Radio X (United Kingdom)

{{Short description|British alternative radio station}} {{Redirect|XFM}} {{Distinguish|Radio Exe}} {{Use British English|date=June 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox radio station | name = Radio X | city = [[London]] | logo = Radio X UK logo.png | airdate = {{Start date|1997|9|1|df=yes}} | former_names = XFM (1997–2015) | frequency = {{ubl|[[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]]: 11D (England, Wales and NI) [[Digital One]]|DAB: 12A (Scotland) [[Digital One]]|[[FM broadcasting|FM]]: {{frequency|104.9|MHz}} [[Crystal Palace transmitting station|London and the South East]]|FM: {{frequency|97.7|MHz}} [[City Tower, Manchester|Manchester]]|[[Sky UK|Sky]] (UK only): 0113|[[Freesat]]: 723|[[TalkTalk TV]]: 621|[[Virgin Media]]: 960|[[Virgin Media Ireland]]: 923}} | rds = Radio X | country = United Kingdom | format = [[Alternative music|Alternative]] | owner = [[Global Radio]] | sister_stations = {{hlist|Radio X 90s|Radio X 00s|Radio X Chilled|Radio X Classic Rock}} | webcast = [https://www.globalplayer.com/live/radiox/uk/ Global Player] | website = {{Official URL}} }}

'''Radio X''' is a British national [[commercial radio]] station focused on [[alternative music]], primarily [[indie rock]], and owned by [[Global Media & Entertainment|Global]]. The station launched in 1989 as a [[pirate radio]] station named '''Q102''', before being renamed '''XFM''' in 1992. The station became a legally licensed London-wide station in 1997, and in 2015 began national broadcasting under the name '''Radio X'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://radiotoday.co.uk/2015/09/radio-x-confirmed-in-single-chris-moyles-tweet/ |title=Radio X confirmed in single Chris Moyles tweet|date=6 September 2015|work=RadioToday}}</ref>

According to [[RAJAR]] as of Q4 2025, Radio X has reached 2.5 millions listeners. The [[Chris Moyles]] Show has received 1.1 million listeners, beating [[Virgin Radio UK|Virgin Radio]]'s [[Chris Evans (presenter)|Chris Evans]] morning show.<ref>{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Roy |date=6 February 2026 |title=RAJAR Q4 2025 observations – 50 million are listening |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2026/02/rajar-q4-2025-observations-50-million-are-listening/ |website=RadioToday |access-date=6 February 2026}}</ref>

==History== In 1989, the pirate radio presenter Sammy Jacob, known as DJ Sammy Jay on London's Horizon Radio and Solar Radio, set up an indie music station called Q102,<ref name="Darryl Chamberlain">{{cite web|author=Darryl Chamberlain |url=https://transdiffusion.org/2004/01/01/xfm_2/ |title=X marks the spot - Independent radio - Transdiffusion Broadcasting System |publisher=Transdiffusion.org |date=2004-01-01 |accessdate=2022-08-31}}</ref> which started broadcasting rock music on a part-time basis from 1 January 1989, with other hours following the soul format of another local station called CD93.

Jacob was one of the presenters on this forerunner to Xfm alongside Adrian Gibson, Donald Johnson, Steve Lamacq and CD93's Bob Matthews (a DJ also known as Bob Mower),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amfm.org.uk/pirates/q102-xfm.html |title=Q102 - London pirate radio history |publisher=AM/FM |date= |accessdate=2022-08-31}}</ref> with the format changing to play only indie rock music by 1990. In late 1990, [[Fiction Records]] founder, and manager of [[The Cure]], [[Chris Parry (producer)|Chris Parry]] got involved with the London station, even though at that point it still did not have any official authorisation to operate. The Cure's singer [[Robert Smith (musician)|Robert Smith]] used the radio as a platform to promote the release of a Cure remix album ''[[Mixed Up (The Cure album)|Mixed Up]]'' during night-time radio shows, broadcast live on the air.

