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Profile: Richard Allinson: Aged just two, Richard's dad saw him move away from his family in Birmingham to Middlesbrough - and in the early years, until such time as the family were reunited in the same house, his dad would leave for work early on Monday morning, not returning until the Friday of the same week, so Richard's early years were spent without his Dad for company and conversation. He remembers him leaving and missing him terribly. Growing up, and then leaping into his education, it was in 1980 that Richard graduated with a BA from Lancaster University having studied Economics (Law & Marketing). During his time there, he ran for miles on routes around the campus and has fond memories of live gigs played out in the Great Hall including the likes of The Ramones, Blondie, Joan Armatrading, The Average White Band, Graham Parker & The Rumour and John Peel attempting to play records. All students enjoy the pleasures of socialising with a drink or two, and you could often find Richard in the Carpenters Arms in Lancaster and at the centre of things during Cartmel College lock in sessions.
His college studies took him to Fylde in Lancashire - his memories are particularly clear owing to the lack of heating on site - and this is where he picked up work for Bailrigg FM in their local studios. He was lucky enough to study before the onslaught and effects of student loans - but always found debt a considerable distraction during his studies. Talking of finance, whilst at Lancaster University, he was firstly Treasurer and then President of Bailrigg.
Upon relinquishing the responsibilities of studying, he had ambitions of joining the legal profession - but having had ambitions to be a barrister, became disillusioned and left the legal trade behind, instead of taking silk, he took up the microphone, as Breakfast Presenter with Capital FM in London - a show that would go on to win awards. Whilst at Capital, he also presented the Chart Show, Drivetime and in the late 10:00pm-Mdnight slot. Radio was something else that Richard had always wanted to do and thought that if he didn't do it then, he probably wouldn't get the chance again. At the same time, this being around 1994-5. Richard worked alongside Julia Carling on fledgling satellite music channel, an MTV spin-off, titled VH1 where, together, they hosted a live show.
It was in 1997 that he took up the role he's become so renowned for - the host of BBC Radio 2's late night 10:30-Midnight show. He also appeared on the the Saturday line up with yet another of the station's most listened to shows, 15:30-18:30 in which he launched the 'Radio Wall Of Sound' where listeners could ring in, listen to a selection of snippets of tunes until they liked one particularly, for it to play as quickly as they'd shouted 'play' or made some other noise dictated by the host after the caller had been probed about their life. They were rewarded with a CD album of their choice. Richard ranks his Radio 2 work as the high point of his career, finding the station less restrictive than others. Some of his shows have been memorable for a number of reasons including broadcasting from Concorde, interviewing Carly Simon at her home, watching Sting at his house in Tuscany and enjoying the view of watching money flow in to BBC Children In Need. He enjoys being part of a national network which is in touch with millions of everyday folk on a regular basis. This, he has now realised, is really what he's always wanted. Home life is purposely distanced from his work life. This allows him to casually nip off to the shops - a quiet life, if he needed one, would mean going to work!
Richard cites his producers as being "..brilliant" having brought him some superb guests who joined him on weekday evenings over his 7 year late night Radio 2 stint. The immediacy, warmth and live atmosphere of radio, particularly late night with the lights down has allowed some particularly riveting and intimate conversations over the time. The only people that were ever invited onto his show are people that he knows. Those that didn't take to the idea of late night studio visits were dealt with by extending the offer to record interviews, even if that meant trips to their hotel, particularly if that was the only way to get something in the can. On other occasions, some of the fond moments, he's gone further.
His day was usually assuredly busy - starting at 6:00am when his alarm wakes him from his slumbers, or when one his three boys wakes him up instead. Breakfasting on a diet of fruit, he also takes in phone-calls with producers and promoters highlighting guests for his show, peppermint tea (which aides digestion!), commercial voiceover work, the odd meeting or two and a 'wants' list from wife Linda. His family are suitably unimpressed with Richard's career, and what he's been up to in it. At the other end. the day rounded off at around 2:00am. Firstly, dinner with the family, and some time with his children, before cutting a dash to Broadcasting House by 8:30pm to spend the two hours before air sifting through a deluge of e-mails and letters, sound checking with guests and discussing the sheer volume of material crammed so smoothly into the 90-minute show. Practically experiencing a 'Blink and miss it' scenario with each show, he gets back home by 1:00am, to be back in the land of nod by 2:00am, and the wake up call just four hours later to do it all again!
