Pete Donaldson
{{Short description|English podcaster, radio presenter and Japanophile}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{BLP primary sources|date=February 2009}}
{{Notability|Bio|date=January 2022}}}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox Comedian
| name = Pete Donaldson
| image = File:Pete Donaldson 2024.jpg
| caption = Donaldson in 2024
| birth_name =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| medium = Television, radio, podcasting
| nationality = English
| active = 2006–present
}}
Pete Donaldson is an English podcaster and radio presenter. He featured on the Danny Wallace Saturday show on Xfm (since rebranded as Radio X) and the Alex Zane breakfast show and is currently one of the presenters on The Football Ramble, Wrestle Me and The Luke and Pete Show podcasts. Donaldson has cohosted the Abroad in Japan podcast with Chris Broad since 2018.
Career
Donaldson moved to London in 2003 after studying Multimedia Media Design at University. After working as a graphic designer for three years, he gained work experience, and in turn full employment, on The Lauren Laverne Breakfast Show in 2006. He later worked as co-presenter of the Alex Zane Breakfast Show - also on Xfm. As a radio producer, Donaldson produced shows for the likes of Adam and Joe and Danny Wallace.
In 2009 Donaldson could be found presenting solo on Early Breakfast on Xfm from 1am-11pm Monday–Sunday.{{Cite web |title=Radio X Schedule |url=https://www.radiox.co.uk/radio/schedule/ |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=Radio X |language=en}} He also moved from being a producer on the Football Ramble podcast to a full-time host, something he continues today.
Donaldson later hosted the evening show of Absolute Radio, the Rock and Roll Football Matchday Warmup, as well as covering red carpet events and interviewing bands at sessions and festivals for the station. In March 2018, it was revealed that Donaldson would replace Dave Berry as the presenter of Absolute Radio's Badminton Show (due to Berry replacing Christian O'Connell as the presenter of Absolute Radio's Handball Show.)
On 12 December 2019, Donaldson announced he would be leaving Absolute Radio after nine years.{{cite web |title=Pete Donaldson to leave Absolute Radio after nine years |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2019/12/pete-donaldson-to-leave-absolute-radio-after-nine-years/ |website=Radiotoday.co.uk|access-date=12 December 2019 |date=12 December 2019}}
He also voiced the character Jerry Brockhaus in the 2008 video game Zak McKracken: Between Time and Space[https://web.archive.org/web/20151126121507/http://www.mckracken.net/news/article/zak2dc-pete-donaldson-is-jerry-brockhaus/] and characters in The Journey Down Part 2.
Podcasts
In August 2014, Donaldson founded podcast production company Stakhanov Industries alongside fellow Rambler Luke Moore, and Jonathan 'Lord Ramble' Teague.{{cite web |title=STAKHANOV INDUSTRIES LTD |url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/09184835/officers |website=Beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|access-date=11 July 2019}} The company uses the commercial name "Stak".{{Cite web |title=Home {{!}} Stak |url=https://stak.london/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=stak.london |language=en}}
In 2018, Donaldson created the podcast Abroad in Japan, with Chris Broad.{{cite web|title=Abroad in Japan- A Japanese culture broadcast|url=https://radiostakhanov.com/abroadinjapan/|website=Radiostakhanov.com|access-date=17 December 2018}} The podcast focuses on life in Japan. According to them it's "probably the best way of learning about life in Japan without actually being in Japan", which Chris Broad mentions in the intro of the episodes.{{Cite web |title=Podcasts |url=http://www.abroadinjapan.com/category-podcasts |access-date=2022-03-17 |website=Abroadinjapan.com |language=en}}
Donaldson also co-hosts popular podcast 'WrestleMe' with Marc Haynes.{{Cite web|url=https://whatculture.com/wwe/10-best-wrestling-podcasts-right-now?page=5|title = 10 Best Wrestling Podcasts Right Now|website=Whatculture.com|date = 28 August 2018}} The pair discuss every Wrestlemania event in chronological order, as well as occasional diversions into notable moments from the wider history of professional wrestling. The show's basic conceit contrasts Haynes' lifelong enthusiasm for wrestling against Donaldson's initial lack of knowledge on the sport.{{cite news |title=Wrestle Me! are creating Wrestling podcasts... |url=https://www.patreon.com/wrestleme |newspaper=Patreon |access-date=8 May 2020}} GQ magazine described the podcast as ‘Enrapturing…part-wrestling podcast, part-breakdown of the sheer ridiculousness of pro wrestling, and part-examination of the human condition’. A live version of the podcast first was hosted by Haynes and Donaldson in September 2018,{{cite web |title=Wrestle Me! |url=https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/comedy/wrestle-me/ |website=Kingsplace.co.uk |access-date=4 June 2020}} and a Patreon page for the show was launched in March 2020. Subscribers receive shows which delve into historic WCW pay-per-views, as well as other notable moments from WWE history.{{cite web |title=Welcome to the Wrestle Me patreon! |url=https://www.patreon.com/wrestleme/posts?sort=published_at |website=Patreon.com |access-date=24 August 2020}}
Donaldson is also a co-host in VGC: The Videogames Podcast, self-described as a "videogame podcast for grown-ups".{{Cite web |title=VGC: a video games podcast {{!}} Stak |url=https://stak.london/shows/vgc-a-video-games-podcast/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=stak.london |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=6127277|name=Pete Donaldson}}
- [https://planetradio.co.uk/absolute-radio/shows/pete-donaldson/ Pete Donaldson on Absolute Radio]
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