In the Spotlight | 20th Century Boy

In this series of reviews, we’re putting some of our shows into the spotlight. Led and run entirely by volunteers, Radio Harrow broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from our studios in Northwick Park, and this week, we caught up with Neal Ford, who hosts 20th Century Boy every Tuesday evening.

Firstly, tell us about yourself. What brings you to Radio Harrow?

It was the summer of 2015 when my wife had finally had enough. “Stop moaning that you wish you’d been a radio presenter when you were younger and go and become one now, what’s stopping you?” Nothing, I thought, so I did.

And how lucky was I to find Radio Harrow? The most lovely, nurturing group of people around. They took an anxious 15 year old boy hiding in the body of a 50 something year old man, gave him time, responsibility and confidence and let him fly.

And now, the show. What is 20th Century Boy all about?

How lucky am I to have the next hour, when the day has been done and the night time upon us, to have a cosy chat with my one listener, however many of those one listeners there happens to be is immaterial?

It’s just the two us having a chat by the fireside listening, as the name of the show would suggest, to music from the 50’s through the 90’s.

Whilst that late night slot is designed to gently end the day, I’m also lucky enough to be invited onto other Tuesday shows too when the early hour allows for more banter among the team players and what fun we have?

What should listeners expect in a typical week on the show?

As everyone on Tuesday nights is aware, I don’t over-plan the show, I think ‘stuff off the cuff’ is a fairly well placed description. But I do try to have some structure, usually celebrating anniversaries highlighting ‘ people and things that went before’ that may possibly have been forgotten over time, maybe an unassuming songwriter responsible for a million seller that can still walk the streets unrecognised.

Do you have a radio idol?

I do have a radio idol and it was John Peel, who I had the pleasure to meet at the bar one day before a Wembley cup final in 1982. During our chat he was approached by an autograph hunter who asked him if had a pen, taking one from his pocket he went to sign his autograph only for the autograph hunter to grab the pen off him with the immortal line…”Thanks mate, Gordon Banks is over there”.

Lastly, you’re stuck on a remote island for the rest of time! Who would you bring with you for the ride?

Well the Who would obviously be anyone with a boat!
And the What would have to be a football, who I’d naturally be obliged to name Mitre.

How to listen!

You can catch Neal Ford and 20th Century Boy every week on Tuesdays from 10pm via radioharrow.org. You can also listen via the TuneIn mobile app or by telling your smart speaker to ‘Play Radio Harrow’ .

Contact the studio!

You can contact the studio during the show by calling 0208 869 3959 or by sending a Whatsapp to the same number. You can also email studio@radioharrow.org.