Bruno Brookes
Encyclopedia
Bruno Brookes is a British radio presenter who became prominent in the 1980s.
High Schools. He became a disc jockey through youth club
discos in his home town before he sent a successful audition tape to his local station, BBC Radio Stoke
. He used to wash cars in order to raise money for buying equipment. He spent three years there before being recruited by BBC Radio 1
, the national pop network, where he worked as a stand-in presenter for Steve Wright before taking over the teatime show from Peter Powell
.
In 1989, Brookes moved to the weekend breakfast show, co-hosting with Liz Kershaw
, and also regularly deputised for Simon Mayo
on the weekday breakfast show. Three years later he moved to the weekday early breakfast slot, where he remained until he was sacked in 1995 by Trevor Dann
, who said "...why is Bruno on? you know, he seems to have a charmed life, because if the view was 'we must get rid of the dinosaurs', you know we've got this behemoth striding the airwaves of dawn" in the BBC TV Documentary Blood On The Carpet: Walking With Disc Jockeys in 2001.
It was announced by BBC Radio 1
in September 2007 that Bruno, along with former chart show colleague Mark Goodier, would return to the station for a one-off Top 40 countdown show on Sunday 30 September 2007, co-hosting the chart with the then-current presenters JK and Joel
. This special show formed part of the station's celebrations of the 40th birthday of BBC Radio 1.
" by Rage Against the Machine
on 21st February, 1993. The song contains 17 instances of extreme expletives. Brookes was not made aware of the language in the track and, as a new entry, included it in the broadcast. Unfortunately, Brookes also was working on the rest of the show with his studio monitoring headphone volume lowered and not paying full attention; it was only when his producer brought to his attention what was being broadcast that Brookes quickly brought the track to a fade and continued. By this point, however, it was too late and the station immediately received numerous complaints. This incident has been and still is referred to by numerous rock media, such as Kerrang!
.
game based on noughts and crosses. He was the last of the shows three presenters, following Howard Stableford
and ex-Manfred Mann
singer Paul Jones
. He also hosted the dating show Love At First Sight and the angling show Tight Lines on Sky
.
He also appeared on the cult series Brass Eye
when he read an appeal against the fictitious drug, cake.
Co-Hosted arte-x factor with Sarah Greene on Sky 3. From 1998-2000. He coined the show's catchphrase "there's no black ash in here!" The punters loved it.
station Radio Aire. He ran a DJ school in Newbury, and was Chris Moyles
' manager for a while.
He was also involved in a public spat with ex-Radio 1 colleague Bob Harris
, whom Brookes had lent money for a flat. When Harris lost his job and was unable to clear the debt, Brookes laid an unsuccessful claim to his extensive and valuable record collection.
In recent years, Brookes has kept a low public profile but has been financially successful with his company Storm, launched in April 2000, which was the UK's first 24 hour internet
radio station. Storm Radio was renamed Immedia in 2002, and the company floated in December 2003. Brookes' stake was valued at flotation at over £2 million. Immedia PLC supplies live in-store radio for UK retail companies including: Game, Lloyds pharmacy, Spar, Ikea and HSBC bank.
Brookes returned to the BBC with a guest appearance on BBC Radio Berkshire
on Sunday 18 May 2008 and a further appearance on that station on Saturday 5 July 2008 and another appearance on Sunday 30 November 2008.
in the late 1990s as one of the celebrities whose homes were visited by Loyd Grossman
.
Brookes is known as a supporter of the Conservative Party
.
In 2007 Brookes revealed in an interview with Nuts magazine that he had a tattoo of a pirate on his left thigh. He acquired it during the 1985 Radio 1 Roadshow tour as part of a bet with his producer, who in return drank a pint of vinegar.
Brookes was romantically involved for many years with TV presenter Anthea Turner
. He married model
Debbie Brooker in 1994.
In May 2006, Brookes suffered a heart attack and was treated at St. Thomas' Hospital, London where he was interviewed by Nadia Sawalha
as a patient on BBC One
's City Hospital. In the interview he said he would try to give up smoking which he acknowledged as the main reason for his illness.
Early life and career
Brookes attended Bradwell and SeabridgeSeabridge
Seabridge is a suburb of Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, England.It is a typically middle-class area which houses mainly retired or professionals including many consultants from the nearby teaching hospital of North Staffs....
