About
"It’s important to encourage young talent and, like many of the DJs who have started their careers on Radio Caroline over the years, I think that Josh has a bright future in broadcasting."
- Peter Moore, Radio Caroline Station Manager
19-year-old Josh has been working in radio for over five years as a presenter, producer and Station Manager. Josh's love for radio is rooted in his love for music; he prides himself in having a music taste different to most people his age. Josh loves the 'oldies' most, including Queen, Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles, UB40, The Who, Pet Shop Boys, Dire Straits, The Kinks and The Four Seasons, but also enjoys listening to lots of music from this side of the century too. Josh's love for music doesn't just span across the decades, but the genres too! He loves anything from rock and pop, Motown and soul, ska and reggae, funk and disco, and even a bit of classical!
In April 2019, he started his broadcasting career at Chelmsford Community Radio, on the Drive Time show, which quickly brought in experience, as well as interviews with the likes of acting royalty Jim Carrey, renowned comedian Crissy Rock and a number of local guests. When leaving the station in September 2022, Josh stated that "before joining the team, I'd never have thought of doing anything quite like radio, but here I learned just how special music can be and the joys of sharing it with other people."
October 2020 saw Josh become a part of the team at Caroline Community Radio as it begun broadcasting to the Maldon District and beyond. Here, he had the opportunity to present alongside Ray Clark, Graham Bannerman, Johnny Lewis and many other broadcasting icons, and interviewed a range of local guests, plus international stars like Tim Staffell (Smile, later Queen), Romeo Challenger (Showaddywaddy) and John Illsley (Dire Straits). Alongside the star-studded interviews, Josh has been a part of several offshore broadcasts on board the Ross Revenge with the station, organising and running the most recent ones. As a reward for several years of hard work and dedication, Josh was promoted to Assistant Station Manager in April 2023 and continues to run the station, organise events and scout new talent in this role.
On the 1-year anniversary of the station, Josh acknowledged that "I didn't apply for the station when I first saw that Radio Caroline had launched a local station just up the road from me. I didn't think they'd have me. When I finally decided that nothing bad could happen if I applied, it turns out they wanted me after all! I couldn't be happier working here, I'm very glad they took me on."
In February 2022, legendary former-pirate-radio station Radio Caroline invited Josh, a life-long listener of the station, aboard MV Ross Revenge for the monthly Radio Caroline North weekend - which resulted in him becoming the youngest ever DJ for the historic station. In a press statement, Josh described joining Radio Caroline as 'very exciting' and highlighted how "the support I have received from listeners has been overwhelming and I have had a very warm welcome from the Caroline team. This opportunity means the world to me". Station Manager Peter Moore stated "his debut shows on Ross Revenge received a fantastic response from listeners all around the world", adding that "Josh has a bright future in broadcasting".
After lots of local, national and international media coverage of his appearance, Radio Caroline snatched up the record-breaking DJ on a full-time basis for their Album Chart Show, while Josh also continued to work with both community stations. Since joining what was the UK's first ever pirate radio station in 1964, Josh has been a part of many Caroline North weekends from the Ross Revenge, been interviewed on a range of radio stations all over the world, been a guest speaker at events, and learnt to escape the crowds whenever he leaves the house...
In September 2023, Josh joined Global Academy for their Year 14 course which focuses on creative enterprise in the media. For a year he worked with the UK's biggest commercial radio group to develop his skills on the 'business' side of radio, learning how to start up, and maintain, a media business while also getting to know other younger people with similar aspirations of a career in media.
BBC Essex came calling in October, offering Josh a regular role producing their Sports programme, with more spontaneous work across the station when he is needed. Other work for BBC Essex has included working as Assistant Producer on the Afternoon Show over the Summer, and also helping to produce their Radio Airshow outside broadcast from the Clacton Air Show.
The next month, Josh again made headlines after he won Gold at the Community Radio Awards in the 'Young Person of the Year' category. He was presented with the award at the ceremony in Newcastle, and came out victorious amongst DJ's under the age of 25 from across the UK. In 2024, Josh was again nominated at the Community Radio Awards, this time for Volunteer of the Year. The results are yet to be announced...
In April 2024, Caroline Community Radio relaunched as Caroline Coastal FM, a project Josh had been working on since he took over the running of the station just a year previously. With new management, the station was heading in a new direction which sought for more engagement in the local community and more professional programming. Josh continues to present shows on the station alongside his management work. Caroline Coastal FM can often be found out and about in the Maldon District attending or hosting local events.
All rights reserved. Josh Holmes-Bright
© 2022
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