Duncan Barkes

Where in West Sussex are you based: Chichester - handily within staggering distance of some great pubs and secondhand record/CD shops. 

Musical taste: It's quite eclectic and includes The Kinks, The Beatles, Rolling Stones and The Who, along with some of the great singer/songwriters of the 1970s and new wave/alternative bands of the 1980s such as The Cure, The Jam and Prefab Sprout. I also love my jazz, soul and blues.  

How long have you been involved in radio: Professionally since 1995 on stations such as Southern FM, Ocean FM and South Coast Radio. I was on Spirit FM for a number of years and have worked as a late night presenter and phone-in host on talkSPORT, Radio City/City Talk 105.9 in Liverpool, LBC and BBC Radio London and BBC Five Live. I have also presented news programmes on the BBC World Service and weekend breakfast shows for Jazz FM. 

Best radio experience: It's tough question. I hesitate to use the word 'best', but some of the most worthwhile yet challenging broadcasting I have ever presented was during the pandemic in 2020. I was hosting a late night show on Radio London and dealt with some very distressed callers. It was a lesson in humanity and how radio can be the ultimate companion. 

I was proud to be part of the campaign to Save St Richard's Hospital in Chichester which saw Spirit FM work with the local newspaper on a joint campaign. We organised a rally and broadcast it live on the radio from Priory Park in Chichester. It was immense and ultimately saw A&E and other services remain at St Richard's. 

Working on the radio in Liverpool was pretty special - a cracking city with the best people. 

Other favourite memories include anchoring coverage of two general elections, the EU and Scottish Referendums and interviewing the actor who played Gavin (Mathew Horne) in TV's 'Gavin and Stacey'. I also once broadcast from the back of an iconic London black cab at Clapham Common - a radio first!  

Favourite part of the area: There are loads. An outside pint at the pubs at Dell Quay and Bosham Quay is pretty special in the summer. And you can never beat some first class seafood at the Crab and Lobster in Sidlesham. I adore Arundel for all kinds of reasons, mainly food and drink related. Having grown up near Worthing, the pier there will always have a special place in my heart. 

What excites you about V2 Radio: It broadcasts to one of the best parts of the country and is doing the kind of radio you rarely hear elsewhere. It deserves all our support. Plus the studios are quite near The Gribble Inn at Oving which is a terrific boozer - great ale and sausages!