Last updated October 2006
Category: Northern Ireland
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The tall and talkative, warm and witty, Alan Simpson is the new presenter of
BBC Radio Ulster's 3.00 to 5.00pm slot from Mondays to Fridays.
Portrush man Alan is a fresh new talent to the airwaves.
He first hosted his
own entertainment-based programme on Radio Ulster for a short stint during
the summer of 2006.
Alan, a self-professed "bletherer" who describes himself as "forever young,
perpetually silly", has been in the entertainment industry for more than 20
years now.
Best known for his work with one of Northern Ireland's best-known nightclubs,
which he continues to do, Alan also comperes at a number of high profile
events, including the Milk Cup, Irish Cup Finals, international matches, the
International Air Show, the Portrush Raft Race, major concerts, such as the
recent Fatboy Slim Beach party in Portrush, and a range of charity events.
Born in Ballymoney "in black and white", as Alan says, his family moved to the
'Hugo country' of Strabane when he was a child before moving to his beloved
Portrush when he was nine-years-old.
Alan was educated in Coleraine Academical Institute, which actor James Nesbitt,
BBC Northern Ireland presenter Mark Carruthers and comedian Alan McKee also
attended.
Alan has always been comfortable behind a microphone.
At his first job in a
shirt factory Alan says he used to sneak into the office to use the Tannoy
system to tell jokes to other staff while his boss was away.
His penchant for
entertaining others soon landed him in trouble, however, when his boss returned
unexpected one day, only to fire Alan for his antics.
A Northern Ireland man through and through, Alan moved to London in his early
20s, only to return to his home of Portrush because he "didn't know anyone".
On
returning home, Alan moved into concert promotions, bringing bands such as Ian
Dury and the Blockheads, The Stranglers and The Undertones to Portrush.
In the early Eighties, Alan moved into DJing, playing disco classics at one of
Northern Ireland's most famous nightclubs.
Alan continues to enjoy a long
career with this nightclub and has become a well known name for organising
major dance events in Portrush.
Alan cites talking to new people, from "the ordinary to the extraordinary", and
his home of Portrush as his passions.
