Howard Pearce Broadcast Background

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Howard Pearce started his broadcasting career at RADIO VICTORY in Portsmouth. Not only was he the youngest presenter to have a mainstream daytime show on Independent Radio at one point, but he also, for a time, was simultaneously presenting the Breakfast Show for RADIO VICTORY and the afternoon Drive Show for RADIO 210 in Reading, Berkshire five days a week (Radio 210 later 2TenFM and from 2009 Heart FM). At 210 Howard was part of a presenter team that included Mike Read, Steve Wright, Paul Hollingdale and Bob Harris.

Radio Victory

Radio 210 - April 1980 (left > right) Howard Pearce, Mark Wesley (partly hidden), Keith Butler, Steve Wright

Howard Pearce & Mike Read at Radio 210

Howard then joined RADIO LUXEMBOURG presenting regular programmes for the famous '208' night-time English service as well as daytime shows on the central European service RTL Community 92.5 FM. Howard joined Radio Luxembourg at the same time as Benny Brown, following the departure of Steve Wright to BBC Radio One. During Howard’s time at ‘208’ the DJ team included Tony Prince, Bob Stewart, Barry Aldis, Stuart and Ollie Henry, Rob Jones, Mike Hollis, Mark Wesley, Timmy Mallett, Johnny Walker, Dave Christian and Emperor Rosko. Broadcasting from the Villa Louvigny in the Grand Duchy Howard travelled back and forth between the UK and Luxembourg over the next four years.

Villa Louvigny, Luxembourg

(Back from Left); Keith Fordyce - Howard Pearce - Mike Read - Peter Anthony - Jeff Graham (Middle from Left) Alan Freeman - David Jacobs - Pete Murray - Pete Brady - Don Moss - Geoffrey Everett - Stephen Williams - Hughie Green - Mark Wesley (Front from left) Noel Edmonds - Rob Jones - Tony Prince - Dave Eastwood   Radio Luxembourg - 50th Anniversary 1983

(Front from Left) David Jenson - Mike Read (1st Row Standing from Left) Paul Burnett - Tony Prince - Benny Brown - Emperor Rosko - Howard Pearce (2nd Row Standing from left) Dave Christian - Mike Hollis - Tim Smith (3rd Row Standing From Left) Timmy Mallett - Shaun Tilly - Mike Knight - Mark Wesley   Radio Luxembourg - 75th Anniversary August 2008

On returning to the UK Howard rejoined RADIO 210 this time as Head of Music and Breakfast Show Presenter.

During the mid '80's, in addition to his regular daytime radio programmes, Howard started specialising in 'celebrity' interviews. Numbering more than 300 they included the likes of The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Bon Jovi, Bryan Ferry, Stevie Wonder, Bob Geldof, Supertramp, Inxs, Janet Jackson, Bryan Adams, Dire Straits, George Benson, The Eurythmics, Daryl Hall & John Oates and The Bee Gees. These initially (1983-1986) were for BBC RADIO ONE (NEWSBEAT) and later for independent syndication.

Also during this time (1984 to 1986) Howard joined BBC RADIO 2 for several series of programmes presenting both the weekend and weekday early breakfast shows. In addition he presented interview 'specials' for the station with the likes of Cliff Richard and Paul McCartney.

In 1986 Howard began presenting the weekly pop music and celebrity interview programme 'SOUNDCHECK'. Howard set-up Pearce Media to manage, produce and distribute the weekly hour-long show which was broadcast around the Network Chart Show. 'SOUNDCHECK' was syndicated nationally across most of the UK's Independent Radio Network.

(Back from Left); Greg Edwards - Howard Pearce - Paul Burnett. (Front); Mike Read - Timmy Mallett - Mark Wesley  

In the early '90's, whilst his syndicated programmes continued, Howard also worked for the BBC WORLD SERVICE & BBC RADIO 5 LIVE.

At the beginning of 1993 Howard joined MERIDIAN TELEVISION as one of their regular presenters (1993-1995). In addition, in August '93 Howard also joined VIRGIN RADIO the UK's first national commercial contemporary music station. Virgin Radio also broadcast across europe via satellite and worldwide on-line. Presenting several programmes every week for over 6 years Howard worked through various stages of the stations development including under the leadership of Sir Richard Branson and Chris Evans (Ginger Media) as well as alongside the likes of Richard Skinner, Russ Williams, Jonathan Coleman, Tommy Vance, Nicky Horne, Graham Dean, Alan Freeman, Lynn Parsons, Mitch Johnson and Jonathan Ross.

While still with Virgin Radio, Howard's TV work took him from Meridian to SKY TELEVISION as a presenter for their SKY SPORTS channels. During his 5 years with BskyB, Sky Sports developed into a multi-channel network and moved onto its current digital platform.

In 1999 Howard switched from BSkyB to the music video channel VH1 initially as a presenter of their weekday ‘Top 10 chart shows’. Howard also presented other specialist shows such as an all day special ' Love Songs' show on Valentines Day 2001, the programme received the largest VH1 audience that year.

In 2003 Howard joined JAZZ FM in London to present their weekend Breakfast Shows. The station soon rebanded to become SMOOTH FM where Howard continued to present the weekend breakfast. In 2005 Howard switched to a weekly Saturday afternoon music show. He also hosted the stations live football coverage of every Chelsea FC match during a time when Chelsea were Premiership Champions and Cup holders, this included them winning the first FA Cup final at the new Wembley Stadium. Howard worked along side commentator Gary Taphouse and soccer legend Kerry Dixon 05/06 & 06/07 seasons.

Howard's radio work has been existing alongside that of his work for digital media company Adstream since 2004 and continues with regular on-line shows and interview specials.

Updated Q1 2012