 | Press ReleasesRadio Leicester is teeming with sports presenters |
An impressive squad of sports personalities return to their former stomping ground as the BBC's first local radio station celebrates 40 years on the air. BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew, BBC Football Focus frontman Manish Bashin and Iain Carter, BBC Radio 5 Live's golf correspondent, will attend a special reunion event at BBC Radio Leicester, where they cut their broadcasting teeth. At the event on Monday 8 October the trio will be joined by Bleddyn Jones, who has commentated on the Leicester Tigers games for 20 years, and Russell Hobbs, Radio Leicester's non-league football expert. A Sporting Celebration Of BBC Radio Leicester brings the reporters together to reminisce about their work at the station that helped them hone their skills to become some of the best known names in sports broadcasting. The sports presenters will tour the station's new, state-of-the-art building before taking part in a photocall in one of the radio studios. After lunch the sports pundits will discover for themselves what it's like to be under scrutiny, as their successors at Radio Leicester interview them about their favourite sporting memories and anecdotes about the many personalities they have come across during their careers. Jonathan Agnew, a former fast bowler for Leicestershire, says: "If it hadn't been for the chance that Radio Leicester gave me all those years ago, I certainly would not be in the happy position that I find myself in today. "It will be great fun catching up with all the others whose careers began on BBC local radio." Kate Squire, the station's Editor, says: "In a special programme celebrating our 40th year BBC Radio Leicester listeners can hear the memories and stories from the talent our station has produced. "We're very proud to have helped them carve out such distinguished careers in sports commentary and they're equally pleased to be returning to their broadcasting roots in Leicestershire." Other former Radio Leicester presenters attending, who continue to broadcast from the world of sport, include Nick Mullins, John Rawling and Steve Lambden. Notes to Editors BBC Radio Leicester celebrates its 40th birthday on Thursday 8 November 2007. It was the first BBC local radio station. Radio Leicester is aiming to raise £400,000 – £10,000 for every year it has been broadcasting – to help build an extension to the Rainbow's Hospice in Loughborough for teenagers and people in their twenties. Radio Leicester broadcasts on DAB digital radio, 104.9FM and online. BBC Birmingham Press Office | 
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