Presenter Profile

 

Darren MilbyDarren Milby

Darren's new home is Afternoons on The Bay 2-7pm and Sunday Breakfast 6-10am

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More about me

 

Name:
Darren Milby

Job Title:

Afternoon Presenter

Find me on air:
Mon-Fri 2-7pm & Sundays 6-10am

Star Sign:
Aquarius

First Job:
Burger flipper at McDonalds

Favourite Music:
Cheesy Pop

Favourite Food:
Anything with Pasta

Favourite Drink:
Vodka

Favourite Holiday Destination:
Anywhere they have an Australian twang - ie Australia!

Favourite TV Programme/Film:
Friends and Eurovision

Most Embarrassing Moment on Air:
Reading out my own phone number on air instead of The Bay's - oops!

Describe Your Show:
Early, fun and lively!

Best Thing About This Job:
Spending my entire working day laughing

Worst Thing:
There isn't anything!

If It Wasn't for The Bay:
I'd be roaming the streets

Fascinating Fact About Me:
I never cut my own nails

Pet Hate:
Lorries overtaking each other on hills and blocking the motorway

Contact me

 

Complete the form below to send an email to Darren Milby.

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My Blog

 

14/05/2010

 

 
I love the fact that our music stars, despite having millions in the bank, just can't seem to retire. They embark on massive farewell tours and then just a year or two later start a second farewell tour. The Eagles have quit many times and yet released a new album after their last farewell tour. Cher has done three final tours and is now playing full time in Vegas and Tina Turner was recently back on a world tour just a couple of years into her retirement. Now its the turn of Phil Collins. He announced a while ago that he had retired and was not planning on making any new albums. Now he is returning with a new album of Motown cover versions due for release later in the year. You can’t keep a good man down.
 
I am loving the brand new song from Sophie Ellis Bextor at the moment – I am playing it loads on my show on the Bay. It’s called Bittersweet and I genuinely think it’s the best thing she has ever done. The whole 80s synth sound is very fashionable at the moment and it seems to suit her voice. I can’t wait for the album. I just wish she looked less like a porcelain doll!
 

I went to see Peter Kay performing his Tour That Doesn't Tour show at the arena in Manchester last week. It was the funniest show I have ever seen, the man is a comedy legend. Bizarrely his support act was 80s singer Rick Astley. On paper this seemed like a masterstroke on Peter Kay's part. It is just the sort of tongue in cheek singer that seemed to suit this comedy show. Rick Astley walked on stage to a very warm welcome from the sell-out crowd but this was short lived. It became clear why Rick Astley never sustained his 80s success. The guy was about as wooden as the stage. He still had the great voice and still looks well, but he seemed very out of place on that stage. At one point during the middle eight of one of his songs he stood on stage with his arms folded waiting for his next vocal. On another moment the band were playing and Rick was stood there with a cup of tea. Being a pop star requires a set of skills including great voice but also stage presence and the skill of performance. Rick Astley’s saving grace was his greatest hits and he played both of them!

20/04/2010

 

Do you remember Diana Vickers? She came fourth in X Factor 2008. She was the one from Lancashire with the unusual voice and was a dead ringer for Sarah Platt in Coronation Street. She also became famous for her claw, because she seemed unable to belt out a tune without forming a bizarre claw shape with her hand. Well after appearing in the West End version of Little Voice she has now got round to recording that debut album and thankfully has steered clear of Simon Cowell and his record label and chosen a more credible path. Her debut single ‘Once’ is an absolute belter. We have just started playing it on the Bay. It’s one of those pop songs that grabs you by the throat and demands that you listen. It will then remain in your head for the rest of the day. It’s another pop song written by 80s singer Cathy Dennis who seems to have been involved in every huge hit in the last 15 years. She has written monster tunes for the likes of Will Young, Kylie Minogue and Katy Perry. As 2008’s X Factor winner Leon Jackson falls further and further into pop obscurity, Diana Vickers has the potential to be one of the success stories of 2010.
            Houston has another problem. I am talking about Whitney’s ill fated world tour. After the well documented problems she had in Australia – namely not hitting high notes and disappointing fans, she has had to postpone the start of her European tour. If you do have tickets to see her in the UK I hope for the £80 ticket price that she manages to turn up and secondly that she is able to hit the high notes.
            On my Bay show recently I have been playing the new single by a guy called Joshua Radin. It’s called ‘I’d rather be with you’ and is like a tuneful Dylon sound. This is the guy who had a deal with a big record label in America. He delivered his second album to them and the bosses told him to go away and write some more catchy hits. Instead he gave them all of their money back and decided to go it alone. The result is this beautiful new song which ironically looks like it will be a hit. Good luck to him, it’s a fantastic song.

            According to a new survey Madonna is the most played artist of the last decade. The survey measured music played in public places such as shops, pubs and clubs. The most played song of the decade was Snow Patrol’s ‘Chasing Cars’ and the most played record in public places in the last 75 years is ‘A Whiter shade of pale’ by Procal Harum.

This week's goss17/03/2010

 

I have played the new Cheryl Cole track on my Bay show a couple of times recently – it’s called ‘Parachute’. Obviously the track was recorded last year before any of the trouble with her estranged hubby and his white pants. It features lyrics such as "Baby, if I've got you / I don't need a parachute" is probably only topped by "I won't fall out of love / I'll fall into you.” I suppose they were appropriate when they were written.

            Lily Allen is retiring from music later this year and plans to open a shop in London that sells vintage frocks – that’s quite a career change! She has also said one of her ambitions is to appear on ‘Come Dine With Me’. Her Dad had a hit with ‘Vindaloo’ in the 90s, maybe it would be a good idea for her main course.

            I see the legendary duo Simon and Garfunkle have decided to go on tour again. I am a massive fan of their groundbreaking acoustic, folk sound and would love to see them live. There has been well documented friction between the pair for many years. They patched up their differences a couple of years ago and did a tour, but sadly never came to the UK. Fingers crossed they will make the journey over troubled waters to come and see us. (Sorry about the bad pun!)