By 1991, Q102 was off-air, with Jacob re-organising this rock station as Xfm in [[Clapton, London|Clapton, East London]].<ref name="theguardian1">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/aug/31/kick-out-the-jams-the-story-of-xfm-review |title=Kick Out the Jams: The Story of XFM review – pioneering 90s indie radio remembered |date=2018-01-31 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=London |issn=0261-3077 |language=en-GB |accessdate=2022-08-31}}</ref> At this point the station was still a pirate radio station operating out of his parents' flat,<ref name="theguardian1"/> though Jacob had plans to get a number of Restricted Service Licences<ref name="Darryl Chamberlain"/> for Xfm, which would make Xfm a legal radio station even though it could only be on the capital's airwaves for short periods of time.

Xfm was officially created in London in 1992 by Jacob <ref>{{cite news|title=My Life In Media: Sammy Jacob|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/my-life-in-media-sammy-jacob-842666.html|access-date=1 November 2009|work=The Independent|date=8 June 2008}}</ref> and Parry, with the station broadcasting at festivals and legally from Fiction's Charlotte Street headquarters on short-term licences. When the station faced difficulties in 1993, Smith and Parry organised a one-off open air festival titled ''XFM Great Expectations'' in London's [[Finsbury Park, London|Finsbury Park]] on 13 June, with the Cure at the top of the bill. The ''XFM Great Expectations'' event was covered by the media including TV channels which talked about the XFM radio in interviews with Smith.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXsyLopLURA |title=The Cure - Live at XFM 1993 - TV report|publisher=YouTube |date=June 1993|access-date=2 November 2020}}</ref>

In 1994, Xfm unsuccessfully applied to broadcast full-time across London.<ref>{{cite news | title = Virgin wins one of six new slots on London's airwaves | first = Rhys | last = Williams | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/virgin-wins-one-of-six-new-slots-on-londons-airwaves-1441573.html | work = The Independent | location = London | date = 8 October 1994 | accessdate =8 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = 41 fight for London radio licences | first = Andrew | last = Culf | url = http://archive.guardian.co.uk/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:LowLevelEntityToSaveGifMSIE_DIGITALARCHIVE&Type=text/html&Locale=english-skin-custom&Path=GUA/1994/06/29&ChunkNum=-1&ID=Ar00501&PageLabel=5 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111002102745/http://archive.guardian.co.uk/Repository/getFiles.asp?Style=OliveXLib:LowLevelEntityToSaveGifMSIE_DIGITALARCHIVE&Type=text/html&Locale=english-skin-custom&Path=GUA/1994/06/29&ChunkNum=-1&ID=Ar00501&PageLabel=5 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2 October 2011 | work = The Guardian | location = London | page = 5 | date = 29 June 1994 | accessdate =8 May 2011}}</ref> However, two years later, Xfm was awarded what was to be the final London-wide FM licence, and the station went on air on a permanent basis on 1 September 1997. During the following year the station played a range of music from its studios in 97 [[Charlotte Street]]. Jacob would later go on to co-found NME Radio (now [[The Music Machine (radio station)|TMM]]) and CDNX (Camden Experience) in 2008 and 2015 respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-19 |title=Xfm founder Sammy Jacob celebrates Camden’s rich music heritage |url=https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/things-to-do/21130112.xfm-founder-sammy-jacob-celebrates-camdens-rich-music-heritage/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Ham & High |language=en}}</ref>

In 1998, Xfm was acquired by the [[GCap Media|Capital Radio Group]] (now part of [[Global Radio]]) and relocated from Charlotte Street to Capital's headquarters at [[Leicester Square]], where it remains today. On 23 August that year, Xfm was closed down for four days, during which a test tape featuring mainstream soft rock acts was looped. The station subsequently relaunched with a more mainstream format, and a new advert featuring a cartoon radio saying "Don't be afraid!", which referred to the perceived inaccessibility of its old format.{{according to whom|date=March 2015}} The soft rock revamp was not a success, culminating in listener-led protests outside the Capital Radio studios. Listeners also lodged objections with the [[Radio Authority]], which found Xfm to be acting in a manner contrary to its licence requirements, and a degree of alternative output was eventually restored, particularly through night-time playlists and specialist shows.{{according to whom|date=March 2015}}

Following the take-over by Capital, the station dropped its wide-ranging music policy, which was replaced by a format based on [[College radio in the United States|USA college stations]]. The first audience figures after this change showed a sharp decline. The DJs were no longer able to select some of their own tracks, and specialist shows were dropped. The station soon became more male-orientated and featured [[Association football|football]] coverage and "laddish" output. This came to an end after the Radio Authority fined Xfm £50,000 for breakfast presenter [[Tom Binns]]' jokes about [[bestiality]] on air.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/564667.stm| title=Record fines for radio stations|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=14 May 2024|date=14 December 1999}} – Article describing the nature of complaints against Tom Binns on Xfm</ref>

