5 Live at 30: Yearbook

5 Live launched at 0500 on Monday 28 March 1994.

Over the past 30 years, here's how we reported on some of the biggest news and sport stories, along with some of our favourite moments too. Plus our presenters reflect on what 5 Live means to them.

Jane Garvey is the first voice on air, with Morning Reports the first programme.

Every day is different, and (almost) every day we make each other laugh, on and off air

• Describe 5 Live in 3 words: Talking with friends
• What does 5 Live mean to you : 5 Live is my work home and my work family. It's taken me to places and events I never thought I would witness. It makes me smile and it challenges me every day.
• What has been the stand-out moment during your time at 5 Live? : London 2012 - the magic of a shared moment, everyone cheering on the GB athletes and a celebration of British love of all sports
• What do you love about your day-to-day role as a presenter on 5 Live? : Every day is different, and (almost) every day we make each other laugh, on and off air
• What has been the most eye-opening moment of your time at 5 Live? : The way listeners shared their lives, their fears, their trauma, their hopes during the pandemic.
• Tell us about a time you felt grateful to work at 5 Live : The support I had when I had to abruptly stop work when my fourth child arrived prematurely
• What have you learnt during your time at 5 Live? : The audience is a wonderful hive mind of knowledge and experience and never underestimate it or take it for granted

Being the station's night watchman is a privilege beyond my wildest dreams.

• Describe 5 Live in 3 words : Engaging, irresistible, addictive
• What does 5 Live mean to you? : 5 live means the sound of the great British radio - to me.
• What has been the stand-out moment during your time at 5 Live? : When her late majesty Queen Elizabeth II came to visit in 2012 as part of her Platinum Jubilee and in an impromptu moment I led the whole building in giving three cheers to her. I don't know what possessed me, but I am told that Her Majesty had a delighted smile on her face.
• What do you love about your day-to-day role as a presenter on 5 Live? : I love the fact that my day to day role at the station is a night to night role where i get to talk for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in the wee wee hours they call the graveyard shift. Being the station's night watchman is a privilege beyond my wildest dreams.
• Tell us about a time you felt grateful to work at 5 Live : Being given the BBC's gold award with a citation from my colleagues made me feel like i worked in the best place on the planet with the best people anybody could wish to work with.
• What have you learnt during your time at 5 Live? : One of the many things I have learned at 5 Live is that we're all in this together.

There's no better way to get the best out of a contributor than by simply listening carefully.

• Describe 5 Live in 3 words : Thought-provoking, lively, curious
• What does 5 Live mean to you? : A station with a bunch of presenters and journalists I like and trust - it's a listening experience which is never predictable.
• What do you love about your day-to-day role as a presenter on 5 Live? : You never know what to expect and we can grab the talking point of the day and run with it.
• What has been the most eye-opening moment of your time at 5 Live? : It always surprises me how very engaged our audience is.
• What have you learnt during your time at 5 Live? : There's no better way to get the best out of a contributor than by simply listening carefully.

There’s nothing more annoying than missing the end of Clare McDonnell’s questions when you’re going through a black spot on the TransPennine Express.

• Describe 5 Live in 3 words : Relevant, expansive and engaging
• What does 5 Live mean to you? : It’s the metronome in my life. I used to sleep with it on when I was at university and somehow my brain absorbed the information. 5 Live has been my companion for a long time - especially when I’m travelling. There’s nothing more annoying than missing the end of Clare McDonnell’s questions when you’re going through a black spot on the TransPennine Express.
• What has been the stand-out moment during your time at 5 Live? : Broadcasting Liz Truss’s resignation to the nation while Hans Zimmer and Jim Kerr from Simple Minds were biffed for a big day in politics.
• What do you love about your day-to-day role as a presenter on 5 Live? : The variety really appeals to me. I’m curious about everything and I get to interview so many interesting people. I also love the people I work with, the team behind the glass at 5 Live are a joy to work with. The on air output is a reflection of some brilliant people behind the scenes.
• What has been the most eye-opening moment of your time at 5 Live? : When legendary world affairs editor John Simpson swore on air - after I asked him not to - on the BBC’s 100th birthday in front of the Director General at 1500.
• Who has been the most insightful guest you have interviewed on 5 Live? : Every week Professor Joe Bennett joins me from Berkelee University in Boston. He’s a musicologist and one of the most engaging, entertaining and knowledgable professionals I have had the privilege to work with. He’s also a lovely fella.
• Tell us about a time you felt grateful to work at 5 Live : After a horrible few years with my health and career, I’m grateful every single day I walk in the door and have the honour of engaging with the listeners. It always feels special, but particularly when there is a big story we have to distill and decode together.
• What have you learnt during your time at 5 Live? : You might not fit in if you fail to drink five cups of tea per shift. And NEVER forget the UK’s constituent parts - Scotland, England, Wales & NI are listening in equal measure so nations and regions always have equal billing.

I never get bored! Having a mixture of news and sports presenting/reporting means that I’ve got a different challenge every time I come to work

• Describe 5 Live in 3 words : Warm, connected, unexpected.
• What does 5 Live mean to you? : It’s been my radio home for nearly all of my career! I love the way that it’s grown and evolved but kept the same principle at its core: to be somewhere people will turn in the times of celebration (great sporting and national events) and uncertainty (e.g. the Covid pandemic) as well as for company.
• What has been the stand-out moment during your time at 5 Live? : Working on the Olympics has been one of the greatest privileges of my career. I’ve done 8 summer (Barcelona 92-Tokyo 2020) and 4 winter Games (1994 Lillehammer, 2010 Vancouver, ‘14 Sochi, ‘18 Pyeonchang). I’ve loved every one in different ways but Sydney and London were my favourites, for the way fans embraced every single sport. Paris 2024 will be my 13th Olympics and I think it’ll have the same sense of joy.
• What do you love about your day-to-day role as a presenter on 5 Live? : I never get bored! Having a mixture of news and sports presenting/reporting means that I’ve got a different challenge every time I come to work. I’ve had the chance in recent years to spend lots of time covering cricket - which is what I dreamt of doing as a teenager! And my colleagues, on air and off air, make me laugh even at 0430 on a Saturday morning.
• What has been the most eye-opening moment of your time at 5 Live? : On the day Princess Diana died, I was due to be presenting 5 live sport in the afternoon. I ended up presenting the rolling news coverage on 5 Live and then jointly with Radio 4. It was astonishing to see how brilliantly all our journalists came together to try to make sense of the shocking events of that day and the days which followed.
• Who has been the most insightful guest you have interviewed on 5 Live? : The virologist Dr Chris Smith was a regular guest on Breakfast during Covid. His calm dispassionate manner and ability to explain complex scientific issues is just brilliant.
• Tell us about a time you felt grateful to work at 5 Live : During the pandemic we were all living through unprecedented circumstances which challenged every single person in the country (and globally too). Our listeners were so open in sharing their worries and fears. I think it really brought us closer to the audience during that time.
• What have you learnt during your time at 5 Live? : Radio is the best!

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