High Schools. He became a disc jockey through youth club
Youth club
A youth club or youth social club is a place where young people can meet and enjoy activities such as football, soccer, basketball, table tennis, or video games, and other religious, sports activities are frequently sponsored by a community center....
discos in his home town before he sent a successful audition tape to his local station, BBC Radio Stoke
BBC Radio Stoke
BBC Radio Stoke is a BBC Local Radio station in England, for the area of North and Mid Staffordshire, north east Shropshire and South Cheshire. The station began broadcasting programmes on 14 March 1968 as BBC Radio Stoke-on-Trent....
. He used to wash cars in order to raise money for buying equipment. He spent three years there before being recruited by BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
, the national pop network, where he worked as a stand-in presenter for Steve Wright before taking over the teatime show from Peter Powell
Peter Powell (disc jockey)
Peter Powell is a former disc jockey, popular on BBC Radio 1 in the late 1970s and 1980s, who has a second career in talent management.-Early career:...
.
Radio One
In addition to this show, Brookes presented a rundown of the UK Top 40 singles chart on Sunday evenings between 1986 and 1990 and between 1992 and 1995.In 1989, Brookes moved to the weekend breakfast show, co-hosting with Liz Kershaw
Liz Kershaw
Liz Kershaw is a UK radio broadcaster.-Early career:The elder sister of fellow broadcaster and world music exponent Andy Kershaw, she began her career as a pop journalist for the Yorkshire Post before joining Leeds station Radio Aire, where her brother also worked for a time.While in Leeds, she...
, and also regularly deputised for Simon Mayo
Simon Mayo
Simon Mayo is an English radio presenter who has worked for BBC Radio since 1981. As of January 2010, Mayo is presenter of Simon Mayo Drivetime on BBC Radio 2 and, with Mark Kermode, presenter of Kermode and Mayo's Film Reviews on BBC Radio 5 Live.In 2008, Mayo was recognised as the "radio...
on the weekday breakfast show. Three years later he moved to the weekday early breakfast slot, where he remained until he was sacked in 1995 by Trevor Dann
Trevor Dann
Trevor Dann is a British writer and broadcaster who has been associated with some of the most influential radio and television pop music programmes and events of the last 30 years.-Early career:...
, who said "...why is Bruno on? you know, he seems to have a charmed life, because if the view was 'we must get rid of the dinosaurs', you know we've got this behemoth striding the airwaves of dawn" in the BBC TV Documentary Blood On The Carpet: Walking With Disc Jockeys in 2001.
It was announced by BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
in September 2007 that Bruno, along with former chart show colleague Mark Goodier, would return to the station for a one-off Top 40 countdown show on Sunday 30 September 2007, co-hosting the chart with the then-current presenters JK and Joel
JK and Joel
Jason King and Joel Ross , known professionally as JK and Joel, are a radio show presenters and are best known for hosting the official UK chart on BBC Radio 1 between 2004 and 2007 and then presented on Virgin Radio UK, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at weekends and covering the breakfast and...
. This special show formed part of the station's celebrations of the 40th birthday of BBC Radio 1.
"Killing in the Name" controversy
While presenting the Top 40, Brookes played the full uncensored version of "Killing in the NameKilling in the Name
"Killing in the Name" is a song by American rap metal band Rage Against the Machine, featured on their self-titled debut album, and was released as the lead single from the album in November 1992...
" by Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
on 21st February, 1993. The song contains 17 instances of extreme expletives. Brookes was not made aware of the language in the track and, as a new entry, included it in the broadcast. Unfortunately, Brookes also was working on the rest of the show with his studio monitoring headphone volume lowered and not paying full attention; it was only when his producer brought to his attention what was being broadcast that Brookes quickly brought the track to a fade and continued. By this point, however, it was too late and the station immediately received numerous complaints. This incident has been and still is referred to by numerous rock media, such as Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
.
Television work
During his period at Radio 1, Brookes was on the Top Of The Pops host roster and also presented Beat The Teacher on BBC television, a popular teenagers' quiz where pupils would take on teachers in a general knowledgeGeneral knowledge
General knowledge has been defined by differential psychologists as referring to 'culturally valued knowledge communicated by a range of non-specialist media' General knowledge therefore encompasses a wide range of knowledge domains...
game based on noughts and crosses. He was the last of the shows three presenters, following Howard Stableford
Howard Stableford
Howard Stableford is a television and radio presenter.Howard grew up in Preston, Lancashire, the son of a business skills lecturer and a shipping agent. He attended Hutton Grammar School...
and ex-Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann was a British beat, rhythm and blues and pop band of the 1960s, named after their South African keyboardist, Manfred Mann, who later led the successful 1970s group Manfred Mann's Earth Band...
singer Paul Jones
Paul Jones (singer)
Paul Jones is an English singer, actor, harmonica player, and radio personality and television presenter.-Career:As P. P...
