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Great Content!

From breakfast to drive-time, The Wireless features a range of diverse content, with a selection of music, light-hearted celebrity interviews, competitions and book reviews, alongside conversations and documentaries on a whole range of consumer and social issues on later life, involving both experts and real voices from local Age UKs around the country. Its variety of music shows, news and features air 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can be listened to at www.ageuk.org.uk/thewireless

A Well Known Voice

The station’s flagship schedule will be hosted by radio veterans David Hamilton and Graham Dene, who present the mid-morning and afternoon shows respectively.

Led by Brand Director, Esther Jackson, the new radio station aims to share the significant amount of helpful information and advice provided by Age UK, on practical issues affecting those in later life, in particular, money matters and lifestyle and health, as well as offering light entertainment that reflects the tastes and lifestyles of those in later life.

Programmes feature a variety of entertaining and informative content including:

• Music from across the decades – soulful melodies from the 40s and 50s, right up to current day hits and music shows dedicated to specific genres, from classical to jazz

• Topical roundtable discussions on a variety of subjects, including ‘Knowing your consumer rights’ with The Daily Telegraph’s Personal Finance Reporter, Richard Evans

• Regular bite-sized ‘Money saving tips’ and other money related features such as ‘Saving money online’ and ‘Making the most of your pension’ with Paul Lewis from BBC’s MoneyBox programme

• Features ranging from practical matters, for example, ‘Retiring abroad’ and ‘The cost of care in later life’ to social issues such as digital inclusion, isolation and volunteering

• Celebrity interviews including legendary 1966 World Cup winner, George Cohen, and actor, Larry Lamb

• Specialist regular shows like travel talk on the ‘Silver Travel Show’, business chat for the older consumer in ‘Business Matters’ and interviews with various authors in ‘Behind the Book

• Gardening tips with Christine Walkden, for the green fingered listeners

• Volunteers, supporters and users of Age UK services talking about what’s available in the local community

• Insights into some of the issues Age UK is actively involved in, such as campaigning for social care reform, and the help that Age UK’s sister charity, Help Age International, is providing in countries such as Haiti and Ethiopia.

The Launch of The Wireless

Speaking about the launch of The Wireless, Tom Wright CBE, Group Chief Executive of Age UK, said: “Research shows that people aged over 55 listen to the radio more than any other age group and that the older part of the UK population is the fastest growing. Yet despite this, our research highlighted demand for a station delivering a combination of music and talk with a focus on issues and interests particularly relevant to those in later life. We are thrilled to launch this informative and entertaining new radio station that will provide a host of lively programmes, news and features specifically created with this audience in mind.

“The Wireless will be an entertaining channel that builds on Age UK’s existing provision of information and advice on improving later life to nearly seven million people and encourages our supporters to get involved in our campaigning and fundraising. We also want to hand the microphone over to older people, providing a platform for listeners to express their own views and help shape what content we produce and air, so it’s as much their station as the charity’s.”

A Word from David

David Hamilton, radio presenter on The Wireless and former Radio 1 DJ, said: “I’m really excited to be involved with The Wireless. It’s a brilliant new radio station that offers a unique selection of great music, interesting features and expert advice. There’s a great selection of music from across the decades, some of which I remember better than others, so it really has something for everyone!”

More about Age UK

Age UK’s previous involvement in radio includes support for the set-up of Vintage Radio which operates in the Wirral, over the internet, and is grounded in the local community and run by a team of volunteers. Age UK is the UK’s largest charity dedicated to improving later life and operates over 450 shops across the UK that will also be playing The Wireless during the day.