Profile: Neal Veglio: A man who sees himself very much as a presenter rather than a newsreader, he learnt his craft listening to Nick Abbot, Nick now being one of Neal's personal friends, and he also enjoyed/enjoys the work of Howard Stern, Rick Dees and Chris Moyles.  In particular, Neal enjoys any presenters outside of the UK radio scene. (read into that what you will..Ed) 

Redundancy from a London-based Digital Radio station was quite a blow, but he picked himself up again, and he found himself in Oxford Street's Top Shop branch on their in-store TV station - but he didn't enjoy this, sought other employment and moved to national AM station talkSPORT in the roles of both presenter and Head of News.  By all accounts, his time at the station was enjoyable if somewhat slightly complicated.  talkSPORT is believed to have a lot of staff with newspaper experience rather than radio experience, and it's believed that there was immense pressure to get the facts out on-air quickly and as they were found.  The pleasurable side for Neal was getting the chance to meet some people he'd classed a big-name celebrities as he was growing up.  

Speaking on the radio business, Neal states it's a 'sorry state of affairs', adding that he doesn't listen to UK radio anymore because he doesn't feel it resembles human life.  Talking about stations that allow personality, as opposed to the many that don't, he says they force their jocks to come up with 'philosophical crap' at certain points each hour.  He reflects on the comparisons between UK & US radio, commenting on Clear Channel, owners of KIIS and Z100, adding that although they have a reputation for having a 'revolving door' i.e. a heavy staff turnover, he feels that they actually don't.  Neal adds that he feels they just get rid of people who don't represent human life and instead get their "life experiences" from paid script writers.  He is less than impressed though by what he sees as the fact that the same types of people now get rewards for doing the same in this country, praising the qualities of talkSPORT's Sports Breakfast show - which he says is presented like two blokes talking in the pub.

Over recent years, Neal has been attempting to find work in the US - reflecting on thoughts that radio at the highest levels isn't necessarily fun, but that if you are determined, you can reach such heights.  After spending just over a year at talkSPORT, which ended in February 2003, he made a move to Tindle Radio station Dream 107 in Essex, in the posts of Morning Show jock and Head Of News.  

Whereabouts: Following contact from Ben Morris, we originally understood that Neal had found a job in the United States, however, Mark sent us an e-mail in late September 2004 stating that Neal is now working for Trafficlink in London, and can normally be seen sitting in the background on travel news aired on London Today at Breakfast Time on BBC Television.

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