Capital Radio attempted to increase Xfm's listening figures, recruiting DJs such as [[Zoe Ball]], former [[BBC Radio 1]] presenter, and re-recruiting comedians [[Ricky Gervais]] and [[Stephen Merchant]], who took voluntary redundancy when Capital bought the station, after the first airing of ''[[The Office (UK TV series)|The Office]]''. Together with [[Zane Lowe]] and [[Christian O'Connell]], this yielded growing listening figures.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

In 2012, host John Kennedy was the only member of the presenter lineup that had been with the radio station since its first broadcasts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://completemusicupdate.com/article/qa-john-kennedy-xfm/|title=Q&A: John Kennedy, XFM | Complete Music Update|access-date=25 March 2020|archive-date=25 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025191655/https://completemusicupdate.com/article/qa-john-kennedy-xfm/|url-status=dead}}</ref> His new music show, X-Posure is the station's longest running show and is credited as being the first to give radio play to artists including [[Adele]], [[Florence and the Machine]], [[Razorlight]] and [[Mumford & Sons]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiox.co.uk/news/john-kennedy-wins-arqiva-music-champion-award/|title=John Kennedy Wins First Ever Arqiva Commercial Radio Music Champion Award|access-date=25 March 2020|archive-date=19 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919114759/https://www.radiox.co.uk/news/john-kennedy-wins-arqiva-music-champion-award/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Expansion of the Xfm network=== [[File:XFM logo.png|thumb|Xfm logo used from 2003 to 2015.]] Xfm has held 28-day [[Restricted Service Licence]] FM broadcasts in a number of British cities, including [[Manchester]], [[Birmingham]], [[Cardiff]] and [[Glasgow]].

In 2000, Xfm London was added to a number of [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]] multiplexes around the country, and in January 2006 its reach expanded when it replaced [[The Storm (radio station)|The Storm]] on a number of other local multiplexes, creating near-national coverage. It was at one point reported{{CN|date=May 2024}} that this "national" version of Xfm London (known as ''Xfm UK'') would have local content drop-ins within it (e.g. news, travel) over time, but this ultimately never came to pass. Most [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]] coverage of Xfm carried the London version of the station, but for a time some multiplexes in the north of England instead received a feed of Xfm Manchester.

In 2001, Xfm rehired Ricky Gervais and Steve Merchant to run the [[The Ricky Gervais Show|Saturday afternoon show]]. Karl Pilkington was assigned to them as a producer, to "just push the buttons", but eventually became the focal point of the show.

By 2002, the station had added many specialist shows, such as ''London Express'', ''The A-X of Alternative Music'' presented by Steve Taylor and generating a book published in 2004,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Taylor |first1=Steve |title=The A to X of Alternative Music |url=https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/a-to-x-of-alternative-music-9780826482174/ |publisher=Continuum}}</ref> and ''The Remix''. Although the daytime playlist consisted of forty current releases, these were changed frequently, and the overall playlist contained about ninety records. In time the specialist shows gradually declined in number, and the playlist was again restricted.{{CN|date=February 2024}}

On 9 June 2005, the group was awarded a permanent FM broadcasting licence to serve the city of [[Manchester]] as Xfm Manchester. This station went on air in March 2006. Also in 2005, Xfm was among the bidders for the regional north east franchise on 97.5 FM,<ref>[http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rbl/car/ifmapps/northeast/xfm.pdf XFM application for North East licence from Ofcom site (pdf)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202011110/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rbl/car/ifmapps/northeast/xfm.pdf |date=2 December 2008 }}</ref> but this licence was ultimately awarded to [[Smooth Radio (2010)|Smooth Radio]] by [[Ofcom]].

On 4 January 2006, [[GCap Media]] relaunched its Central Scotland regional station [[Galaxy Scotland|Beat 106]] as Xfm Scotland.

In 2007, a fourth station joined the network with the launch of a new regional Xfm for south Wales, based at the [[Cardiff]] studios of Red Dragon FM (now [[Capital South Wales]]).

