Early Days Born in Horncurch, Essex in 1955, Mike Smith began his broadcasting career at Chelmsford Hospital Radio, Mike Smith made the move to London's Capital Radio in 1981 where he was the breakfast show host. Here he became the first person to be awarded Best Local DJ in the Sony Awards 1982. Radio 1 Otherwise known as 'Smitty', he presented the early show (1982) lunchtime (early 1983 to late 1984) before taking over the reigns from Mike Read to become the Radio One Breakfast Show presenter 7.00 am to 9.30 am Monday to Friday, on May 5th 1986. He presented a live broadcast for a week in 1986 from Montreux, then the biggest rock festival in the world, interviewing the likes of David Bowie, Annie Lennox and Francis Rossi. All three days after taking over the breakfast show. Diana, Princess of Wales publicly stated he was her favourite DJ. During 1986 he also took part in the UK touring car championship driving a car sponsored by Ilford. Mike's breakfast show was a winner with the listeners, who heard current chart hits, oldies mixed with humour, news items, competitions, listener phone-ins and travel info. He fronted the show until May 1986, leaving to spend more time with his partner, Sarah Greene. Television Mike is famous for presenting TV shows such as The Late Late Breakfast Show (1982-1986) with Noel Edmonds and the classic Ghost Watch (1992) where Mike presented the phone-in and Sarah Greene was the reporter in the house itself. Crash In 1988, Mike and his then partner, ex-'Going Live' and Blue Peter presenter Sarah Greene were seriously injured in a helicopter crash which Mike was piloting around Gloucestershire. Happily both fully recovered and Mike went on to marry Sarah the next year. 
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Mike starts a show 1986 Mike having problems in '86 64kbps 32kbps Starting Mike's Breakfast Show 1986 Mike's Milkman Alan Perkins 20kbps Mike asks you to try 104.8FM in London 32kbps Factasia Competition (1986) (2 mins) Newport 98.7 FM_trail Breakfast Show clip - Mike (1987) NEW Breakfast Show Countdown (May 1988) |