Matthew Bannister

{{short description|British media executive and broadcaster|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Infobox presenter|name=Matthew Bannister|birth_name=Richard Matthew Bannister|image=Matthew Bannister photo.jpg|birth_date=16 March 1957 (age 66)|birth_place=Sheffield|alma_mater=University of Nottingham|occupation=Broadcaster and podcaster|spouse(s)=Amanda Walker (m. 1984, d. 1988); Shelagh Macleod (m. 1989, d. 2005); Katherine Hood (m. 2007, div. 2013); Kate Pluck (m. 2023)|children=Jessica Bannister, Joseph Bannister}}

Richard Matthew Bannister (born 16 March 1957) is a British media executive and broadcaster.

Early career

After attending King Edward VII School, Sheffield, he graduated in law at the University of Nottingham in 1978, and joined BBC Radio Nottingham as a trainee reporter and subsequently the presenter of its speech-based breakfast show, Morning Report. It was here that he first met Trevor Dann, whom he subsequently worked with at BBC Radio 1.

He first worked for Radio 1 as a presenter of its news programme Newsbeat between 1983 and 1985. He worked for Capital Radio as a journalist in the early 1980s, later returning as head of news and talks after leaving Radio 1. He was also co-presenter with Sarah Ward of Capital Radio's The Way It Is.

Managerial career

Bannister first established himself as a name in the radio industry in the late 1980s and early 1990s as managing editor of GLR (Greater London Radio), the BBC's local radio station for London. Here he worked for the first time with Chris Evans, who was pioneering many of the ideas which would later win him greater success and much controversy at Radio 1, and also employed a number of the more musically credible DJs from Radio 1's past, such as Annie Nightingale, Tommy Vance, Janice Long and Johnnie Walker. The line-up also included Danny Baker, Emma Freud and Chris Morris.

After working for two years in the BBC corporate centre on projects related to the renewal of the BBC's Royal Charter, in 1993 Bannister was chosen as the new controller for BBC Radio 1,{{Cite web |title=The Radio 1 Timeline |url=https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/100-voices/radio-reinvented/timelines/bbc.com/historyofthebbc/100-voices/radio-reinvented/timelines/radio-1/ |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en}} replacing Johnny Beerling who had worked at the station since its inception in 1967. Many of the DJs, producers and other staff at Radio 1 had grown old with the station, as had the audience. Keen to return the station to its original purpose for "young listeners", Bannister overhauled the staff, resulting in many presenters either resigning or being sacked, and replacing them with new presenters. Over the next few years the station lost approximately 5 million listeners.

The Britpop explosion proved the success of Bannister's strategy: the bands he had championed a year or two earlier, when they were comparatively obscure and marginal, were now part of the mainstream, and Radio 1 was booming again. Chris Evans, who had become a hugely popular national figure as breakfast DJ, was the figurehead of this boom, but eventually things went sour; in January 1997 Evans resigned after Bannister refused to allow him to waive his Friday show, to concentrate on his TV show TFI Friday. After Mark Radcliffe and Marc Riley had an unsuccessful stint on the breakfast show, the team of Kevin Greening and Zoe Ball were hosting the breakfast show when Bannister left Radio 1 in 1998 (Ball would subsequently host the show on her own).

In the autumn of 1996 Bannister was appointed director of radio, a post which gave him responsibility for all the national BBC radio networks other than Five Live. He remained controller of Radio 1 alongside this until March 1998, when he was succeeded by Andy Parfitt.Bannister's time as controller of Radio 1 is documented in {{cite book|last=Garfield|first=Simon|authorlink=Simon Garfield|title=The Nation's Favourite: The True Adventures of Radio 1|isbn=978-0571197354|date=July 1999|publisher=Faber and Faber}} In 1999, Bannister was appointed chief executive of BBC Production, responsible for all non-news programme-making on English television, radio and online. He oversaw production centres in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol.{{Cite web |last=1999-05-07T00:00:00 |title=Bannister begins restructure of Production |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bannister-begins-restructure-of-production/1214034.article |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Broadcast |language=en |archive-date=25 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925030934/https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/bannister-begins-restructure-of-production/1214034.article |url-status=live }} When John Birt announced he was stepping down as BBC director general, Bannister lost out to Greg Dyke. After a short stint in 2000 as director of marketing and communications, he returned to radio presenting on BBC 5 Live, Radio 4 and the World Service.