===Output changes=== In May 2007, in an attempt to cut costs, the parent company of Xfm, [[GCap Media]], announced that they would be removing all presenters from the daytime (10 am–4 pm) lineup and replacing them with a jukebox based upon listener requests through their websites.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.1967 |title=Radio Today: XFM drops daytime jocks |access-date=17 June 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519092328/http://www.radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.1967 |archive-date=19 May 2007 }}</ref> On 6 March 2008 an announcement was made reversing the decision to remove daytime presenters.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1033420&c=1 | title = Music Week - XFM brings back daytime DJs | access-date = 19 March 2008}}</ref> From 25 March 2008 a new schedule restoring daytime schedules was put in place.<ref name="radiotoday.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.3134.2 |title=Radio Today: DJs return to Xfm daytime |access-date=19 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310234142/http://www.radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.3134.2 |archive-date=10 March 2008 }}</ref>

On 11 February 2008 GCap Media announced that they would be selling the analogue licence for the Manchester, Scotland and South Wales stations,<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/feb/11/gcapmedia.digitaltvradio | title = DAB 'not economically viable' | access-date = 11 February 2008 | work=The Guardian | location=London | first=John | last=Plunkett | date=11 February 2008}}</ref> retaining only XFM London. This decision was made in an attempt to shore up profits and concentrate on 'winning brands', calling the former nationalisation strategy into question. After this announcement, in early 2008, breakfast show host Alex Zane admitted on air that the future of the London station was also being reviewed, even making jokey references to perhaps being out of a job soon. The sale of the South Wales station went ahead, with [[Town and Country Broadcasting]] relaunching this as [[Nation Radio]]; the sale of the Scotland and Manchester stations was suspended when Global Radio entered into discussions to purchase GCap Media.{{CN|date=February 2024}}

The re-appointment of a previous Programme Controller in 2011 led to a number of changes to Xfm's output. Specialist shows such as ''Music:Response'' and ''Mix Master Mike Show'' returned, as did presenter [[Danny Wallace (humorist)|Danny Wallace]].<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/jul/04/yes-man-danny-wallace-joins-xfm | title = Yes Man author Danny Wallace joins Xfm London as breakfast host | access-date = 4 July 2011 | work=The Guardian | first=Jason | last=Deans | date=4 July 2011}}</ref> In September 2011 a new Xfm schedule began, and included [[Mary Anne Hobbs]] moving to a re-launched evening show, ''Music:Response''. A new "local" slot was introduced. Broadcaster [[Richard Skinner (broadcaster)|Richard Skinner]] left the station after two years.<ref name="radiotoday.co.uk 2">{{cite web | url = http://radiotoday.co.uk/2011/08/hobbs-goes-nightly-in-xfm-shuffle/ | title = to Hobbs goes nightly in XFM shuffle | date = 22 August 2011 | access-date = 22 August 2011}}</ref> The show ''Import:Export'', produced and directed by Redefined Media, was resurrected and linked to [[KROQ-FM]] Los Angeles.<ref name="xfm.co.uk">{{cite web | url = http://www.xfm.co.uk/news/2011/importexport-with-kroq-la | title = Import:Export with KROQ | access-date = 22 August 2011}}</ref> Further weekend signings included ''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]'' journalist [[Gordon Smart]] starting a three-hour Sunday show. Smart's show ended in October 2013 when he left to join the ''Scottish Sun'' as editor.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}} As part of the 2013 schedule [[Jon Holmes]] took over the breakfast show. Comedian [[Josh Widdicombe]] presented a show on Saturdays between 10 am and 1 pm with Lliana Bird on afternoons.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}} It was announced in March 2015 that [[Russell Brand]] would be hosting a new Sunday night show, which was to first air on 15 March.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nme.com/filmandtv/news/russell-brand-to-make-radio-return-with-xfm-sunday/371885|title=Russell Brand to make radio return with XFM Sunday evening show|author=NME.COM|work=NME.COM|access-date=21 April 2020|archive-date=21 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221142412/http://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/russell-brand-to-make-radio-return-with-xfm-sunday/371885|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Following Heart and Galaxy owner Global's takeover of GCap Media, Xfm Scotland became Galaxy (it went on to become [[Capital Scotland]] in 2011), leaving just Manchester and London with local Xfm stations.

