Jay Curtis

Jay Curtis
Born	28th March 1986, Neath, Wales
Occupation	Radio Presenter
Known for	Bay Radio Breakfast show & Bridge FM
Website	[1]

Jay Curtis (born 28 March 1986) is a Welsh Broadcaster & Actor. He currently presents the breakfast show on 102.1 Bay Radio and Drive Time on 106.3 Bridge FM.

Childhood

Jay's first taste for an acting began with some Welsh Actors such as Eve Myles who now plays Gwen in Torchwood , Steve Meo from Belonging & High Hopes and Craig Russell who played Mark Gascoyne in Hollyoaks

Early media career

Jay started work as a freelance Reporter with Newsquest Media Group (A Gannet Company) writing for a local newspaper called the South Wales Guardian.

His other work includes a position at the BBC where he was spotted by the late Ray Gravell during the wyt ti n siarad grav roadshow . It was this move from journalism to radio that Jay believes launched his presenting career and has always believed this was down to Ray. After the initial road show Jay continued to work for BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru supporting music events on tour across Wales such as the Big Buzz and Pop Into the Park.

Early Radio Career

After working at various stations he became a presenter on his local community radio station Afan FM 107.9. It was during this time he was given a chance to present at various Restricted Service Licence shows (often called an RSL) such as Pontardawe Festival, before the station finally was granted its licence.

His success at the station led to his very own show which he later branded the Wide Awake Weekend on Saturday and Sunday 12pm – 3pm, making him a young permanent presenter on local radio.

Current career

In January 2008, he moved into Commercial Radio and after a successful interview with the group managing director, he joined Town & Country Broadcasting at their headquarters in Neath Abbey. He was initially given the Drive Time Show on 102.1 Swansea Bay Radio and 106.3 Bridge FM broadcasting a dual live Drivetime show, however within 6 months and following some successful RAJAR results this led him to take over the Breakfast show from Ruth Davies who later left the station.

He is also a regular voice on some of Town & Country Broadcastings other stations such as Scarlet FM & 97.1 Radio Carmarthenshire

Jay has also featured on a number of commercials for radio and television, and continues to be the official voice of Llanelli AFC at Stebonheath Park. He's also compared major public events for brands such as BBC Sport Relief, In the Pink Breast Cancer, Music concerts, Firework displays, Christmas light switch on's, and even fashion shows. He is also a regular critic of film for ODEON cinemas and reviews books for Apex Publishing Ltd with subjects including TV,and Film.

As well as Presenting Jay is also an experienced producer, and currently produces The Most Wanted Chart show which is the syndicated radio show for selected commercial radio stations across the UK,featuring the best of today side by side with the very best from music history and presented by Tony Dibbin.

He also works with comedian and broadcaster Mike Doyle to produce his Sunday show on various stations within the town and country broadcasting group.

Earlier in the year he made the National News headlines after being the first Commercial Radio Presenter to support Britain’s Got Talent star Shaheen Jafargholi. Jay was quick to use the station and it's audience from Shaheen's home city of Swansea to support him through the competition,and quickly developed a bond with him and his agent Mark Jermin. His profile was then increased after Shaheen received world wide attention after performing at the funeral of Michael Jackson in LA, and Jay received requests for interviews by almost every National News Paper,worldwide Radio Stations from America to New Zealand and the ITV news channel.He has since remained close friends with Shaheen and is now represented by Mark Jermin.

More Recently jay has just completed a new Pilot game show with former you bet and Stars in their eyes presenter Matthew Kelly called Shark Vs Bear, which will be on screen in 2010.

Acting/Television and Film work

Jay has worked on both television and international films. he has recently been working on a Christmas day special by Tidy Productions for ITV called Ar Y Tracs. The programme produced by Gavin and Stacey star Ruth Jones is set on the railway and stars other welsh actors such as Mali Harries,Rebecca Harries,and Iwan John.His other recent work includes a number of appearances in Pobol Y Cwm,and the Brand New BBC Drama Sherlock one-hour pilot with Hartswood Films. He was spotted on location in Swansea and Cardiff starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular super-sleuth, Phil Davis and Martin Freeman. The pilot is a modern take on the life of Sherlock Holmes, and writers include Steven Moffat from Dr Who,and The League of Gentleman’s Mark Gatiss.

He has also appeared alongside Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, Matthew Rhys and Cillian Murphy in the "Edge Of Love" which hit cinemas in late 2008. During the filming of which he appeared in an edition of Hello Magazine.

He has also worked with a number of personalities such as Eamonn Holmes on Children In Need's Great Big Bid, BBC Sport's Clare Balding, sports commentator Ron Jones, breakfast sport presenter Chris Hollins, and Dermot Murnaghan.

He has also done a number of other TV appearances and his credits include Torchwood, Dr Who, Casualty, Mistresses Pobol Y Cwn and ITV2 Xtra Factor

Last year he was invited to work with the Glantawe Theatre Company and appeared in the family favourate Pantomime Jack And The Beanstalk, and a play called "The Cats Away" where he was interviewed in the Tinopolis Studio for the Wedi 3 programme with John Hardy & Elinor Jones.He is now appearing in their latest pantomime Sleeping Beauty.

This year Jay is back on the stage with disgraced actor Chris Langham in a play called "it was just research for my book"

Filmography

Year(s)	Title	Episode	More information
2006	Torchwood	Episode 3	Series 1 Ghost Machine
2006	Doctor Who (TV series)	Episode 2	Series 2-Tooth and Claw
2008	The Edge Of Love (FILM)	Cinema Release	Released UK 27 June 2008
2009	Casualty (TV series)	Episode 22	Series 23-Price Of Life
2009	Mistresses	Episode 3	Series 2
2009	Sherlock	Pilot Episode	Awaiting Series Commission Mid 2009
2009	The Four Seasons	Winter & Spring	Gate Productions Ltd
2009	A Very British Cover-Up	Film Festival Release	Released 14 June 2009
2009	Pobol Y Cwm	Episode 66	Aired 29 June 2009
2009	BBC Sports Relief	Eddie Izzard Run	Aired on BBC1 in March 2010
2009	Ar Y Tracs	Christmas Day Special	Tidy Productions

Private life

Jay still lives in South West Wales and is a keen supporter of local good causes. He has volunteered his time to raise funds for charities including Maggie's Cancer Centre, Ice Cool Kids, Marie Curie Cancer Care, and has previously been a Volunteer First Responder for the NHS in Wales.

His Skills were also used to spearhead the first ever Sport Relief event in Swansea, which later became a national campaign.He has also served as Lord Lieutenants Caded under Lord Morris QC of Aberavon, for the county of Dyfed South Wales on behalf of her Majesty the Queen, and was even voted a ‘Real Principality Hero' in 2006, where he was presented an award by Real Radio (Wales), Angela J and Chief Executive of the Principality Building Society Tracy Morshead.

Recently he organised the successful stage party for Francesca Jackson with World Famous West End Performer Peter Karrie.Following Fran's West End performance of Rent playing the role of Joanne and then the Saturday Night hit programme from the BBC titled I’d Do Anything,jay became good friends with Fran and decided to hold the event as a reward for her work on the show. Peter Karrie has also since teamed up with Jay on a number of other Welsh ventures.

External links

• [2] Swansea Bay Radio
• [3] Bridge FM
• [4] Radio Today
• [5] Wales Online
• [6] South Wales Evening Post
• [7] South Wales Evening Post