Steve Madden

His microphone career began on the World Service, followed by a year at BBC Radio 4.

Along the way he's also been a producer in Radio Light Entertainment, and then a researcher on the Michael Parkinson TV Show - "that was an extraordinary time. I met a lot of the most famous people on Earth. Very exciting."

He's probably best known for his long stint on BBC Radio 2, 15 years, interrupted only by a year as a BBC1 and 2 television announcer.

For five years he hosted the evening show on BBC Eastern Counties, broadcasting to the BBC stations in Essex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Northamptonshire and Three Counties.

His "handovers" with Keith Skues, who followed him at 10pm, are the stuff of legend, and at one stage became a programme in their own right.

He's also broadcast around the world on Forces Radio (BFBS) and frequently works in commercial radio, too.

Steve always cites John Peel, Roger Scott and Ray Moore as his biggest influences, and feels privileged to have counted Ray among his friends. "I still miss all three of them every day….."

When not on the radio or taking photographs, he's co-owner of a Routemaster bus (a childhood dream-come-true) with BBC colleagues Ken Bruce, Alan Dedicoat, Charles Nove and David Sheppard.

"We've had a lot of laughs, but the vehicle earns its keep on private hire for such things as weddings, barmitzvahs, funerals and corporate days out. So next time you see one going by, just check who's at the wheel."