Andrew Marston

Andrew Marston (born 24 October 1981) is an English radio presenter, music producer and club DJ. He works with musicians under the BBC Music Introducing scheme. He was the first person to give airtime to artists such as Ellie Goulding, Becky Hill and 220 Kid.

Early career

Marston represented his school as a musician playing keyboards in various bands and with their orchestra. It was through a couple of gigs he did for the church and the city's MP where he was offered his first paid job playing the church organ at St Barnabas and at All Saints in Hereford. This he did for two years while regularly touring the country in a covers band.

Hospital radio

At the age of 14, Marston become a volunteer with Hereford Hospital radio, providing PA services at local events and presenting a magazine show called "MusiChat". He later became the station's vice-chairman and publicity manager.

By 1999, he put together HHR Live '99, where all of the city's main bands performed on stage in Hereford's High Town, in front of thousands of people, attracting front-page coverage from the local press. In 2000, he won a bronze award for BT Non-Music Programme of the Year for his local news show.

DJing

At the age of 14, Marston became the resident DJs at the Jailhouse Nightclub in Hereford during their weekly kids' nights and soon after started providing mobile discos.

Over the next few years he went on to hold down a number of long-term residencies at no fewer than ten venues, while continuing to guest at clubs across the region.

BBC

Marston began working for BBC Hereford & Worcester in 1999, following a work experience placement. Initially his job was putting guests on-air, whether this would be for his home station or for the likes of BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live, Newsbeat and the BBC World Service. During a visit to the Worcester studios, Marston was asked if he'd like to be trained as a broadcast assistant – and three weeks later, without the training, Marston was looking after the general day-to-day running of the Hereford office.

Later work included live and pre-recorded interviews, the reading of market reports, the writing of bulletin pieces and ultimately two years as the main Hereford radiocar reporter at breakfast. It was during this time Marston covered major fires, floods and later the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. Marston also reported on the Queen's visit to Royal Worcester and would, every year, present live from the Remembrance Service.

In 2001, Marston started working at BBC Radio Gloucestershire on the Vernon Harwood breakfast show. He re-recorded the station's jingle package and become an active reporter, as well as presenting travel news in the evenings. His reporting work included live coverage of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall's opening of the Magg's Day Centre in Cheltenham.

New music

In 2003, Marston began working as a promoter and started a weekly band night in Hereford. For more than two years, Marston hosted, giving a paid opportunity to many local bands including Brandon Steep> and The Myth (who were finalists in the BBC Midlands Today School of Rock competition).

In June 2005, Marston was approached by BBC Online's Dan Johnson about helping out on a new music programme for BBC Hereford & Worcester. The BBC
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