Return to broadcasting

In October 2000 Bannister resigned from the BBC to return to broadcasting.{{cite news|work=The Guardian|title=Bannister quits BBC|date=13 October 2000|accessdate=30 October 2014|first=Janine|last=Gibson|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2000/oct/13/marketingandpr.bbc}} From 2003 to 2005 he had his own late night talk show on BBC Radio 5 Live. He also deputised for other presenters on the station as well as on programmes on Radio 4 such as Broadcasting House and Saturday PM. Since 2006 he has presented an obituary programme on Radio 4 called Last Word and between 2008 and 2018 also hosted Outlook on the BBC World Service.{{cite web|work=Classique Promotions|title=Matthew Bannister|accessdate=30 October 2014|url=http://www.classiquepromotions.co.uk/0/3074/Matthew+Bannister|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141030153316/http://www.classiquepromotions.co.uk/0/3074/Matthew+Bannister|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 October 2014}} He has also sat in for Jeremy Vine on his lunchtime Radio 2 show. He was chairman of the independent production company Wire Free Productions from 2012 to 2018.

''Folk on Foot''

In August 2018, Bannister launched his own podcast, Folk on Foot,{{cite web | url=https://podbiblemag.com/exclusive-interview-with-matthew-bannister-from-folk-on-foot/ | title=Exclusive interview with Matthew Bannister from Folk on Foot | date=18 February 2022 | access-date=19 September 2023 | archive-date=9 December 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209151113/https://podbiblemag.com/exclusive-interview-with-matthew-bannister-from-folk-on-foot/ | url-status=live }} in which he walks and talks with leading folk performers in the landscapes that have inspired them.{{Cite web |last=November 2022 |first=Reem Makari 29 |title=Creator Download: Matthew Bannister |url=https://www.podpod.com/article/1806566 |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=www.podpod.com |language=en}} During the Covid pandemic lockdowns, the podcast staged four online Front Room Festivals which raised £327,000 for musicians who had lost their livelihoods. In 2023, Bannister walked 186 miles in two weeks{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Tradfolk |date=2023-06-26 |title=Matthew Bannister to walk from Wickham to FolkEast for charity |url=https://tradfolk.co/news/matthew-bannister-the-big-walk/ |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Tradfolk |language=en-GB |archive-date=1 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001114115/https://tradfolk.co/news/matthew-bannister-the-big-walk/ |url-status=live }} from the Wickham Festival in Hampshire to FolkEast in Suffolk, raising nearly £18,000 for the charity Help Musicians.

The podcast has won or been nominated for many awards:

2019: British Podcast Awards: Best Arts and Culture: Silver{{Cite web |title=Winners 2019 — British Podcast Awards |url=https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/winners-2019-1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117221554/https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/winners-2019-1 |archive-date=17 November 2022 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=British Podcast Awards |language=en-GB |url-status=live }}
2019: Audio Production Awards: Best Music Producer: Natalie Steed: Gold; Best Music Presenter: Matthew Bannister: Nominee{{Cite web |last=TWA |first=Tim Wilson - |title=Audio Production Awards Winners announced |url=https://www.audiouk.org/index.php/policy-public-affairs/press-releases/613-audio-production-awards-winners-announced |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218185415/https://www.audiouk.org/index.php/policy-public-affairs/press-releases/613-audio-production-awards-winners-announced |archive-date=18 February 2020 |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=www.audiouk.org |language=en-gb |url-status=dead }}
2020: ARIA Awards: Best Independent Podcast: Nominee{{Cite web |title=2020 ARIAS |url=https://www.radioacademy.org/arias/2020-arias/ |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Radio Academy |archive-date=26 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926114327/https://www.radioacademy.org/arias/2020-arias/ |url-status=live }}
2020: Lovie Awards: Best Arts and Entertainment Podcast: Gold and People's Winner; Best Individual Episode: Karine Polwart at Fala Moor: Silver{{Cite web |title=The Lovie Awards Winners Gallery |url=http://winnersgallery.lovieawards.com/?y=2022 |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=The Lovie Awards }}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
2021: Webby Awards: Best Music Podcast: Honoree{{Cite web |title=NEW Webby Gallery + Index |url=http://winners.webbyawards.com/2021/podcasts/general-series/music/166000/folk-on-foot |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=NEW Webby Gallery + Index |language=en |archive-date=1 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201105049/https://winners.webbyawards.com/2021/podcasts/general-series/music/166000/folk-on-foot |url-status=live }}
2021: British Podcast Awards: Best Lockdown Podcast: Nominee{{Cite web |last=Richardson |first=Adam |date=2021-05-28 |title=British Podcast Awards 2021 - Nominations Announced |url=https://podbiblemag.com/british-podcast-awards-2021-nominations/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=POD BIBLE |language=en-GB |archive-date=14 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114163518/https://podbiblemag.com/british-podcast-awards-2021-nominations/ |url-status=live }}
2021: Audio Production Awards: Best Music Producer: Natalie Steed: Nominee{{Cite web |title=Winners announced for 2021 Audio Production Awards {{!}} Audio UK |url=https://www.audiouk.org.uk/winners-announced-for-2021-audio-production-awards/ |access-date=2023-09-19 |language=en-US}}
2022: ARIA Awards: Best Specialist Music Show: Silver{{Cite web |title=The ARIAS 2022 |url=https://www.radioacademy.org/arias/2022-arias/ |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Radio Academy |archive-date=3 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231003062347/https://www.radioacademy.org/arias/2022-arias/ |url-status=live }}
2023: ARIA Awards: Best Specialist Music Show: Nominee; Best Music Special (The Musical Village of Pathhead, Midlothian): Nominee{{Cite web |title=ARIAS 2023 Winners |url=https://www.radioacademy.org/arias/2023-winners/ |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Radio Academy}}
2023: Independent Podcast Awards: Best Arts and Culture Podcast; Winner{{Cite web |last=Wilby |first=Rosie |date=2023-10-31 |title=Winners of the Independent Podcast Awards 2023 |url=https://podbiblemag.com/winners-of-the-independent-podcast-awards-2023/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=POD BIBLE |language=en-GB}}
2023: LOVIE Awards: Best Arts, Entertainment and Sport Podcast; Silver and People's Choice Winner{{Cite web |title=Details |url=http://winners.lovieawards.com/categories/details/ |access-date=2024-01-14 |website=The Lovies Awards Winners Gallery |language=en |archive-date=14 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114163142/http://winners.lovieawards.com/categories/details/ |url-status=live }}

