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Stuart Bailey goes back in time through the wondrous 80s, to bring you a collection of facts & tracks from the same decade that brought you Neon Spandex & Leg Warmers... What were you up to in the 80s?

"Growing up in the 1980s for me was brilliant...

​Our large family, originally from Dartford, Kent, there was Me, my brother, mum, dad and gran, all living in a large house on the edge of sprawling London and the garden of England. My Gran use to own a small grocery store, mum worked for the NHS and dad was a docker by trade. 

How did I get into radio? Well the local hospital radio was advertising for presenters, so I went along and took a few 7inch singles. I did an audition and a few days later they wrote to me, asking me to comeback and present a show on Sunday afternoons.

I can remember my first show, the first record I played was Too Shy by Kaja goo goo. My highlight from presenting hospital radio was interviewing the mystery writer Ruth Randell, she had visited the station to talk about books and the Inspector Wexford mysteries on ITV.

​I guess I have been very lucky, as I also had the opportunity gain experience at Thames television way back when, as well as London’s Capital Radio, helping out on their Christmas line and the "Help a Capital Child" phone services. 

80’s music is such an important part of remembering my childhood as the 80s was such a defining decade. The country went through such a massive shift socially and economically, Music of the 80’s also shows those changes from the end of punk to new wave, cheeses pop and then ending our decade with the stock Aitken and Waterman era, that's why I love the 1980’s!"
​- Stuart Bailey