JONATHAN COWAP JOINS YO1 RADIO

Former BBC Radio York presenter, Jonathan Cowap, has joined York Press Media Partner, YO1 Radio, to present a new daily show starting in September.

Jonathan was a regular and much-loved voice at the BBC for 38 years, including 34 years on-air in York, before stepping down from his morning show in May of this year. His departure attracted hundreds of complaints.

Jonathan’s new YO1 Radio show will start on Monday 4th September.

Managing Director of YO1 Radio, Wayne Chadwick, said: “We are delighted that Jonathan is joining our team. He has lived and worked in York and North Yorkshire for many years. He is very much a part of the community we serve and has an extraordinary ability to connect with his listeners - and they love him!

From the moment we started our discussions with him, it was clear that we shared the same vision for what local radio should be about.”

Wayne added: “We already have an incredibly strong daytime line-up and Jonathan’s arrival will massively add to that as we continue to plug the gap created by the demise of the former Minster FM and the forthcoming reduction in local output at BBC Radio York.”

Jonathan is already planning and looking ahead to the launch of the new show. 

He said: ““It will be wonderful to be back on the radio in York and North Yorkshire and I know that YO1 Radio is exactly the right place for me to do it. I am truly delighted and excited to be back on the radio again. It's the city and county which I love. I know that YO1 Radio has great plans to expand and develop what it offers tolocal listeners – I'm thrilled to be part of that.”

Jonathan added: “The YO1 Radio team are a great bunch of dedicated people and they have made me feel very welcome from the start. The station has some great facilities – and I really cannot wait to get started in September.”

Jonathan’s new programme will follow immediately after ‘Griffo in the Morning’ – YO1 Radio’s Breakfast Show. Current mid-morning host, Claire Pulpher, will be moving into a new weekday slot starting at 12noon. 

Wayne Chadwick said: “We are taking the opportunity to make a few additionaltweaks to our schedule across the week. The changes, together with Jonathan’s arrival and the recent appointment of Julie Blackburn as our Community Co-Ordinator, will allow us to be even more community focussed whilst maintaining our existing sound and fantastic mix of music.”

YO1 Radio broadcasts to York on 102.8FM and to Selby on 90.0FM. 

YO1 Radio can also be heard across the whole of North Yorkshire on DAB+ digital radio, on smart devices, Freeview Channel 277 – and online at www.yo1radio.co.uk

The station recently had its FM licence extended for a further five-years and the team behind YO1 Radio was recently awarded the licence to provide a new small-scale DAB service to the city, which will launch next year.