About
"It’s important to encourage young talent and, like many of the DJs who started their careers on Radio Caroline over the years, I think Josh has a bright future in broadcasting." - Peter Moore, Radio Caroline Station Manager
18-year-old Josh has been on the radio for over five years, and 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 first begun broadcasting to the Maldon district and beyond. Here, he had the opportunity to DJ 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 a new station just up the road from me. I didn't think they'd have me. When I finally decided that nothing bad could really happen, 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 onto the 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 many local, national and international newspaper articles and coverage, Radio Caroline snatched up the record-breaking DJ on a full-time basis for the Countdown of Album Sounds, while Josh also continued to work with both community stations for several months. Since joining what was the UK's first ever pirate radio station in 1964, Josh has been a part of a number of Caroline North weekends from the Ross Revenge, been interviewed on several 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. He is currently working with the UK's biggest commercial radio group to develop his skills on the 'business' side of radio, learning about what it's like to start up, run, and maintain a media business while also engaging with many younger people with similar interests. BBC Essex came calling in October, offering Josh a role as Sport Journalist Co-Ordinator on their Saturday Afternoon Sports Show, and Broadcast Assistant across the station's variety of programmes when he is needed. Recently, Josh again made headlines after he won Gold at the Community Radio Awards in November 2023 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 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, there were was a new direction the station was heading in, which sought for more engagement in the local community and more professional programming. Josh remains in his management position now, and still continues to present on the station too. 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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