After Dinner Speakers: Simon Mayo, Ray Reardon, Michael Stroud

Simon made his first radio programme at the age of eight on a family tape recorder (for some reason under the name Simon Stephens) with his sister doing jingles on a xylophone. His first real job in radio was on a training scheme at BBC Radio Brighton, before moving full time to Radio Nottingham. Simon joined Radio 1 in May 1986, with a Saturday evening show (7.30-9.30pm). At the beginning of 1987, he took over the weekday evening show, progressing to the Breakfast Show later in 1988. Simon hosted the programme for five and a half years, during that time he turned Confessions into a national institution, prompting thousands of listeners and many celebrities to reveal their guilty secrets. The team had various guest producers, among them were Gary Lineker, Paul Gascoigne, Billy Connolly and Eric Idle. Simon moved to his Radio 1 mid-morning slot in October 1993. Simon was voted the Variety Club BBC Radio Personality of the Year for 1990, and Sony National DJ of the Year in 1991. His Pilgrimage To The Holy Land won Best Programme Award at the International Radio Festival of New York in 1987. Simon is passionate about football (Tottenham Hotspur), curry, cinema and music. He is married and has three children. He was born in September 1958, in Southgate, London.