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Clive Bull (born January 23 1959) is an award winning radio talk show host on LBC in London, England. He usually occupies the mid-evening and "time-for-bed" slot, currently 8pm-12mdt, Monday to Thursdays. Clive is particularly noted for his laid-back approach to his phone-in show.
Clive was educated at Dulwich College in Dulwich, South East London between 1970-77. He has a degree in Educational Broadcasting from the University of London and a distinction in Radio Journalism from The National Broadcasting School.
The original 'Through the Night Show', on which Peter Cook called under the pseudonym 'Sven from Swiss Cottage', was captured on film by Channel 4 in 'Nightcaller'. He appeared in the television dramatisation of Cook's life 'Not Only But Always' starring Rhys Ifans. Clive has also narrated a number of television documentaries for the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky. He had a non Speaking role in El Dorado, and as an extra in the comms room in 'The Bill'.
In June 2005, Clive bull came 19th in the Radio Times Top 40 most powerful people on radio, the highest ranked phone-in host. He was decribed as "A brilliant phone-in host who knows that the way to make captivating talk radio is not to rant or rage, but to create a separate world, away from the nonsense of current affairs - then invite his listeners into it. His show is the most listened-to night-time programme in London and is an understated joy." The Independent to crowned him 'The Emperor of night-time talk radio' while the The Experts' Expert from The Observer wrote "There's no-one quite like him. You get the impression that he's living just a bit dangerously, and that's what makes phone-ins exciting".
Clive has won several awards including a Bronze Sony Radio Award. The judges described him "An exception to the run-of-the-mill phone-in. It was all down to the presenter who appeared so laid back that his callers could not see how he was teasing them. A very dry sense of humour and great fun."
Clive is known to enjoy badminton and was once a keyboard player in an 80's and, a media reviewer, and a rock journalist for Oracle. He lives, married, in South London with two children, both boys, and supports Chelsea FC.
LBC radio show
Clive Bull creates a cosy atmosphere for the listeners and callers. The discussions tend to focus around two or three topics each evening based loosely upon what is in the news, or what has interested, amused or affected Clive. However, Clive encourages callers to talk about whatever they like, on the basis they more interesting discussions come from things people genuinely care about. Recurring topics include supermarkets and the moon (escpecially when it is full).
Clive is also lucid in manner, often criticising his producer, Bob "Nice" Johnson, for poorly scripted live-read set-pieces. Bob often enhances the quality of the calls by providing musical accompaniment, sometimes the theme from Captain Pugwash. Regularly, Bob leaves his desk to collect a "Number 94" (a 20p coffee from the machine downstairs) for Clive, and to go to the toilet. This has been integrated as a feature of the show, with an accompanying jingle of "It's officially time for Bob's tea-break". This leads to Clive answering calls without filtering, occasionally resulting in to anonymous callers making cow noises.
Clive's disarming style includes asking a caller a question based upon what a previous caller said. If someone rings in to say "Failed asylum seekers should be thrown out of the country" they are likely to be asked a docile question, such as "Have you ever picked up a penny in the street?".
The show has a cult status owing to its popularity, and many regular callers help to create the shows' cosy ambience. These include Richard from Greenford, Jethro 'Dull', Chavvy Vicky, Lyn from Forestgate, "William from Sutton", a William Hague impersonator. Many regular (and irregular) callers seem unaware of Clive's subtle jokes which he shares with the listener at their expense. Black Cab drivers often call in, starting discussions about their passengers and where they droppped them off.
Celebrity callers
Clive Bull was the overnight phone-in host when satirist Peter Cook made a series of calls using the pseudonym "Sven from Swiss Cottage". The surreal nature of these calls has been recorded in "Tragically I Was An Only Twin", a collection of his writings and are also available on Clive's podcast available to LBC subscribers. Peter Cook's former neighbour Rainbow George Weiss remains a regular caller with news of his political activities.
Michael Barrymore once phoned in to take part in a talent contest as himself. He came seventh.
Tony Blackburn called in defend Smart cars), Jane Horrocks who answered a listener's question about a movie and Patsy Palmer, who called in to join a discussion about Cockney accents. Patsy also once called in asking for listeners to look out for her lost dog, which was subsequently found and returned to her.
Kerry McFadden called in just before leaving to play 'I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!' when Clive wondered whether she'd had a cosmetic surgery. She hadn't.
Clive's podcast has a 'Best of' celebrity callers.
External links
- LBC 97.3 presenter page
- Yahoo! Groups Clive Bull
- Clive Bull Official Website
- Clive Bull Official Website pre-LBC 97.3 era
- Clive Bull Croydon Special Website