Radio Stations in Essex

This page provides details of the local radio stations in the county of Essex

Heart Essex (was Essex FM)

Essex FM Becomes Heart Launched in September 1981 as Essex Radio, the station has now been rebranded to "Heart" - along with over 30 other local radio stations - this means that what you hear in Essex sounds like all of the other Heart-branded radio stations. The re-brand took place on Monday 22nd June 2009 - click here for a brief audio extract of the re-launch.

Before the re-brand, the station was known as Essex FM. Martin Day hosts the station's breakfast show ("Martin, Su and the Morning Crew") from 6 'til 10am. Other names on Heart station include Chris Skinner and Matt Mackay. Networked shows include Toby Anstis, Emma Bunton and Jason Donovan.

Heart Essex Studio
Heart Essex On-air studio in Glebe Road, Chelmsford

Way back in 1981, Essex Radio was owned by local businesses, including Keddies, HW Stone, Garons and nightclub TOTS. Many will remember the days when Essex Radio was "somewhere special", with presenters including Jon Scragg, Terry Davis, Dave Gregory, Keith Rogers, and local legend Tim "Timbo" Lloyd. See our Essex Radio Remembered page for some nostalgia.

The station was taken over by the Daily Mail newspaper group in the 90's, then by GWR, and now is owned by Global Radio. For 23 years, the station broadcast from studios two floors below ground at Clifftown Road, in Southend-on-Sea. From October 2004, Essex FM started broadcasting from new studios in Glebe Road, Chelmsford.

Website: www.heartessex.co.uk
Address: 31 Glebe Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1QG
Phone: 01245-524500. Studio: 01245 525252 Text: 07870 150 104
Fax: 01245-534509
Email: via www.heartessex.co.uk
How to listen: 96.3FM (South Essex), 102.6FM (North Essex), 97.5FM (Southend relay) , internet, DAB digital radio
Other links: Essex Radio remembered

BBC Essex

BBC Essex Logo BBC local radio for the county of Essex started in November 1986. Based in studios in New London Road in Chelmsford, the presenter line-up includes: Ray Clark, Dave Monk, Etholle George, Steve Scruton, John Hayes, Mark Punter, Tom Warmington and Roger Buxton. former presenters have included Tim 'Timbo' Lloyd, Etholle Pegrum, Alison Hartley, Simon Baldock and Liz Mullen.
The station has additional studios in Colchester and Southend-on-Sea, and broadcasts a special service to cover the annual May Southend Airshow.

Website: www.bbc.co.uk/england/essex/
Address: BBC Essex, PO Box 765, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 9XB
Phone: 01245-616000. Studio: 01245-495050. Text: 07786-201035
Fax: 01245 492983
Email:essex@bbc.co.uk
How to listen: 103.5FM (Chelmsford), 95.3FM (Southend), DAB digital radio

Chelmsford Radio 107.7

Chelmsford Radio Logo Starting life as 'Chelmer FM' in 1998, the station rebranded to Dream 107.7, and again as "Chelmsford Radio" in February 2009. The station is owned by the Tindle Radio group.
The station started broadcasting from Chelmsford High Street, and moved to studios in Heybridge, near Maldon. From 2009, the station started broadcasting from Southend-on-Sea, at sister station Southend Radio. On-air voices include names from Essex FM such as Paul Lovett, Adrian Fox, Nick Hull and Tracey Young.

Website: www.chelmsfordradio.com
Address: Chelmsford Radio, Icon Building, Western Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea SS1 1EE
Phone: 0845 365 1078
Fax: 0845 365 1079
How to listen: 107.7FM

Ten-17 FM, Harlow

Tony Williams in studio 1 The local station for the Essex new town of Harlow started back May 1993, and was closely linked to Essex FM in Southend. Essex FM made use of the 101.7FM transmitter to rebroadcast its output, leaving Ten17 to broadcast a mere 3 hour evening show from local studios in Harlow. Clever use of split news facilities, and a temperamental split commercial cart machine system, meant that services from Harlow retained a local identity, and as time moved on, the station took on more hours, more staff, better studio equipment, and computerisation.

