What possesses a right-minded comedian to quit the day job for life as a breakfast radio DJ?

The opening DJ on the Beeb's new alternative radio channel, 6Music, Phill Jupitus was a maverick on the flat landscape of inane commercial breakfast radio. Disregarding the prescriptive chart-led schedule and showing no fear in the face of BBC management, this ex-performance poet's personal crusade against the bland, the predictable and the smug self-satisfaction ensured that he never had any trouble practising what he preached.

Not one to pull punches, Phill recounts with acerbic wit, honesty and more affection than he would care to admit, his encounters with petulant band members, tedious showbusiness jargon, colossal salaries and four-letter firewalls.

Inviting world-weary media cynics and radio enthusiasts to sit back and revel in a heady dose of painful banter ensuing from the absent interview technique, The Clash, the perils of idols as on-air guests, Black Umfolosi and The Coasters, Nantwich remorselessly dissects the limply beating heart of breakfast radio and reconstructs it one playlist, anecdote and transcript at a time.

About the Author

Phill Jupitus was born in 1962 and grew up above a pub in Essex with a free-spirited mother (who always remained close to the A13) and an extended noisy family. After realising work was not his strong suit, he carved out a career in stand up comedy and radio and today is a regular on TV and radio panel shows, including Radio 4's I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue and QI with Stephen Fry. He's also team captain on Never Mind the Buzzcocks and starred in the West End musical Hairspray. Phill lives in Leigh-on Sea with his wife and daughters.

Reviews

'No one knows or cares more about radio or can write about it with such wit, love and grace' Stephen Fry

'Very funny' Lauren Laverne, Grazia

'As interesting as it is timely ... what shines through is his affection for a medium he flourished in' Shortlist

Book Information
ISBN 9780007313860
Author Phill Jupitus
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint HarperCollins
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Weight(grams) 260g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 23mm