Known to receive many tempting offers of work, he's been frustrated by their demands to give up a regular radio commitment - something he once said that he didn't want to do. Following a patch of many a radio presenter, he has a keen eye for behind the scenes production and this was a major factor in him stepping down from the late night Radio 2 slot he'd held for 7 years 1 month and 27 days.
Regular appearances on Radio 2 went on the slide from Thursday 3rd June 2004 until the Summer of 2005. 3rd June 2004 was the date that Richard presented his last weekday evening show for the station (22:30-00:00). This change caused some difference of opinion within the discussion elements of the industry, but, speaking at the time, Richard said that he saw the appointment of former Radio 1 presenter Mark Radcliffe as "inspired" and meant that, for what was the first time in 24 years, he'd not been tied to a daily show. Richard exudes a liking for production aspects of broadcasting, and the change allowed him to focus on the network's 'Sold On Song' and 'Live & Exclusive' projects amongst others.
The next change to affect Richard was the curtailing of his Saturday afternoon slot - formerly 15:30-18:30, the show was triimmed to 16:00-18:00. Then, in the Summer of 2005, regular slots for the popular presenter stopped completely when changes in the schedule led to the likes of Dermot O'Leary and, latterly, Chris Evans taking up the afternoon slots around the time Richard used to be on.
For those thinking of taking up a career in broadcasting, Richard advises anyone to '...get stuck in...' but if you want to be a political journalist, study politics - there is a demand for good people. Presentation skills he says, can be taught, ideas and attitude cannot - and he says he is yet to meet a person who can predict the public's next move. Richard is a huge David Bowie fan and was once invited to New York for an exclusive conversation and playback of his album 'Reality' - but this wasn't the first time, as he did the same with David's 'Heathen' album too!
Richard also appears on BFBS, British Forces Broadcasting Service on their second channel BFBS Radio 2 - and his show has become essential listtening for music lovers in the British Forces located overseas. He's been working on the various networks since 1980, appearing on Most Wanted for BFBS Radio 1 where he played mostly new music with a cutting edge, later BFBS UK and others but moved to BFBS Radio 2 in 2003 taking on a new style but the style to which the public have grown accustomed to on BBC Radio 2. It's not just the station titles that are similar - Auntie is so supportive of the Forces Network that Richard has been known to interview a selection of special guests on both stations. Additionally, Richard has also been known to appear on the BBC World Service.
Outside of the radio world, Richard has taken a long seat as a Judge on the panel of the highly respected Laurence Olivier Theatre Awards. In 1996, he was appointed Chairman of the Commercial Radio Convention.
Allinsonfacts:
His first appearance on TV was not as a presenter - he appeared on Thames TV News having been announced as a radio station's new young DJ;
Aged 11, his first holiday was in Benidorm;
He first sampled an alcoholic drink by nicking some of his mother's Gin & Tonic;
An Alfa Romeo was his first car;
The first residence of his own was in St. John's Wood, London;
If there was a fire in his house, the first thing he'd save would be his family, and secondly, his music collection;
At the first sign of some time off, Richard likes nothing more than to call home, open a bottle of wine and play with his kids.
Whereabouts: Richard is still with BBC Radio 2, but only on what is described in the trade as a 'swing' basis. This means that he can be heard on an ad-hoc basis filling in, usually, for the likes of Sarah Kennedy, Terry Wogan or Ken Bruce and very occasionally Steve Wright.
Visit the programme schedule to check up on Richard's appearances: www.bbc.co.uk/radio2