Battle of airwaves as Chelsea starts BBC brekkie show
4AM START AS SHE TAKES ON HER FORMER ON-AIR PARTNER
FORMER Key 103 breakfast host Chelsea Norris will present a rival show on BBC Radio Manchester.
Chelsea will once again wake-up listeners in Greater Manchester from Monday, March 19 pitting her against former on-air partner Mike Toolan, who presents the Key 103 breakfast show with Gemma Atkinson and Matt Haslam.
Chelsea, from Stockport, joined BBC Radio Manchester in 2016, first fronting a weekend show before becoming Drive Time presenter in February 2017. She lives with her husband Ben and her two-year-old daughter Minnie.
She said: “I can’t believe I’ll have to set my alarm for 4am again. That said I have a toddler so I never get enough sleep anyway.
“I’ve fitted in so well at Radio Manchester and I’m so grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given.
“The whole team is fantastic and the listeners make me laugh every day. I adore broadcasting at breakfast time.
“I love the idea of people tuning in at the start of the day as they’re driving to work or taking the kids to school. So despite the early starts, I can’t wait to wake Greater Manchester up every weekday morning.”
The change means Phil Trow moves to the Drive Time slot. Alison Butterworth will return to Radio Lancashire where she previously worked.
BBC Radio Manchester Editor Kate Squire said: “Chelsea’s a radio star who shines brightly in Manchester. In a football mad city like ours, who would have thought someone called Chelsea would prove so popular. “She’s going to give our listeners a bright start to their day, full of fun and everything you need to know before you get to work.” Chelsea was axed from Key 103 not long after she returned from maternity leave. She said she was told by bosses that the show “wasn’t working and it was time for change”. She had been at the station as Breakfast Show co-host alongside Mike Toolan for 11 years.
I can’t believe I’ll have to set my alarm for 4am again. That said, I have a toddler, so I never sleep anyway Chelsea Norris