Honorary doctorates

On 20 July 2011 Bannister was awarded an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, the University of Nottingham.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-14064152|title=Kenneth Alan Taylor gets Nottingham honorary degree|date=12 July 2011|accessdate=30 October 2014|publisher=BBC News|archive-date=4 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204143538/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-14064152|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/registrar/documents/hon-deg-list-sep14.pdf|title=Honorary Graduates of the University of Nottingham|work=University of Nottingham|date=19 September 2014|page=1|accessdate=30 October 2014}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} On 19 November 2019 he was awarded an honorary doctorate of arts from Sheffield Hallam University.{{Cite web |url=https://www.shu.ac.uk/alumni/news/doctor-who-cast-and-crew-among-honorary-doctorate-recipients |title=Doctor Who cast and crew among Honorary Doctorate recipients |access-date=23 February 2020 |archive-date=23 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223153246/https://www.shu.ac.uk/alumni/news/doctor-who-cast-and-crew-among-honorary-doctorate-recipients |url-status=live }} On 19 July 2023 he was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters from the University of Sheffield.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-27 |title=Ceremony schedule |url=https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/graduation/ceremony-schedule |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=www.sheffield.ac.uk |language=en}}

He is a Fellow of the Radio Academy{{cite web|url=http://www.radioacademy.org/about/fellows/ |title=Fellows |work=Radio Academy |accessdate=30 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024171034/http://www.radioacademy.org/about/fellows/ |archivedate=24 October 2014 }} and the Royal Society of Arts.

Personal life

Bannister married his first wife, the radio and TV presenter Amanda Walker, in 1984. Their daughter Jessica was born later the same year. In 1988 Amanda drowned while swimming in the sea off the Spanish Costa Blanca during a family holiday.{{cite news|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/oct/21/matthew-bannister-radio-1|title=Matthew Bannister: 'Lots about Radio 1 still brings me out in a rash'|date=21 October 2012|accessdate=30 October 2014|first=John|last=Plunkett|archive-date=22 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622032741/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/oct/21/matthew-bannister-radio-1|url-status=live}} In 1989, Bannister married Shelagh Macleod, who later became senior vice-president of legal and business affairs at the record company EMI. Their son Joe was born in 1990. Shelagh died of breast cancer in 2005. In 2007, he married Katherine Hood, a private equity investor. They were divorced in 2013. In 2023, he married his long-term partner, Kate Pluck.

References

External links

[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qpmv Last Word] (BBC Radio 4)
[http://www.wirefreeproductions.com/ Wire Free Productions]
[http://www.radiorewind.co.uk/radio1/matthew_bannister_page.htm Matthew Bannister page on the Radio Rewind website] (includes biography, audio clip and an image)
[http://www.folkonfoot.com www.folkonfoot.com]
[https://www.folkradio.co.uk/2018/07/new-podcast-folk-on-foot/ Matthew Bannister launches Folk on Foot podcast]

{{Succession box|title=Controller of BBC Radio 1|before= Johnny Beerling |after= Andy Parfitt |years= October 1993 - March 1998}}

Category:1957 births

Category:Alumni of the University of Nottingham

Category:BBC Radio 1 controllers

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:BBC Radio 5 Live presenters

Category:British radio DJs

Category:British radio personalities

Category:Living people

Category:People educated at King Edward VII School, Sheffield

Category:The Times people