Joel Ross
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Joel Ross (born Joel Hogg in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, 31 May 1977) is a British radio DJ. Along with Jason King (known on air as JK), he presents the coveted UK Top 40 show on BBC Radio 1 each Sunday. They also host the network's early breakfast show from Monday to Thursday.
They are the winners of two Sony Radio Academy Awards in 2005; a Gold for 'Breakfast Show Of The Year' and a Silver for 'Entertainment Show'. The pair first came together in 1999 on Viking FM in Hull when Joel moved from the afternoon show he was hosting to join JK on breakfast.
Joel started out in radio as a presenter on his hometown station Yorkshire Coast Radio at the age of 16. The owner of the station was listening to a rival station, and regularly heard a young Joel ringing up live on air just to chat. It was then that the job was offered to him.
He joined Viking FM in 1996, starting on the nightshift. He worked his way up to the late show, off-air breakfast producer, evening show host and afternoon show presenter. He was then offered the chance to pair up with JK, a long-time colleague and socialising partner, on the breakfast show which JK had hosted alone for the previous year.
Initially the arrangement was just for Joel to earn some overtime from his afternoon shift by reading JK's travel reports; but instantly it became clear that the pair had a natural broadcasting rapport as well as great ability to communicate with the audience, and so Joel was relieved of his afternoon duties and elevated to the role of breakfast co-host. Their cheeky, laddish, infectious style ensured a rapid rise in the ratings and the move to Manchester's Key 103.
On television they have presented Playboyz, a fast moving gadget series for Granada Men and Motors and Motor Maniacs, a series dedicated to men obsessed with bikes and cars. Most recently, they have been the hosts of Pure Soap on BBC3, a daily 30 minute live show looking at all things to do with soap operas. Joel achieved the distinction of winning Channel 5's 2005 Britain's Worst Celebrity Driver competition, with JK as his co-driver.
Joel's passions away from radio include the television soap opera Prisoner, as well as a love for professional wrestling. He co-hosts The Sun's "Wrestlecast" with journalist Simon Rothstein, interviewing WWE wrestlers.
