Why Desert Island Kirsty’s voice is music to our ears
HER honeyed tones consistently calm even the most nervous of castaways.
And now, Scots radio presenter Kirsty Young is in the running to win Radio Times’ Most Attractive Voice on Radio gong.
The 47- year- old East Kilbrideborn star has soothed listeners with her velvety Scottish patter for ten years as presenter of the much-loved BBC Radio 4 programme Desert Island Discs.
Radio Times has released a shortlist of 40 presenters, newsreaders and DJs – 20 male and 20 female – in the running to win the publicly voted accolade.
The contenders were chosen by a panel of industry experts, including
‘Tell us who creates that thrill’
BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine and LBC’s Nick Ferrari, who weren’t allowed to vote for themselves.
Other Scots presenters in contention for the award include BBC Radio 2’s Ken Bruce, from Glasgow, who started out with The Hospital Broadcasting Service in Glasgow and in Paisley, Renfrewshire.
Dundonian Susan Rae, who reads the news not only on BBC Radio 4, but Radio 4 Extra and Radio 3, could also claim the gong, with her crystalclear Scottish accent honed during an early three-year stint at BBC Radio Aberdeen.
And her fellow Dundonian, BBC Radio 4’s Eddie Mair, is also in the running.
According to panellist Nick Ferrari, the former Good Morning Scotland and Reporting Scotland presenter has ‘a voice that goes down as easy as a good malt – but beware of the scimitar-like kick lurking before the final glug’.
The shortlist includes a mix of wellknown voices, and some lesser-known selections from digital stations and radio drama.
Others i n the running i nclude former BBC Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles, who is now on Radio X, and ex-Spice Girl Emma Bunton, who hosts Heart’s breakfast show.
Jane Anderson, Radio Times radio editor, said: ‘ The rules are simple. We’re not looking for the cleverest presenter, the most ground-breaking reporter or a relentlessly accurate weather forecaster.
‘We want [readers] to tell us who creates that thrill, that buzz or that sense all is well in the world when [they] hear them speak.’
The full shortlist is available to view in the latest edition of the Radio Times, which is out today and readers can vote online by visiting www. radiotimes.com