Since 1999, John Gooding has been a staple on Sweet FM, hosting a unique show that blends humour, oddities, and local flavour. Originally joining with a friend to cover night soccer, John’s show quickly evolved into something special, sharing mad and strange stories from around the world every week.
Unlike typical radio shows, John's program doesn’t feature music. Instead, he and his co-host focus on strange news stories. One of the most memorable tales he recalls involved an unfortunate incident during surgery when a patient broke wind, igniting a flame and causing a small fire—a story John still listens to when he needs a laugh.
Preparing for the show is a team effort. "We’re not live; we record on Thursdays, I edit it, and it airs on Saturdays and Mondays," John explains. He and his co-host steer clear of local stories, choosing instead to cover global oddities. John fondly remembers working with Dave Giffard, Sweet FM's long-time sound engineer who managed technical aspects for nearly 20 years. “Dave was invaluable, especially in the early days when we recorded on basic equipment at the council chambers. He had the technical experience that allowed us to focus on content.”
Starting with no experience, John encourages aspiring radio hosts to dive in, even if they’re new. He emphasises the importance of technical expertise, recalling how Dave's guidance helped him and his co-host build confidence. Today, John and his team enjoy the comfort of a studio, though they still face challenges—like a recent power surge that damaged their equipment. "When that happened, we knew it was beyond us!" he laughs.
John believes the key to a good show is adaptability. Years of acting experience taught him to improvise if something goes wrong, and having a co-host to play off makes it easier to keep things flowing.
For his dream guest, John would love to interview Donald Trump, purely for the unpredictability and absurdity he could bring to the show. John encourages anyone interested to volunteer, as Sweet FM is always looking for fresh voices to keep the laughs going.
John behind the mic. Photo credit: Miah Lampard
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