BBC Radio 5 Live host Danny Baker’s crowdfunded radio station backed by Jonathan Ross
Broadcaster and comedy writer Danny Baker’s efforts to crowdfund an independent radio station away have been boosted by the backing of radio host Jonathan Ross.
Baker, a host on BBC Radio 5 Live's Saturday morning show and orchestrator of the return of TFI Friday, took to Twitter in the hunt for partners in his new project on Monday (21 March).
Having previously described the radio management at the BBC as “hordes of bloodless suits, pests, vampires and ghouls,” according to the Guardian, and blasting them on Twitter as "pinhead weasels" after the axing of his BBC London radio programme, Baker has been eager to branch off from the corporation and launch his own project.
He tested the waters will a scrawl of tweets about the project.
I think I am going to crowd fund my own radio station. Seriously. Anyone in?
— Danny Baker (@prodnose) March 21, 2016
Perhaps I should leave more of a gap between declaring my intention to crowdfund a radio station & then saying I'm listening to Soft Machine — Danny Baker (@prodnose) March 21, 2016
As soon as the crowd funding target has been calculated I will post its details. Thank you for all the early encouragement.
— Danny Baker (@prodnose) March 21, 2016
As far as content goes Radio Free Europe (provisional title) will be giddy and happy and clever. Where "No News is Good News". Literally. — Danny Baker (@prodnose) March 21, 2016
Think Leicester winning the league is a top omen for a free thinking, just do what you do, new radio station. Things are changing. Let's go.
— Danny Baker (@prodnose) March 21, 2016
And yes - I will run the station like Peter Cook used to run Private Eye. I will only interfere should someone say "banter" or praise Queen. — Danny Baker (@prodnose) March 21, 2016
There'll be NO meeting rooms at the station. Any more than there were meeting rooms in music halls. There's an audience - DO something. — Danny Baker (@prodnose) March 21, 2016
Radio in this country is rationed like the Soviet Union. How? Why? Tell Americans we have, like, 20 or 30 stations it blows their minds. — Danny Baker (@prodnose) March 21, 2016
Every time I see one of those "Would YOU like a job on local radio?" ads I think - and who the fuck are YOU? It's not MI5, slick, its RADIO. — Danny Baker (@prodnose) March 21, 2016
As I've told management over the years, its not important I get along with YOU so long as I get along with THE AUDIENCE. But they HATE that. — Danny Baker (@prodnose) March 21, 2016
So that's today. I hope when we can ask for crowd funding you can help. For my part I will pull together the best radio talent I know...
— Danny Baker (@prodnose) March 21, 2016
...most of whom for weird reasons are now outside the "machine'. As I say, if you rejoice in Leicester winning the league...come with us. — Danny Baker (@prodnose) March 21, 2016
So good evening everyone. Let non-generic free of media-course radio be our toast. We can do this! Details soon. pic.twitter.com/X1cgBp2fMb — Danny Baker (@prodnose) March 21, 2016
He also reassured BBC 5 Live "we good".
Last thing. @bbc5live - we good. Thank you. You're the only people who let me broadcast at all! #RedBrownOrNoSauceAtAll — Danny Baker (@prodnose) March 21, 2016
TV and radio personality Jonathan Ross lent his support to the project.
@prodnose United Artists!! I'm in, if you want me. — Jonathan Ross (@wossy) March 21, 2016
Baker has yet to unveil the full details of his plans, although the scheme could disrupt the current broadcaster system if successful with a number of big names also reputed to have shown an interest.