[London Lite]

Radio Jackie is an interesting station, possibly technically the oldest commercial radio station in the UK.

When I was a kid it was the station we listened to, it was massively popular and part of the community. Their car stickers were everywhere, even my school maths classroom had one on the window as late as the early 90s. But it was an unlicensed station running as if it was an ILR. Dave Pearce and Paul Mckenna were both DJs on Jackie. They famously were legit in every way except their license - registered for VAT and PAYE etc so the taxman was happy with them even though the DTI weren't. They knew where they were based as the studios in Worcester Park High Street had a massive sign in the window. A recording of their output was played in parliament in the early 70s as a demonstration of what local radio could sound like. They weren't a pirate as we think of pirate radio today.

They were forced to close in 1985 and disappeared until 2003. Then they bought out the struggling Thames Radio who won the 'Sallie' license for South West London. So they've now be on air longer as a licensed broadcaster than not.

It's a proper old fashioned community orientated commercial station, but with a contemporary playlist rather than a historic station. It gets out a heck of a way too. I've seen it used as an example of how local radio can work today, but as said above it's a bit of a vanity project, apparently not profitable, the owner keeps it afloat.

Jackie certainly innovated as a pirate and really set in motion what became small scale commercial radio in the 90s, but then they relaunched after buying out Thames Radio and then time stopped.

It's an AC station stuck in 2003 imaging wise. It appears to be an outlet for two ex Capital FM presenters to continue playing at radio. While they change the new music, the rest of the playlist seems to be exactly the same as it was programmed 20 years ago.

However their contribution to local news and training up journalists, some on their first gig after leaving Uni is exceptional and they really do provide local community information and are out in the TSA at events.