Following Global's acquisition of [[GMG Radio|Real and Smooth Ltd]], the Paisley/Renfrewshire 96.3 FM service previously broadcast as Real Radio XS became a new XFM Scotland in 2014. This service was available across central Scotland over DAB.

Up until the end of the Xfm branding, the London, Manchester and Scotland stations broadcast 43 hours a week of local programming – weekday breakfast and drive, and four hours a day at weekends – with networked programming, primarily from London, at other times. TV platforms followed the London output and all three stations were streamed online.

===Rebrand as Radio X=== Xfm rebranded as Radio X on 21 September 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://radiotoday.co.uk/2015/09/full-line-up-for-globals-radio-x-confirmed/ |title=Full line-up for Global's Radio X confirmed |publisher=RadioToday |date=7 September 2015 |access-date=7 September 2015}}</ref> The rebrand was carried out in partnership with creative agency We Are MBC. The rebranded station launched with new presenters including [[Chris Moyles]], [[Vernon Kay]], [[Johnny Vaughan]] and [[Ricky Wilson (English singer)|Ricky Wilson]] joining some existing XFM presenters on a refreshed schedule.

Xfm aired its last day of programming on Sunday 13 September 2015, with [[Lliana Bird]] playing out the final song 'Kick Out The Jams' by [[MC5]] and bidding an emotional farewell to the station.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/various-artists-764-1225223 | title=XFM closes with MC5's 'Kick Out the Jams' played as last song | website=[[NME]] | date=14 September 2015 }}</ref> Musicians, listeners and Xfm DJs were invited to share their memories of the station using #wewerexfm. Xfm Scotland ceased broadcasting entirely on the same day, with Global handing back the Paisley licence to Ofcom. A "holding" service of music and announcements began transmitting on national DAB under the Radio X title the following day, with this service also taking the place of Xfm on FM, TV and online until the full launch of the new Radio X at 6:30{{nbsp}}am on Monday 21 September 2015.

The first song played on the rebranded Radio X, by Chris Moyles just before 7{{nbsp}}am on 21 September, was "[[Love Machine (Girls Aloud song)|Love Machine]]" by [[Girls Aloud]], an off-format nod to media reports of a male bias by the new station.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shepherd|first1=Jack|title=Chris Moyles hosts comeback Radio X show: Dismisses 'male-focussed' agenda and plays Love Machine by Girls Aloud|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/chris-moyles-hosts-comeback-radio-x-show-dismisses-male-focussed-agenda-and-plays-love-machine-by-10510945.html|access-date=19 November 2015|work=The Independent|date=21 September 2015}}</ref>

Radio X is now available nationally via [[Digital One]] national [[Digital Audio Broadcasting|DAB]], with all local-layer Xfm carriage dropped (replaced in many cases by [[Gold (British radio network)|Gold]]). The new national Radio X also replaced Xfm on FM in London and Manchester, and on other platforms including TV and online. There is no longer any local output on the Manchester station, and the only variance between the UK, London and Manchester services is split advertising and top-of-the-hour news intros.

In October 2019, Radio X's DAB station switched to DAB+ using a more efficient 40 kbps AAC+ stream. This enabled it to broadcast nationally in stereo on DAB for the first time; the previous DAB broadcast used the less efficient MP2 coding, so although a higher bitrate (80 kbps), it was broadcast in mono. The change was made to make room for [[LBC News]] on the Digital One multiplex.

During the 2010s, the station progressively included more "classic" records in its output. By 2021, with the exception of [[John Kennedy (radio broadcaster)|John Kennedy]]'s ''X-Posure'' (airing Friday and Saturday, in addition to ''X-Posure Daily'' on Global Player), only about twelve recent releases would be playlisted in any one week.<ref>{{cite web|title=Radio X Playlist|url=https://www.radiox.co.uk/radio/playlist/|access-date=15 December 2021|website=Radio X|language=en}}</ref>

==Sister stations==

=== Radio X Classic Rock === On 16 February 2023, Global launched Radio X Classic Rock to play [[classic rock]] music,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-16| title=Global launches brand-new station Radio X Classic Rock |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2023/02/global-launches-brand-new-station-radio-x-classic-rock/ |access-date=2023-02-16|website=RadioToday|language=en-GB}}</ref> broadcast on DAB nationwide and online.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to listen to Radio X Classic Rock |url=https://www.radiox.co.uk/classic-rock/how-to-listen-to-radio-x-classic-rock/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Radio X |language=en}}</ref> The move reinstated an adult rock service into Global's portfolio three years after the demise of [[The Arrow (radio)|The Arrow]]. Radio X Classic Rock has a dedicated weekday daytime show, usually presented by Sunta Templeton of ''The [[Johnny Vaughan]] 4 'til 7 Thang''.

