Big JG

John joined BBC Radio Devon as a programme assistant back in 1992.

"Previously I'd been the landlord of a pub in Uplyme, near Lyme Regis and before that I was in hotel management, working for a big chain of hotels across the country," he says.

"People often ask how I made the leap from the hospitality trade to broadcasting, but  there are loads of similarities; early starts, late finishes and a love of meeting people."

In 2000, John made the move from radio - where he had been a presenter and producer of many of BBC Radio Devon's programmes - to help launch the BBC Devon website.

Craig McLaghlan popped in for a chat and a song

"I've always loved being in at the start of new projects," he says, "and it's been great to watch this site grow so successfully with such a small and dedicated team. It's now one of the BBC's most popular local websites."

Back to the airwaves

After five and a half years working online, John returned to the airwaves. He never lost his love of broadcasting and thoroughly enjoyed being back on the radio.

"I like to think that 'John Govier's Late Night Radio Show' was as interactive and accessible as it possibly could be," he says.

"Broadcasting at that time of night is very different to any other time of day. There's a real community feel. I think people actively choose to listen and take part - rather than just having the radio on in the background.

"It's quite humbling too. Sometimes we would touch on quite sensitive subjects like child abuse and listeners would share some really distressing and personal stories.

"I've had emails thanking me for covering such topics and telling me how they were in similar situations, but asking me not to broadcast the email.

"Perhaps it's simply a cathartic experience knowing that they weren't alone."

The dark side

In July 2008, John was successful in his bid to become Senior Broadcast Journalist (SBJ) at BBC Radio Devon and joined the management team (known as The Dark Side by many of the staff!).

"Now I'm helping to organise some of the station's big events like the Devon County Show and our concert at Sheldon.

"I still get a chance to broadcast from time to time too, when filling in for other presenters."

John's originally from Dorset

Blue sky and sunshine

John lives in Plymouth but is originally from Lyme Regis, just over the Devon border in Dorset.

His dad and sister still live there (his brother's in London) and he tries to visit every couple of months to take a walk along The Cobb with his black Labrador, Tilly.

He loves blue skies and sunshine, strawberries and Dartmoor - in particular Buckland Beacon where, in what seems like the middle of nowhere, you'll find the 10 commandments etched into two tablets of stone.