Russ Williams
Encyclopedia
Russell "Russ" Williams (born January 21, 1962) is an English radio DJ from Blackpool
, primarily known for his long-running shows on Virgin Radio
(from 1993), and since 2008 on Absolute Radio, the re-launched version of Virgin Radio.
, presenting a chart show every Sunday from 3-5pm. He then landed a journalist job at Brighton
's Southern Sound
, before moving to Finland where he presented his own show on Helsinki's Radio 1. Russ lives in Tewin, Hertfordshire.
Williams returned to the UK and joined Newcastle's Metro Radio
. In 1990, he joined London's Capital Radio
to present the Weekend Breakfast Show, which remained his domain for three years. He often stood in as holiday relief for Chris Tarrant
, and he also hosted The Rebel Yell Rock Machine, which was syndicated across the nation's airwaves every week.
Williams has been at Virgin Radio
since it went on air in 1993. His first role was the Breakfast show, initially on his own, then alongside Jonathan Coleman. From 1995 to 1996, he was host of the Sky Sports TV show, Soccer AM
. In October 1997, due to Chris Evans' arrival at the station, the duo went on to present the Drivetime show & in early 1998, Williams took on the mid-morning show on his own, where he remains to this day. Also in 1998, he was the announcer on ITV
's Saturday night show Don't Try This at Home!
. Then in 2001, he was the event commentator on the Channel 5 sports show Under Pressure which lasted just one series and ten episodes. On January 2nd 2006, his show was extended giving him 4 hours of air (10am-2pm) every week-day. Absolute Radio reverted back to its old time slots on July 23rd 2007, and his show currently runs between 10am and 1pm every weekday. In addition to Russ' shows on Absolute Radio, he is also a DJ on sister station Absolute Classic Rock, presenting on weekday afternoons between 2pm and 6pm.
In Russ' daytime show on Absolute Radio, the last hour between noon and 1pm is known as "The 80's Hour". In this hour, every day of the week, Russ plays the best music from the 1980s.
Russ now also presents the Rock and Roll Football show every Saturday afternoon between 2pm and 6pm on Absolute radio. He is a dedicated supporter of Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur
, and works with Ed Draper
on the station's Rock and Roll Sport Podcast.
Russ is also a regular stand-in presenter on talkSPORT
's Kick-Off and Final Whistle shows.
During ITV's brief acquisition and broadcasting of Premier League football coverage from 2001-04, Russ was part of the team, commentating on edited match and goal highlights.
Monday - Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, primarily known for his long-running shows on Virgin Radio
Virgin Radio
Absolute Radio is one of the UK's three Independent National Radio stations. The station rebranded to its current name at 7.45am on 29 September 2008.The station is based in London and plays popular rock music...
(from 1993), and since 2008 on Absolute Radio, the re-launched version of Virgin Radio.
Biography
He trained at London's National Broadcasting School in Programming and Journalism, which led to a presenting job at Radio Mercury in SussexSussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, presenting a chart show every Sunday from 3-5pm. He then landed a journalist job at Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
's Southern Sound
Southern FM
Heart Sussex is an Independent Local Radio station which is owned by Global Radio and plays commercial, chart-oriented popular music...
, before moving to Finland where he presented his own show on Helsinki's Radio 1. Russ lives in Tewin, Hertfordshire.
Williams returned to the UK and joined Newcastle's Metro Radio
Metro Radio
Metro Radio is an independent local radio station based in Newcastle upon Tyne and broadcasting to Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Northumberland. The station's output is principally contemporary pop and dance music...
. In 1990, he joined London's Capital Radio
Capital Radio
Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...
to present the Weekend Breakfast Show, which remained his domain for three years. He often stood in as holiday relief for Chris Tarrant
Chris Tarrant
Christopher John "Chris" Tarrant, OBE is an English radio and television broadcaster, now best known for hosting the first version of the television game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in the United Kingdom and later Ireland, as the two national versions of the show merged in 2002.Chris...
