Key 103 legends unite to launch new Manchester radio station

A new ‘proudly local’ radio station is launching in Manchester which will reunite a host of well known local radio and TV personalities including former Key 103 DJs Chelsea Norris, Steve Penk, Spence Macdonald and Darren Proctor. Happy Radio UK is the brainchild of former Key 103 and Greatest Hits DJ Darren Proctor and festival organiser Max Eden, who have teamed up to launch the brand new local radio station.

The presenter line up sees those former Key 103 favourites like Chelsea, Spence and Steve all back on the same station for the first time in years. Former Key 103 breakfast presenter Spence will take on Happy Radio's flagship breakfast show while Steve Penk, famous for his radio wind-ups, will be on air in the afternoons. Darren will be on mid-mornings while Chelsea will present a weekend show every Saturday.

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Real Housewives of Cheshire star Lauren Simon is also on board to host her own "Happy Hour" each day from 3pm to 4pm. Her new radio career is set to feature in the upcoming 15th series of the ITVBe show which is filming now.

Darren and business partner Max, who runs the Hale Barns Carnival and Bowdonbury Festival, have teamed up to "spearhead the return of local radio" and have invested in new radio studios in Sale ahead of the full launch of Happy Radio UK on April 4. Their aim is to bring "proper local radio" back to the region, amid moves by the commercial radio sector to go increasingly national in their approach.

Darren said: "During Covid lockdowns we could see there was a massive gap for proper local radio in our area. The way things are going with commercial radio is that everything is going