=== Radio X Chilled === Launched on 12 September 2024 alongside Radio X 90s and Radio X 00s, Radio X Chilled broadcasts exclusively [[Chill-out music|chill-out]] [[Rock music|alternative]] music. It is available on DAB in London.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to listen to Radio X Chilled |url=https://www.radiox.co.uk/chilled/how-to-listen/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Radio X |language=en}}</ref>

=== Radio X 90s === Launched on 12 September 2024 alongside Radio X 00s and Radio X Chilled, Radio X 90s plays the [[alternative rock]] from the [[1990s in music|1990s]]. Radio X 90s broadcasts across the UK on Global Player, and is also available in London on DAB.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to listen to Radio X 90s |url=https://www.radiox.co.uk/90s/how-to-listen/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Radio X |language=en}}</ref> and it has also been broadcasting on 106.1 FM and DAB in Manchester from 24 February 2025, replacing [[XS Manchester]].<ref>[https://www.xsmanchester.co.uk/radio/radio-x-90s/ XS Manchester] </ref><ref>[https://radiotoday.co.uk/2025/02/date-set-for-radio-x-90s-to-replace-xs-manchester-on-106-1fm/ Martin, Roy. Radio Today, 2025-02-10]</ref> Rob Ellis, formerly of [[Capital Manchester and Lancashire]], presents a show as part of the schedule from 11am to 2pm every weekday.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Radio X |url=https://www.radiox.co.uk/radio/shows-presenters/rob-ellis/ |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=Radio X |language=en}}</ref>

=== Radio X 00s === Launched on 12 September 2024 alongside Radio X 90s and Radio X Chilled, Radio X 00s plays the [[alternative rock]] from the [[2000s in music|2000s]]. It is available on DAB in London.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to listen to Radio X 00s |url=https://www.radiox.co.uk/00s/how-to-listen/ |access-date=2025-03-01 |website=Radio X |language=en}}</ref>

=== Radio X Oasis === On 15 April 2025, Radio X launched their first ever pop-up station dedicated to English rock band [[Oasis (band)|Oasis]] to coincide with the UK leg of [[Oasis Live '25 Tour|their reunion tour]], which featured the whole song catalogs (including B-sides and rarities) along with the specialized programming.<ref>{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Roy |title=Radio X launches 24-hour Oasis radio station across UK |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2025/05/radio-x-launches-24-hour-oasis-radio-station-across-uk/ |website=[[RadioToday]] |date=15 April 2025 |access-date=15 April 2025}}</ref> The pop-up station ends the run on September following their encore run at the [[Wembley Stadium]], with the station spot currently occupied by their sister station [[Heart Xmas]], which launched shortly after Radio X Oasis closure.<ref>{{cite web |last=Martin |first=Roy |title=Heart Xmas and Smooth Christmas launch on DAB digital radio |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2025/09/heart-xmas-and-smooth-christmas-launch-on-dab-digital-radio/ |website=[[RadioToday]] |date=29 September 2025 |access-date=29 September 2025}}</ref>

==Former Xfm stations== The stations which formerly comprised the Xfm network were: *Xfm London, which has been broadcasting on 104.9 FM in the Greater London area full-time since 1997 (and by Restricted Service Licence from 1992). *[[XFM Manchester]], which was launched on 97.7 FM on 15 March 2006. *[[XFM Scotland (2006)|XFM Scotland]]

==Current and former presenters== * Current presenters on the network include:  {{div col|colwidth=20em}} *[[Chris Moyles]] *[[Dominic Byrne]] *[[Toby Tarrant]] *[[Johnny Vaughan]] * [[Polly James (broadcaster)|Polly James]] * [[John Kennedy (radio broadcaster)|John Kennedy]] * [[Ed Gamble]] * [[Matthew Crosby]] *[[Danny Wallace (humorist)|Danny Wallace]] {{div col end}}

