Clive Bull
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Clive Bull (born January 23, 1959) is an award-winning radio talk show host on LBC 97.3 in London, England.
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[edit] Background
Clive was educated at Dulwich College, south east London between 1970-77. He has a degree in Educational Broadcasting from the University of London and a distinction in Radio Journalism from The National Broadcasting School.
The original 'Through the Night Show', on which Peter Cook called in under the pseudonym 'Sven from Swiss Cottage', was captured on film by Channel 4 in 'Nightcaller'. He appeared in the television dramatisation of Cook's life 'Not Only But Always' starring Rhys Ifans.
Clive has also narrated a number of television documentaries for the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky. He had a non-speaking role in 'Eldorado', and played an extra part in the comms room in 'The Bill'.
Clive is known to enjoy badminton and is a supporter of Chelsea F.C. He was once a keyboard player in an 80's disco band, performing in small venues as far north as Sheffield. At this time he worked as a media reviewer and rock journalist for ORACLE. He is married and lives in south London with two children, both boys.
Clive is about 5'11" in height and approximately 12.5-13 stone (175 - 182 pounds), according to his show on 17 October 2006.
[edit] LBC 97.3 radio show
Clive's show airs live Monday to Thursday from 10pm to 1am. This is a return to the timeslot he occupied in 2005 ("Late Night with Clive Bull"). Throughout 2006 Clive broadcast during the mid-evening and "time-for-bed" slot, 8pm to midnight, Monday to Thursday. The change back to his previous time-slot is part of a larger new year programme shake-up on LBC.
Discussions tend to focus around two or three topics each evening based loosely upon what is in the news, or what has interested or affected Clive. However, Clive encourages callers to talk about whatever they like, on the basis they more interesting discussions come from things people genuinely care about. There have been special-interest nights, including the successful science hour series with Brian J. Ford. Since 1999 Clive's show has been produced by Bob Johnson.
In June 2005, Clive Bull came 19th in the Radio Times survey of the forty most powerful people on radio, the highest ranked phone-in host. He was described as "a brilliant phone-in host who knows that the way to make captivating talk radio is not to rant or rage, but to create a separate world, away from the nonsense of current affairs - then invite his listeners into it. His show is the most listened-to night-time programme in London and is an understated joy,"[1] while The Independent called him "The Emperor of night-time talk radio."[2]
The Experts' Expert from The Observer wrote "There's no-one quite like him. You get the impression that he's living just a bit dangerously, and that's what makes phone-ins exciting".[3]
He has won several awards including a Bronze Sony Radio Award. The judges described him "An exception to the run-of-the-mill phone-in. It was all down to the presenter who appeared so laid back that his callers could not see how he was teasing them. A very dry sense of humour and great fun."[4]
He won Best Talk Show Host at the New York Radio Awards in 2001.
[edit] Celebrity callers
- Peter Cook made a series of calls with the pseudonym "Sven from Swiss Cottage", a Norwegian fisherman who'd come to London looking for romance and to escape the fish-related phone-ins of Norway. These have been recorded in "Tragically I Was An Only Twin", a collection of his writings and are also available on Clive's subscription podcast. Peter Cook's former neighbour Rainbow George Weiss remains a regular caller with news of his political activities.
- Michael Barrymore once phoned in to take part in a talent contest as himself. He came seventh.
- Tony Blackburn called in to defend Smart cars.
- Jane Horrocks answered a listener's question about a movie.
- Patsy Palmer, called in to join a discussion about Cockney accents, and on another occasion, for listeners to look out for her lost dog, which was subsequently found and returned to her..[citation needed]
- Kerry McFadden called in just before leaving to play 'I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!' when Clive wondered whether she'd had a cosmetic surgery, which she said she hadn't.[citation needed]
- Brian Conley rang on his way home after appearing in a West End show.[citation needed]
- Daz Sampson, UK Eurovision 2006 entrant, called about tattoos.[citation needed]
- Iain Lee, comedian, used to make prank calls to the show. This stunt eventually earned him his own show on the station.
