| Ruth Barcroft | Ruth has reported from war-torn Kosovo. |
From 4pm until 7pm each weekday, Richard James and Ruth Barcroft pop-up on BBC Radio Humberside to bring you the news of the day, have a bit of fun with celebrity guests and something to hopefully tickle your funny bone. Recently, the programme has featured well known names from the world of music including Midge Ure, Jamie Cullum, Jools Holland and Lulu.
 | | Ruth Barcroft |
The programme also features guests from other areas to including sport. Gary Lineker and Colin Jackson have also been guests on the show. The programme prides itself on not 'filling slots' with guests and doesn't stick to a rigid format, leaving the way clear for whatever takes Richard and Ruth's fancy and sometimes with some interesting results. Ruth was born in London but was brought up in Peterbrough. However she claims an early link with Hull as she attended university in the city. Ruth studied European Studies and spent part of her degree course at the University of Chemnitz in Germany. After university she worked for a broadcasting consultancy in London. Then, she gained a post graduate certificate in broadcast journalism in Sheffield. Early in her broadcasting career Ruth freelanced at the BBC in Yorkshire then spent time working as a journalist with commercial television before moving to the fledgling Channel Five as North of England and Scotland reporter. This brought opportunities to work abroad reporting from Chernobyl and Kosovo. | "There are so many opportunities and there is a much stronger focus on programme content and creative input." | | Presenter: Richard James |
Ruth later travelled extensively before landing a job at BBC Radio Humberside with the Breakfast show, before transferring to the tea-time show with Richard. Richard James came to BBC Radio Humberside to take up the grand title of 'station sound manager'. Richard was instrumental in giving the station its current identity. He decided what music the presenters should play, what the jingles should sound like and was involved in the creative side of making the station's programme trailers.
 | | Richard James |
Richard first found himself in front of a microphone in 1977 and has been on the radio scene ever since then. He doesn't say an awful lot about his previous radio career in the commercial world, but suffice to say he's an old hand when it comes to bringing something unique to the radio. He says of working in the BBC: "There are so many opportunities and there is a much stronger focus on programme content and creative input." Speaking about presenting 'Drive' with Ruth: "It has a very broad editorial remit which means that there's lots of scope to take the programme off in different directions. One minute you're talking live to MP Austin Mitchell, the next minute joking around with Fiona Philips or running some sort of bizarre quiz." Drive - Weekdays 4pm - 7pm | 
