Jordan North - Good for Radio?

If you live in the UK or Ireland, chances are you've caught at least a few minutes of this years' "I'm A Celebrity" TV show. At the least, you've seen or heard it spoken about.

One of this year's contestants is Jordan North from BBC Radio 1.

Ok, this isn't the first time a radio person has ended up on IACGMOOH. In fact Victoria Derbyshire, formerly of BBC 5Live is there too but she's more TV now than anything. In the past, Tony Blackburn and Iain Lee have both shown up in the jungle to do their thing. Blimey, even Mike Read got a shot at it in 2004!

So here's my question - take Jordan...is he doing radio a good turn?

Basically, he is there representing our industry. The public have a very thin perception of what a radio presenter/DJ is. The old-school Smashy & Nicey types to the crazily-hip and ultra-cool distant voice. Now, in the past decade, a new breed of presenter came along and Jordan fits into that newer category.

He's an actual person...not a caricature. That was hammered home on the first trial when he had to face his absolute terror of snakes...and he did it! To see how he felt after facing that fear and the response from his camp mates was amazing. He was just a guy, not a 'deejay'.

I think when Iain Lee went in a few years ago, he burst in as a larger-than-life version of himself. Yes it was very entertaining but not really 'him'. Now, on his nightly Twitch stream, we're getting more of the person than the set-up (32,000 nightly viewers can't be wrong!). The real Iain Lee is there now...the entertainer, the thought provoker, the funny guy, the serious thinker...the person!! 

Radio in 2020 went through a massive upheaval...from consolidation to presenters broadcasting from their kitchens! It's been a crazy year. However, as the numbers are starting to show...it's also seen a surge in listenership. More people are turning to radio now. Talk radio in particular is up as the audience try to figure out what's happening in the world. Music radio is providing the light relief from it all. Radio has become an actual 'essential service'.

So now, with that higher profile in people's lives, we get Jordan North on nightly TV, becoming the face of ALL of our work. You and me and everyone else. To the public, he IS radio.

Personally, I'm delighted he's there representing us. He is fresh, honest, funny, vulnerable and real.

Which any PD will tell you...is what a listener is looking for.