Penk: ‘Key 103 name change is silly mistake’
VETERAN DJ Steve Penk has dubbed Key 103’s decision to change its name to Hits Radio ‘silly.’
The Castlefield-based radio station announced a major multi-million pound re-brand earlier this month, with a presenter shake-up included in the overhaul.
Hits Radio is due to launch from June 4, becoming the first national commercial radio station to be based in the city.
Legendary radio DJ and former TV presenter Penk, famous for his wind-up calls during the 1990s, said he believes the station has ‘made a mistake.’
Rusholme-born Penk, 56, made his name at Manchester’s Piccadilly Radio, which became Key 103, and then at Capital FM in London with his cheeky prank calls, including winding up the then Prime Minster Tony Blair.
Writing on Twitter he said: “Lots of people asking what I think about the end of Key 103 & the re-naming of the radio station. “I think they’ve made a mistake. “They should have renamed it Kiss UK – Kiss is a wonderful name, best radio station name in the World IMO & they already own the name. Silly decision.”
The ‘evolution’ of the station is part of a major investment from Bauer Media, under which the new flagship station will sit alongside the group’s other national stations, Absolute Radio, Magic Radio and KISS.
In Manchester, Hits Radio Manchester will have local news and information about school closures, any local emergencies plus the latest traffic and travel to ensure it retains its Manchester ‘heritage,’ Bauer Media said.
Ex-Hollyoaks star Gemma Atkinson will remain as the new-look station’s breakfast co-host, but Mike Toolan will shift to the mid-morning slot while Matt Haslam will remain as producer. Strictly Come Dancing star Gemma will host the Hits Radio breakfast show alongside TV presenter Gethin Jones and Dave Vitty - known to millions as ‘Comedy Dave,’ the former sidekick of exRadio One DJ Chris Moyles. The station has been known as Key 103 for the past 30 years in Manchester. Before that it was Piccadilly Radio, the city’s first ever commercial radio station, which launched back in 1974. Penk launched digital radio station ‘The Steve Penk Wind Up Channel’ in 2015 then Radio Dead, which airs music from deceased artists.