Terry Christian

Terry Christian (born 8 May, [1963) is a British radio and former TV presenter, notable for presenting Channel 4's controversial and ground-breaking television arts and culture show "The Word".

Early life

Christian is one of six children born to Dublin-born parents Daniel Christian (b. 31 January 1925 - d. Manchester, England, 20th December 1996) [ [http://www.findmypast.com Deaths England and Wales 1984-2006] ] and Margaret Josephine Christian, nee Cullen, (6th September 1926 - 1st April 2008). Terry Christian was born and grew up in Brooks's Bar in Old TraffordFact|date=June 2008, and was taught at St. Alphonsus primary school, and, after passing his eleven plus, at St Bede's College, Manchester in Alexandra Park. His father was a shop steward in the TGWU for twenty-five years. Christian was spotted in 1981 on "Devil's Advocate", a programme made by Granada Television about youngsters on the dole, presented by former "World In Action" editor Gus Macdonald. Amongst the other kids on the dole alongside Terry on Devil's Advocate was Johnny Marr of The Smiths. As a result of his appearances on the programme, Terry was offered his own radio show on BBC Radio Derby called "Barbed Wireless".

Radio

Christian gained plaudits and honours for his radio work for BBC local radio stations in the 1980s, with his "Barbed Wireless" programme winning Sony Awards in the specialist music category in 1985 and again in 1986. He also presented WPFM on Radio 4 for two years, and contributed regularly to Saturday Live on BBC Radio 1.

He managed twelve-piece Reggae band, from the Nottingham / Derby area, Junior C Reaction, who received airplay on John Peel and Janice Long's show on BBC Radio 1 for their first independent release on Centurion Records, a double A Side, "CryJahoviah", and "Love & Emotion". They were signed to Cooltempo, a Chrysalis subsidiary, and enjoyed a modicum of success with their first release, a version of the Delroy Wilson classic, "'Better Must Come", which was C-listed on Radio One and Capital Radio at the time as well as playing a live session on Radio One's Saturday live. Terry also promoted regular gigs around the Derby and Nottingham area, promoting concerts by Pop Will Eat Itself, The Jazz Defektors, Nico (of Velvet Underground fame) Misty In Roots, The Naturalites, The Fall, and regular house nights at Derby's Twentieth Century club, where the resident Saturday night DJ was Graham Park, who left to join Mike Pickering at the legendary Hacienda Nude night.

In late Autumn 1988, he joined Piccadilly Radio's Key 103 FM, presenting from 6-9pm on weekday evenings, and 2pm-5pm on Sunday afternoon. Terry immediately started filling Manchester's airwaves with the City's new breed (The Stone Roses, The Happy Mondays, Inspiral Carpets, and 808 State), as well as a mixture of classics by everyone from The Beatles, Love, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, classic soul and funk, plus Manchester favourites like The Buzzcocks, The Smiths, The Fall, New Order, and Joy Division. Terry also wrote The Word page in the Manchester Evening News from September 1989, a page dedicated to the Manchester music scene, and gave the first press to a host of Manchester luminaries including The Charlatans, Oasis, and The Doves (then called Sub Sub).

Christian currently presents the "Manchester Music" show every Saturday night on BBC Radio Manchester from 9pm until midnight.Fact|date=June 2008 Still on the cutting edge music-wise, he's been responsible for first airplays for Cherry Ghost from Bolton, who, after one play on Terry's show three years ago, were immediately signed up by Doves manager Dave Rofe, and then landed a recording contract with Heavenly records; Liam Fray, who then formed the Courteeners, whose album debuted in the UK album Charts at number 4 in April 2008; as well as first radio plays for the best of the rest in Manchester music, like The Ting Tings and The Whip. He is also the presenter of "The Final Whistle" on talkSPORT every Saturday between 5pm and 8pm, now officially Britain's most listened-to after-match football phone-in, alongside ex-footballer Micky Quinn.Fact|date=June 2008

Television

Christian shot to national fame and notoriety in 1990, when he was recruited to host the controversial Channel 4 youth show "The Word", named after his column in the "Manchester Evening News", and based on the format of his pioneering music magazine radio shows. The show was a groundbreaking mayhemic mixture of pop music and teen attitude, a Friday night-out brought into your living room, which attracted up to a 495 audience share in its Friday night slot. Christian remained its only continuous presenter until it finished its run in 1995.

He went on to present Carlton Television's "The Big City", Sky1's pop music show "The Hitmix", and "The Football Show" for Tyne Tees Television. He also presented two series of late night TV review programme "Turn On Terry" for ITV, and five series of youth issues talkshow "It's My Life" (2003–2007) produced by former World In action Editor and Tony Wilson's So It Goes Series producer Geoff Moore for ITV, which was nominated for two St Martin's Trusts Awards.

He has starred as himself in the young Wakefield band The Cribs' video for the standalone single "You're Gonna Lose Us", which was made to look like an episode of "The Word"; and also played the part of Ross Peagrum, despotic TV presenter, in series 2 and 4 of the popular BBC TV drama series Cutting It, as well appearing as a guest on numerous TV shows in the UK and The Republic Of Ireland.

Terry is currently hosting series six of "It's My Life" on ITV1 every Sunday Night, which started on September 14th 2008. The programme is filmed at Granada Television in Manchester and is shown on the rest of the ITV network of stations. Special guests on this series include Hazel Blears MP , Andy Burnham minister of Culture, Sport and The Media and widow of Gary Newlove, Helen Newlove.

Writing

Christian has written numerous articles for newspapers and magazines, including The Daily Mirror, The Daily Mail, The Daily Express, Manchester Evening News, The Observer, The Times, The Guardian, and The Sunday Times. He's also written three very well-received books: "Brothers - from Childhood to Oasis (virgin publishers)" - about Oasis, and "Reds In The Hood" (Andre Deutsch 1999)' - about growing up in a huge Irish community in Old Trafford and supporting Manchester United covering the sixties up to 1977 - both of which are now sought-after collectors` items . A third book, "My Word", a rather cynical yet funny look at the world of television in the 1990s, was published by Orion books in June 2007 to favourable reviews, and came out in Paperback in May 2008.

References

External links

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* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/content/articles/2006/03/31/bbc_radio_manchester_biog_terry_christian_feature.shtml Radio Manchester profile]