. He also hosted the dating show Love At First Sight and the angling show Tight Lines on Sky
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
.
He also appeared on the cult series Brass Eye
Brass Eye
Brass Eye is a UK television series of satirical spoof documentaries. A series of six aired on Channel 4 in 1997, and a further episode in 2001....
when he read an appeal against the fictitious drug, cake.
Co-Hosted arte-x factor with Sarah Greene on Sky 3. From 1998-2000. He coined the show's catchphrase "there's no black ash in here!" The punters loved it.
After the BBC
After Radio 1, Brookes worked for numerous radio stations, presenting a networked show called Bruno At The Millhouse, while hosting a daily mid-morning slot for LeedsLeeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
station Radio Aire. He ran a DJ school in Newbury, and was Chris Moyles
Chris Moyles
Christopher David Moyles is an English radio and television presenter and author, who currently presents The Chris Moyles Show on BBC Radio 1 and Chris Moyles' Quiz Night on Channel 4....
' manager for a while.
He was also involved in a public spat with ex-Radio 1 colleague Bob Harris
Bob Harris (radio)
Robert Brinley Joseph "Bob" Harris, OBE , known as "Whispering" Bob Harris, is British radio host who currently works for BBC Radio 2, presenting music two nights a week...
, whom Brookes had lent money for a flat. When Harris lost his job and was unable to clear the debt, Brookes laid an unsuccessful claim to his extensive and valuable record collection.
In recent years, Brookes has kept a low public profile but has been financially successful with his company Storm, launched in April 2000, which was the UK's first 24 hour internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
radio station. Storm Radio was renamed Immedia in 2002, and the company floated in December 2003. Brookes' stake was valued at flotation at over £2 million. Immedia PLC supplies live in-store radio for UK retail companies including: Game, Lloyds pharmacy, Spar, Ikea and HSBC bank.
Brookes returned to the BBC with a guest appearance on BBC Radio Berkshire
BBC Radio Berkshire
BBC Radio Berkshire is the BBC Local Radio service for the English county of Berkshire, as well as parts of North Hampshire, including Basingstoke. Radio Berkshire broadcasts on 94.6 , 95.4 , 104.1 and 104.4 FM from its studios at Caversham Park near Reading. The 104.1 FM signal is the strongest...
on Sunday 18 May 2008 and a further appearance on that station on Saturday 5 July 2008 and another appearance on Sunday 30 November 2008.
Personal life
Brookes appeared on the quiz show Through the KeyholeThrough the Keyhole
Through the Keyhole was a British panel game, hosted by Sir David Frost where panellists are given a video tour of a mystery famous guest's property and attempt to identify them. As of 1996, it is produced by David Frost's own production company, Paradine Productions at The Leeds Studios , and has...
in the late 1990s as one of the celebrities whose homes were visited by Loyd Grossman
Loyd Grossman
Loyd Daniel Gilman Grossman, OBE, FSA is an American-British television presenter, chef and musician who has mainly worked in the UK.- Early life, education and honours :...
.
Brookes is known as a supporter of the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
.
In 2007 Brookes revealed in an interview with Nuts magazine that he had a tattoo of a pirate on his left thigh. He acquired it during the 1985 Radio 1 Roadshow tour as part of a bet with his producer, who in return drank a pint of vinegar.
Brookes was romantically involved for many years with TV presenter Anthea Turner
Anthea Turner
Anthea Millicent Turner is an English television presenter and media personality.-Education:Turner was educated at the independent St. Dominic's High School in Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent....
. He married model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
Debbie Brooker in 1994.
In May 2006, Brookes suffered a heart attack and was treated at St. Thomas' Hospital, London where he was interviewed by Nadia Sawalha
Nadia Sawalha
Nadia Sawalha is an English actress and television presenter.Sawalha is perhaps best known for her role as Annie Palmer in the BBC soap opera EastEnders during the 1990s, although most of her television work is now as a presenter rather than an actress...
as a patient on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
's City Hospital. In the interview he said he would try to give up smoking which he acknowledged as the main reason for his illness.