As of 2008, on-air presenters were: Wyatt, Tim Humphries, Freddie Scherer and Kevin Hughes. Former presenters include Gary Mulligan, Tony Williams, Dave Kelly and Vicky James

Website: www.ten17.co.uk
Address: Latton Bush Centre, Southern Way, Harlow, Essex, CM18 7BU
Phone: 01279 431 017. Text: 07870 150 117
Fax: 01279 445 289
How to listen: 101.7FM, Internet

Heart Colchester

Formerly known as SGR Colchester, the station renamed to Heart Colchester in January 2009, along with a number of other local radio stations owned by Global Radio. SGR Colchester as it was, appeared on the airwaves around Colchester in October 1993.

Website: www.heartcolchester.co.uk
Address: Abbeygate Two 9 Whitewell Road Colchester CO2 7DE
Phone: 01206 575859
Fax: 01206 216149
How to listen: 96.1FM, Internet

Dream 100 FM, North Essex

Dream 100 This 'incremental' station case on air to serve the Tendring area in October 1990. Part of the Tindle Radio group of stations. Presenters have included: Barry Lewis,Graham Bannerman, Bill Rollins and Kevin Ford

Website: www.dream100.com
Phone: 01206 764466
Fax: 01206 715102
Address: Northgate House St. Peter's Street Colchester Essex CO1 1HT
How to listen: 100.2FM

Gold 1359/1431

Gold Essex Starting life as the medium wave frequencies of Essex Radio, the frequencies split in July 1989, when Breeze AM was born. It changed name to Breeze, then The Breeze. Next it became part of the Classic Gold Digital network, and as of Aug 2007, it's called "Gold".

Website: www.mygoldmusic.co.uk
Phone: Tel 01245-524549
Phone in: 01245 52535401702 333711
Address: 31 Glebe Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1QG
Email: via www.mygoldmusic.co.uk
How to listen: 1359AM (Chelmsford), 1431AM (Southend), DAB digital radio

Southend Radio

Southend Radio Logo Southend Radio launched on Friday 28th March 2008 from a purpose-built studio complex on Southend seafront, close to the historic Southend Pier. The station is staffed by a number of former Essex FM presenters, including Mike Porter (Breakfast show), Tracie Young, Tracy Cooper, Adrian Fox, Ben Payne and Head of News Nick Hull. The station's Programme Controller and Drivetime presenter is James O'Neill, and Sue Wood is the station's manager. More on Southend Radio

Website: www.southendradio.com
Phone: Office: 01702-455070. Studio: 01702-455060
Address: Icon Building, Western Esplanade, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 1EE
How to listen: 105.1FM

Time 107.5 FM, Romford

Time FM Romford's technically in East London station, and not Essex, but as it has an Essex postal address, and broadcasts into Essex, this station qualifies for a listing here. Starting life as Active FM in 1998 after winning the Radio Authority licence for Havering, the station relaunched as 'Soul FM' in March 2002, and again as '107.5 Soul City' in April 2002. In 2004, the station changed names again... this time to "Time FM", under the management of Sunrise Radio. On the station, you can currently hear a few old names from Essex FM, including soul man John Leech.

Website: www.time1075.com/
Phone: 01708 730 383 or 0870 6001075
Fax: 01708 731 643
Address: Lambourne House, 7 Western Road, Romford, Essex RM1 3LD
How to listen: 107.5FM

Phoenix FM, Brentwood

Starting as a special event station for the Brentwood and Billericay area on a 28-day basis in 1996, the station has run a number of successful RSLs, with the most recent one being in February 2006.
In 2006, Phoenix was awarded one of the new Community Radio licences, and started broadcasting on 23rd March 2007 on 98.0FM.

Website: www.phoenixfm.com
Phone: 01277 849931 (Studio), 01277 849929 (Office)
Address: The Baytree Centre, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 4BX
Email: via phoenixfm.com/contact.php
How to listen: 98.0FM (from March 2007).

Saint FM 94.7, Maldon

Saint FM Community radio station run by volunteers serving Maldon and Burnham on Crouch. Went on-air in December 2007.

Website: www.saintfm.org.uk
Phone: 01621-785689
Address: St. Peter’s High School, Southminster Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex CM0 8QB
How to listen: 94.7FM and online.

