Radio in Southend-on-Sea
On this page, you’ll find information about radio stations serving the Southend area, as well as information on other radio-related topics for Southend.
Southend Radio Stations:
Below, you’ll find a list of the radio stations broadcasting to the town of Southend, or from the town of Southend:
 Radio Essex – Launched in March 2008 as “Southend Radio”, this local station broadcasts on 105.1FM from studios next to Adventure Island on Southend Seafront. The station rebranded to “Radio Essex” in 2015, incorpoating Chelmsford Radio.
Current presenters include Chris Brooks and Abbie Norbury (Breakfast), Dave Gowland, Paul Lovett and Mikey Faulkner. Previous presenters have included Mike Porter, Tracie Young, James O’Neill, Ben Payne, Tracy Cooper, Nick Hull, Tim Murphy and Adrian Fox. Listen on: 105.1FM (Southend), on DAB and online Other links: Southend Radio Licence – Background. |
 Funky SX. A community “dance and urban” radio station that launched in Southend in 2016. The station is based at the Westborough Academy in MacDonald Avenue, Westcliff-on-Sea
How to listen: 103.7 FM and via the Funky.SX website Links: Funky.SX |
 Southend Hospital Radio. From its launch in 1977 up until 2005, the station was known as Thameside Hospital Radio, but has now changed its name.
The station broadcasts from Southend University Hospital via the Internet, and provides music, news and entertainment weekday evenings and at weekends. The station is a registered charity, and is staffed by volunteers. How to listen: Online via www.getshr.uk |
Other stations
Run a Southend-based Internet radio station or podcast? Let us know |
Stations with a former Southend Connection
 Heart Essex (was Essex FM) – The commercial radio station serving Essex is “Heart”. This rebranded from Essex FM in June 2009, but as of June 2019 no longer btoadcasts live shows from Essex.
Between September 1981 and October 2004, the radio station broadcast from studios underneath Clifftown Road just off Southend High Street. Heart Essex now broadcasts from studios in Glebe Road, Chelmsford. Launched in September 1981 as Essex Radio, the station was originally owned by local businesses, including Keddies, HW Stone, Garons and nightclub TOTS. The station was taken over by the Daily Mail newspaper group in the 90’s, and is now owned by large UK radio group Global Radio.
Listen on: 97.5FM (Southend relay) and 96.3FM (South Essex), Internet, DAB digital radio Other links: Essex Radio Remembered ; Contact details |
 BBC Essex – BBC local radio for the county of Essex started in November 1986. Based in studios in New London Road in Chelmsford, the station had a satellite studio for Southend close to the Palace Theatre in Westcliff.
Past and present presenters: Ben Fryer & Sonia Watson (Breakfast), Sadie Nine, Tony Fisher, Dave Monk, Ray Clark, John Leech, Eric Dixon, Ray Clark, Dave Monk, Etholle George, Steve Scruton, John Hayes, Roger Buxton, Tim ‘Timbo’ Lloyd, Etholle Pegrum, Simon Baldock and Liz Mullen. Listen on: 95.3FM (Southend), DAB digital radio Website: www.bbc.co.uk/england/essex/ |
Many will remember the days when Essex Radio was “somewhere special”, with presenters including Jon Scragg, Terry Davis, Dave Gregory, Keith Rogers, and local legend Tim “Timbo” Lloyd.
More radio choice for Essex
DAB radios start from around £40. To see what’s available in Essex, see the Essex DAB page. There’s also a stack of digital radio channels available in Southend on your TV – More on digital TV in Southend. |
More Southend Radio Links:
- Southend Radio Course: South Essex College has an on-site radio studio and runs a three-week ‘Introduction to Radio’ course on a Saturday morning – ideal for anyone looking to learn a little more about what goes on behind the scenes at a local radio station. More details: Southend Radio Course
- Information on receiving DAB digital radio in Essex: Essex DAB
- Radio in Essex: Radio stations in Essex
- Live outside Essex? Listen in to Essex radio stations on the Internet
- Southend Amateur Radio – Details of ham radio in Southend-on-Sea. Nearly clubs include Essex Ham and the South Essex Amateur Radio Society
- What about TV in Southend? Try our Digital TV in Southend-on-Sea page
- More on Southend-on-Sea? See our Southend Info or Visiting Southend pages.
Got a question about Southend radio, or anything to do with Southend? Post a message in our Southend-on-Sea discussion forum
Hi. Nice page. Mike Porter has not been on Radio Essex for years though, he has been presenting daytime shows on Phoenix FM for at least five years.