Former presenters on the network include:

{{col-start}} {{col-2}} *[[Ricky Gervais]]<ref name=":0" /> *[[Stephen Merchant]]<ref name=":0" /> *[[Karl Pilkington]]<ref name=":0">{{cite news|title = How We Met: Karl Pilkington & Ricky Gervais|url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/how-we-met-karl-pilkington-ricky-gervais-6270569.html|website = The Independent|date = 3 December 2011|access-date = 26 October 2015|language = en}}</ref> *[[Russell Brand]] *[[Zane Lowe]] *[[Dave Rowntree]], whose final show was on 13 September 2015. *[[Dermot O'Leary]] *[[Adam and Joe]] *[[Shaun Keaveny]] *[[Claire Sturgess]] *[[Zoe Ball]] *[[Pete Mitchell (broadcaster)|Pete Mitchell]] *[[Eddy Temple-Morris]], host of ''The Remix'', whose final show after 15 years on Xfm was on 4 September 2015. He took ''The Remix'' to [[Soho Radio]]. *[[Josh Widdicombe]], who alternated on Saturday and Sunday mornings from February 2013 until July 2015. *[[Iain Baker]], who worked at Xfm for seven years presenting a number of different shows<ref>{{cite web|title = LinkedIn Profile| url = https://www.linkedin.com/in/iainbaker|website = Linked In|access-date = 12 February 2016}}</ref> *[[Alex Zane]] *[[Christian O'Connell]] *[[Jane Gazzo]] *[[Dave Berry (presenter)|Dave Berry]] *[[Lauren Laverne]] *[[Eoghan McDermott]], now on [[RTÉ Radio]]. *[[Scroobius Pip]], who presented ''The Beatdown'', a late-night spoken-word and hip-hop show, from April 2013 to August 2014 *[[Jon Holmes]] (2013–2016) *[[Phil Clifton]] *[[Ricky Wilson (English singer)|Ricky Wilson]] *[[Vernon Kay]] (2015–2017) *[[Clint Boon]] *[[Jo Good]] *[[Mary Anne Hobbs]] *[[Janice Long]] *[[Richard Skinner (broadcaster)|Richard Skinner]] *[[Kevin Greening]] *[[Alan Freeman]] *[[Elis James]] *[[John Robins (comedian)|John Robins]] *[[Jimmy Hill (broadcaster)|Jimmy Hill]] *[[Gordon Smart]] * [[Liam Gallagher]] * [[Noel Gallagher]] * [[Lliana Bird]], the longest standing female DJ on the station (16 years) * [[Steve Taylor]], author of The A to X of Alternative Music <ref>{{cite book |last1=Taylor |first1=Steve |title=The A to X of Alternative Music |publisher=Continuum |isbn=0826482171 |url=https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/a-to-x-of-alternative-music-9780826482174/}}</ref> * [[Robin Banks]] * Pippa Taylor {{col-end}}

==''Kick Out the Jams: The Story of XFM''== In 2022, Signature Entertainment<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.signature-entertainment.co.uk/film/kick-out-the-jams-the-story-of-xfm/ |title=Kick out the Jams: The Story of XFM |publisher=Signature Entertainment |date= |accessdate=2022-08-31}}</ref> released ''Kick Out the Jams: The Story of XFM'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nerdly.co.uk/2022/08/24/kick-out-the-jams-the-story-of-xfm-review/ |title='Kick out the Jams: The Story of XFM' Review |publisher=Nerdly |date= |accessdate=2022-08-31}}</ref> a documentary by ''The Wee Man's'' Ray Burdis co-directed with Ian Jefferies, about the history of Xfm. The film features interviews with former Xfm presenters like Gary Crowley, Ricky Gervais, Steve Lamacq, Stephen Merchant and Claire Sturgess, as well as musicians like The Libertines' Pete Doherty and Carl Barat, Alan McGee and Sonya Madan.<ref name="theguardian1"/>

== See also ==

* [[The Music Machine (radio station)|The Music Machine]] - formerly NME Radio, founded by XFM's Sammy Jacob

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== *{{Official website}} {{GCap Media}} {{London radio}} {{Manchester radio}} {{Authority control}}

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