107 Garrison FM, Colchester

Colchester Garrison FM won a licence to broadcast in December 2005, and started FM broadcasts in May 2006. It's a community station serving soldiers, their families and Ministry of Defence civilians in Colchester.

Website: www.garrisonfm.com
Phone: 01206 816465
Address: 107 Garrison FM, c/o Londis, Homefield Road, Colchester CO2 9PF
How to listen: 107FM and online.

Link FM, Havering

Community radio station for Havering that started in April 2007.

Website: www.linkfm.net/
Phone: 01708-342200
How to listen: 92.2FM and online.

NuSound Radio, East London

Community radio station for Newham, East London that started in March 2007.

Website: www.nusoundradio.com
Phone: 020 8472 9292
How to listen: 92FM

Hospital Radio in Essex

Essex has several hospital radio radio stations broadcasting to patients at local hospitals. The stations are run entirely by volunteers, with revenue generated by fund-raising activities. Here are details of the main stations:

Southend-on-Sea: Southend Hospital Radio (formerly known as Thameside Hospital Radio), started in 1977, based on the grounds of Southend General Hospital. Details of the station can be found at www.southendhospitalradio.com
Chelmsford: Hospital Radio Chelmsford. For details, see the station's website
Ilford: Goodmayes Hospital Radio, serving Goodmayes and King George hospitals for the last 30 years. See their website, The Jumbo Sound for more. As of June 2006, the station started broadcasting online - listen to their streaming audio feed at www.thejumbosound.com
Basildon: Basildon Hospital Radio. As well as being cabled into the hospital, this 24-hour station can be heard on 1287AM. For details, see the station's website
Colchester: Hospital Radio Colchester. Launched in 1953, this station continues to broadcast to patients in Colchester General Hospital and the Essex County Hospital. For details, see the station's website
Epping: Radio Forest. Find out more at the station's website
Havering: Bedrock broadcasts to Queen's Hospital in Romford. For more, visit www.musicinhospital.org.uk
Braintree: Hospital Radio Braintree broadcasts to St Michael's and William Julien Courtauld's hospitals. www.hradiobraintree.co.uk

Student Radio in Essex

At the University of Essex in Colchester, you'll find Red Radio. This campus radio station, broadcasts 24/7 during term times, on 1404 AM. More details at www.essexstudent.com/media/redradio/

Other stations in Essex:

Links to other stations, including Internet stations and proposed services

PhoenixRock - Broadcasting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online via Live365 from Westcliff-on-Sea.
Safe Radio - Provides community radio service for Barking & Dagenham, and school radio provision for schools in and around Southend. This Internet station broadcasts from the old Essex Radio studios in Clifftown Road, Southend.
Gateway FM - Completed its first RSL on 87.7FM in July 2007, with a second in December 2007. The station is also streaming online from the Eastgate Shopping Centre. The station is planning to bid for the Basildon and Thurrock community radio station.

DAB Digital Radio in Essex

DAB - Digital Audio Broadcasting, is available in Essex. With a DAB radio, you can receive a wider range of stations that you can with just FM, and you can receive stations normally only found on medium wave, in much better, stereo, quality. The choice of radio listening in Essex has now grown. For more details of DAB stations in Essex, and what you can receive on a digital radio in the county, go to our DAB in Essex page.

More radio choice for Essex

Matsui DAB R101

If you like your radio, maybe it's time to consider DAB - In parts of Essex, you can receive sixty channels of digital radio, including stations such as: BBC Radio 7 (comedy), Planet Rock, Traffic Radio, Fun Radio (for the under 10s), 1Xtra, Talk Sport, BBC Radio 5 Live, Breeze, Saga, BBC World Service.

DAB radios start from around £40 (more). To see what's available in Essex, see our Essex DAB page. If you don't fancy DAB, there's also a stack of digital radio channels available on Freeview.

Radio Courses in Essex

South Essex College runs a weekend college course giving local listeners the opportunity to find out more about the radio industry, and radio in Essex. The course runs on Saturday mornings, in the new college building close to Southend Central station. If you'd like to know a little more about what goes into what goes on behind the scenes, find out more about Introduction to Radio.