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Tag: Times Radio

  • Lauren Redfern – BEST DEMO OF THE NIGHT – Winner 2024

    Lauren Redfern – BEST DEMO OF THE NIGHT – Winner 2024

    2024 saw the Demo Factor tour bus arrive at Leeds Students’ Union, University of Leeds, for the second time since our second ever appearance (and first officially names Demo Factor fact fans) in 2009.

    Demo Factor at Leeds Students’ Union 2024

    This year the show was hosted by Student Radio Alumni, and Radio 1 presenters, Sam & Danni. Sam Macgregor and Danni Diston formally of Xpress Radio in Cardiff, and Sam a former Student Radio Awards 2019 Best Male Presenter winner who also entered Demo Factor that year at Swansea Uni.

    We welcomed Capital presenter, herself a student radio alumnus, Aimee Vivian as a judge this year along with returning judges, Calum Macdonald (Breakfast Presenter, Times Radio), Paul Sylvester (Content Director, Absolute Radio), Aled Haydn-Jones (Head of Radio 1) and Head Judge, Chris North (Talent Manager, North Media Talent).


    Although many of the demos impressed the judges, only three demos were given the golden buzzer. Orla Dunne, Queen’s Radio Belfast (by Aled), Connie Shaw, LSR, Leeds Uni (by Calum) and Lauren Redfern, Scratch Radio, Birmingham City Uni (by Paul). Hear their Demos below!

    Paul regretted not pressing his Golden Buzzer for Lewis Smith from Spark Sunderland, Aimee regretted not pressing her Golden Buzzer for Amelia Salmons at Fly Live, and Shanai Dunglinson, from LSR was encouraged to enter the BBC Radio 1 Christmas scheme. So pretty positive stuff!

    DEMO FACTOR 2024 – GOLDEN BUZZED with the JUDGES

    The Best Demo of the Night went to Lauren Redfern who wowed all the judges and audience with her natural and warm personality.

    Lauren Redfern speaks to Sam & Danni after being chosen as Best Demo of the Night!

    Judges meet Lauren Redfern (Winner 2024) [L-R] Paul, Aimee, Chris, Lauren, Calum, Aled
    Since picking up the accolade Lauren has become a lead presenter on the newly launched stream BBC Radio 1 Anthems (launched November 2024). Not a bad result for attending SRACon 2024. Demo Factor will return in 2025.

    Lauren’s Winning Demo – DF 2024:

     

    Orla’s Golden Buzzed Demo:

     

    Connie’s Golden Buzzed Demo:

    DF Exec Producers, Rob Watson & Chris North with SRA Production and Events Officers, Emma Linton & Ben Swift – Leeds 2024

  • Chris Howard – Winner 2023

    Chris Howard – Winner 2023

    Demo Factor made a return to the University of Exeter in the Spring of 2023, (it’s first time being back in 2015).

    DEMO FACTOR – STAGE READY 2023 – Lemon Grove @ Uni of Exeter

    For the first time it was hosted by two presenters, Sophie K and Emil Franchi.

    2023 Hosts: Sophie K & Emil Franchi
    2023 Hosts: Sophie K & Emil Franchi

    We also had a new addition to the Judges, a former Student Radio Award Best Male Presenter, and current Times Radio Breakfast Co-Host, Calum Macdonald. He joined the familar faces of Pandora (Heart), Aled Haydn-Jones (BBC Radio 1), Paul Sylvester (Absolute Radio) and Head Judge, Chris North (North Media Talent).

    (L-R) Chris, Pandora, Paul, Aled & Calum

    Unlike previous years only three Golden Buzzers were handed out this year, Beatrice Lancet, Burn FM (by Pandora), Matt Speed, Forge Radio (by Chris) and after a rather big tussle on stage and a race between Aled and Paul to hit the buzzer, it was Chris Howard from Spark that picked up the honour of best demo of the night (buzz was given to Aled!). There was a lot of positive feedback from all the judges including production company Audio Always offering Izzy Morris, URN some time to connect about their voice over and audio books work plus Jack Knapton, also URN given a special mention after missing out on a golden buzz moment.

    Hosts, Judges and Golden Buzzed 2023
    Hosts, Judges and Golden Buzzed 2023

    Beatrice Lancet, Burn FM:

    Matt Speed, Forge Radio:

    Since being crowned best demo of the night and ‘winner’ of 2023’s Demo Factor, Chris Howard has presented over that years Christmas daytimes and a month of Friday Early Breakfast early 2024 for BBC Radio 1.

    Here’s Chris’s winning demo:

    ALED GOES INTRODUCES HIMSELF TO GOLDEN BUZZED CHRIS HOWARD (2023 WINNER)
    www.northmediatalent.com/talent/chris-howard/
    DEMO FACTOR 2023