Steve Penk

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Steve Penk is a UK radio and TV presenter. Renowned for his wind-up calls he has worked in many national and local radio stations. He started his radio career at Piccadilly Radio (subsequently rebranded Key 103) where he often stood in for Timmy Mallett and was renowned for making up fan club address requests that coincided with those printed in the pages of the current Smash Hits magazine. He then went on to work at Capital Radio presenting the mid-morning show, and moved to Virgin Radio to present a shortlived breakfast slot after the departure of Chris Evans. After a year presenting the late shift on Capital Radio networked to a number of other stations, Steve then returned to Manchester's Key 103, firstly presenting the weekday mid-morning show before later taking over the weekend mid-morning show 10am-1pm and the 'Piccadilly Radio Years' on Sunday Night, picking up poor audience figures. However, he was fired at the end of 2006.

Steve is expected to return to the airwaves on Fox FM in Oxfordshire as its new breakfast show presenter later this month as the station gets ready for the launch of Jack FM in Oxford and South Oxfordshire. It is effectively a return to the station as his late show for Capital was on Fox.

He also presented TV Nightmares, The Way They Were and a few series of TV's Naughtiest Blunders (taken over by Neil Morrissey) on ITV, however his television career has never really progressed any further.

Perhaps his most famous prank call was when he enlisted the impressionist Jon Culshaw to wind up the UK prime minister, Tony Blair.

Profile from 6th December 2004

Radio maverick and TV Presenter, Steve Penk began his career at Manchester's Piccadilly Radio in 1978. For his last five years at the station, Penk has presented the Breakfast Show, attracting three times as many listeners as his nearest local and national rivals.

He was later head-hunted by Capital Radio where Steve quickly became famous for his wind-ups on the unsuspecting public. However, he is most famous for his notorious on-air wind up in 1998 on Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Steve's wind-up caused such a sensation, it was a national news story, breaking on the Nine O'Clock and Ten O'Clock News and making the front pages of all the national newspapers. During his time at Capital, he also found the time to cover for the national Top 40 countdown, The Pepsi Chart on commercial radio. He eventually departed Capital, to replace Chris Evans on Virgin Radio breakfast. He immediately increased the audience of the show, defying critics - but eventually parted Virgin also, allegedly on poor terms, returning to the Capital fm network. Here, he presented a late night show - networked across Capital fm, brmb, Invicta fm, Fox fm, Power fm, Red Dragon fm. This highly entertaining listen came to an end in June 2003, when the network returned to local programming. Steve then returned to Key 103, where he hosted weekday mornings, then weekends. However, Penky vanished from the station at the end of 2006.

Not to panic, Steve will return to the airwaves on March 12th to present the Fox fm breakfast show - in Oxfordshire; already an eagerly anticipated date. Steve said of the job; “Oxfordshire is one of the most beautiful places in the UK; I’m really looking forward to waking up and entertaining the county every morning. I just can’t wait to get started."

Meanwhile, Fox programme controller Jon O'Neill commented “This is a real coup for Fox to attract a presenter of Steve’s calibre. Steve is a seasoned broadcaster who brings a wealth of talent and experience to the radio station. I am thrilled that Steve has chosen to join the team at Fox.”

March 12th is the big date. Be there, or be square.

Steve has also made his name in TV as presenter of two prime-time Saturday night shows on ITV1. TV's Naughtiest Blunders is a compilation of cheeky out-takes from popular TV shows while 'TV Nightmares' is a compilation of television clips re-showing well-known celebrities in embarrassing situations. In addition to these programmes, Steve Penk has also hosted a 40th anniversary The Way They Were: Coronation Street Special - TV Nightmares, The Way They Were, When Athletes Attack also on ITV1.

Television Appearances