some final bits of work, they're shutting the laptop, they're doing a bit of food preparation, they're driving home. I think it is that sense of camaraderie, it's the end of the day, people want to be cheered up and they want to spend some time with some decent folk on the radio!"
Find out more about Simon Mayo here.
Paul Gambaccini
Paul brings us his famous America's Greatest Hits programme every Saturday between 5pm-7pm, featuring two hours of the Greatest Hits that made it big in America.
Sharing some of the things he loves about his show, Paul said: "Radio is the perfect form of one-to-one communication. TV can be direct, too, but the camera operator is always in your line of vision! I enjoy sharing my favourite music, and my admittedly freakish knowledge of it, with people who care about that music. I love the opportunity for challenging talk overs, too!"
Find out more about Paul Gambaccini here.
Alex Lester
The Dark Lord keeps you company in the small hours. Join him for the Music Marathon from 1am and the Best Time Of The Day Show 4-6am weekdays.
Alex brings: "Your favourite songs. Bizarre insights and unusual thoughts," to his show and told us that he loves that during his show: "It's just the two of us. You and me. (Against the world)."
Find out more about Alex Lester here.
Jenny Powell
Jenny plays the biggest songs of the 70s, 80s and 90s on Greatest Hits Radio to kickstart your weekend, every Saturday and Sunday from 6am.
On Jenny's show, listeners can look forward to The Breakfast Club, which she says is: "A warm-up for the weekend, full of positive vibes and feel-good factor when you wake up on Saturdays and Sundays. I insist you have a dance with me on the Kitchen Disco, I share some fun news stories from the previous week on The Headliners and get you smiling no matter what, sharing some of my favourite tracks from the 70s, 80, and 90s."
Find out more about Jenny Powell here.
Andy Crane
Join Andy's late-night community of music and company, Sunday-Thursday at 10pm.
Andy has three hours of the biggest songs from the 70s, 80s and 90s as well as The Top 10 at 10 and Midnight Music Marathon. His show is full of: "Great music and plenty of laughing."
Find out more about Andy Crane here.
Martin Kemp
Join Martin Kemp with The Mix Tape every Friday from 7pm!
Martin has got "the perfect soundtrack to start your weekend," and his show includes: "All the biggest songs of the 70s 80s and 90s that we grew up listening to on full volume. I'll give you TV recommendations for your weekend, there's always a slow dance at the end, and I turn the decks over to you to pick your favourite songs. Plus plenty of stories from my career in music, film and TV. We always have a good laugh and the music is absolutely popping."
Find out more about Martin Kemp here.
Jackie Brambles
Jackie Brambles hosts The Evening Show every Monday to Thursday from 7pm - 10pm.
Jackie promises to deliver: "Great music and great conversations! Every night we're joined by one of your favourite artists of the 70s, 80s and 90s for an in-depth chat about the highs and lows of their careers and their musical influences over the years."
Find out more about Jackie Brambles here.
Kate Thornton
Catch Kate Thornton on Saturdays from 7pm! It's the best night of the week - so if it's a kitchen disco you're after, Kate will make it fun and have you dancing and laughing with her perfect blend of playlist and good times chat.
Kate explained what listeners can expect from her show: "It's the kind of show that lets you know it's Saturday night, no matter where you're listening in from and no matter who you're with. Three hours of songs that make a night in feel like a night out if you're with friends, or offers up the soundtrack for the perfect party for one if you're tuning in alone."
Find out more about Kate Thornton here.
Richard Allinson
Richard Allinson is live on Greatest Hits Radio on Saturday afternoons from 1pm with the perfect Soundtrack of the biggest songs of the 70s, 80s and 90s and weekend anthems.
Speaking about his show, Richard said: "The idea is to recreate all those great memories I have of Saturday afternoons growing up, a bunch of us meeting up to buy clothes, records, maybe sort a date…everything happened on a Saturday and we remember the records we played at that time."
Find out more about Richard Allinson here.
Des Paul
Join Des for Rhythm Of The Night every Friday and Saturday night from 10pm, where he plays all the greatest soul, funk, disco and Motown hits to start your weekend.
Des explained what he loves the most about his show: "The favourite bit of presenting Rhythm of the Night is when listeners contact me to say how much they've loved hearing a particular track and then tell us all about when and where they used to hear it."
Find out more about Des Paul here.
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Get to know the Greatest Hits Radio presenters