, and he also hosted The Rebel Yell Rock Machine, which was syndicated across the nation's airwaves every week.
Williams has been at Virgin Radio
Virgin Radio
Absolute Radio is one of the UK's three Independent National Radio stations. The station rebranded to its current name at 7.45am on 29 September 2008.The station is based in London and plays popular rock music...
since it went on air in 1993. His first role was the Breakfast show, initially on his own, then alongside Jonathan Coleman. From 1995 to 1996, he was host of the Sky Sports TV show, Soccer AM
Soccer AM
Soccer AM is a British Saturday-morning football-based comedy/talk show, predominantly based around the Premier League...
. In October 1997, due to Chris Evans' arrival at the station, the duo went on to present the Drivetime show & in early 1998, Williams took on the mid-morning show on his own, where he remains to this day. Also in 1998, he was the announcer on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's Saturday night show Don't Try This at Home!
Don't Try This at Home (TV series)
Don't Try This At Home was a reality show produced by LWT with Golden Square Pictures and broadcast on ITV between 16 May 1998 and 1 September 2001. It took up the slot of the Saturday challenge game show slot left by its long running and more sedate predecessor You Bet!...
. Then in 2001, he was the event commentator on the Channel 5 sports show Under Pressure which lasted just one series and ten episodes. On January 2nd 2006, his show was extended giving him 4 hours of air (10am-2pm) every week-day. Absolute Radio reverted back to its old time slots on July 23rd 2007, and his show currently runs between 10am and 1pm every weekday. In addition to Russ' shows on Absolute Radio, he is also a DJ on sister station Absolute Classic Rock, presenting on weekday afternoons between 2pm and 6pm.
In Russ' daytime show on Absolute Radio, the last hour between noon and 1pm is known as "The 80's Hour". In this hour, every day of the week, Russ plays the best music from the 1980s.
Russ now also presents the Rock and Roll Football show every Saturday afternoon between 2pm and 6pm on Absolute radio. He is a dedicated supporter of Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
, and works with Ed Draper
Ed Draper
Ed Draper is a journalist, television presenter and radio broadcaster. He is best known for presenting the sports bulletins on the Absolute Radio Breakfast Show, as well as the station's Rock 'N' Roll Sport Podcast, on which he works with Russ Williams...
on the station's Rock and Roll Sport Podcast.
Russ is also a regular stand-in presenter on talkSPORT
TalkSPORT
Talksport , owned by UTV radio, is one of the United Kingdom's three terrestrial analogue Independent National Radio broadcasters, offering a sports and talk radio service broadcast from London to the United Kingdom....
's Kick-Off and Final Whistle shows.
During ITV's brief acquisition and broadcasting of Premier League football coverage from 2001-04, Russ was part of the team, commentating on edited match and goal highlights.
On Air
Russ Williams broadcasts at the following timesMonday - Thursday
- 10:00 - 12:00 Absolute Radio
- 17:00 - 20:00 Absolute Classic Rock
Friday
- 10:00 - 12:00 Absolute Radio
- 16:00 - 19:00 Absolute Classic Rock
- 19:00 - 20:00 Absolute Radio ExtraAbsolute Radio ExtraAbsolute Radio Extra is a part time radio service similar to BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra. The station was launched to broadcast the exclusive live coverage of the Premier League Games under the Rock n Roll Football brand, also broadcast on the main Absolute station and Absolute Radio 90s...
Saturday
- 09:00 - 13:00 Absolute Classic Rock
- 13:30 - 15:00 Absolute Radio ExtraAbsolute Radio ExtraAbsolute Radio Extra is a part time radio service similar to BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra. The station was launched to broadcast the exclusive live coverage of the Premier League Games under the Rock n Roll Football brand, also broadcast on the main Absolute station and Absolute Radio 90s...
- 15:00 - 17:00 Absolute Radio