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Martin Kelner
Martin Kelner
Martin Kelner
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Martin Barry Kelner is a British journalist, author, comedian, singer, actor and TV presenter, whose primary career is in radio presenting. He has spent over 40 years hosting radio shows, mostly for the BBC, in particular Radio Leeds. He has been regularly accompanied throughout his career by comedy sidekick Edouard Lapaglie.

Key Information

Education and early career

[edit]

Kelner studied Arts and Social Studies at Strathclyde University in Glasgow, but dropped out. He was employed as a reporter on the Western Daily Press in Bristol and for the Oxford Mail. He then joined the Central Office of Information, for whom he worked in Bristol, Lambeth, South London and in Birmingham.

Martin Kelner moved to Radio Hallam in Sheffield to begin his career in radio. He started reading the breakfast show news before moving on to his own late night show. He spent a brief spell at London's LBC and Manchester's Piccadilly Radio, before moving to Leeds in 1981 and the fledgling Radio Aire.

He left Radio Aire in late 1982, and worked for Yorkshire TV for a time on a programme called Calendar It's The Weekend. He was also a co-presenter on BBC Breakfast. Other television excursions for Kelner include Brainwave, a daytime quiz show and Pick of the Week.

Radio

[edit]

In 1984 Kelner joined the BBC. He initially presented the weekday early show on BBC Radio 2 in September and October 1984, and then presented his own Saturday night show on the same station from 6 July 1985 until 24 March 1990, also returning to the early show for two stints during 1985. He fronted his own Saturday afternoon show on Radio 2 from 1 October 1994 to 23 March 1996. He also did many stand-ins for regular presenters on the network, peaking in the mid-1990s when he regularly deputised for Sarah Kennedy on the weekday early show (both when she sat in for Terry Wogan and when she was on holiday herself) and also sat in for Ken Bruce and John Dunn. He also presented editions of the Radio 2 Arts Programme from the north of England, and a programme called Let It Be... Please! featuring bad or embarrassing cover versions of the Beatles' songs. He then fell out of favour at the national station, presenting his last Radio 2 show sitting in for Sarah Kennedy on 29 November 1996.

At the same time as he was on Radio 2, he was also presenting a local radio late-night show from the Radio Leeds studios and broadcast across the BBC Night Network in the north, on which he first gave airtime to radio comedy sketches from Caroline Aherne. She portrayed the Mrs Merton character on his radio show ad-libbing conversations with Kelner for around eight years. He also introduced Aherne into network broadcasting on Radio 2 and the original BBC Radio 5, where he presented the programme Five Aside for the station's opening months in 1990.

He returned to Manchester to present the breakfast show on 100.4 Jazz FM, where he introduced another great comic talent to the public in the shape of Jake Yapp's Dora Dale, with whom Martin produced the hit BBC Radio 7 comedy show, Pleased To Meet You. This show was nominated for a Sony National Radio Award on 28 March 2007 in the category of Best Comedy Programme.

Until October 2006, Kelner presented the Friday and Saturday late show at the weekends on BBC Radio Humberside, BBC Radio York, BBC Radio Leeds and BBC Radio Sheffield.

Other stations he has worked for include BBC Thames Valley FM, BBC Radio Cleveland, Pennine Radio, BBC Radio 5 Live, TalkSport, BBC Radio Manchester, Real Radio Yorkshire and Mansfield 103.2 FM.

From 2006 until 2021 he presented his own podcast, the Piss Poor Podcast, accompanied for the most part by Edouard Lapaglie. He also appears on BBC Radio 5 Live as a regular panellist on Fighting Talk (twice finishing as series runner up and twice winning the series championship, in 2013 and 2019), and has contributed to Chart The Week on Richard Bacon's programme. His most regular radio slot had been the BBC Radio Leeds Breakfast Show which he co-presented Monday to Thursday from 6:30am to 9:00am, but he was moved to the lunchtime slot in November 2012.

Due to a change in direction of the station, Kelner left Radio Leeds again, presenting his last show on 18 March 2016.[1]

On 2 February 2018, Kelner joined the DAB station TalkRadio, hosting weekend mornings from 1am to 5am.

He will leave Talkradio at end of August 2025

Writing and journalism

[edit]

Kelner's journalism includes a weekly column for The Guardian, "Screen Break", which took a lighthearted look at the world of sport on TV, and a fortnightly column about radio. "Screen Break" finished on 31 December 2012.[2] He writes occasional travel pieces for The Mail on Sunday, and has written for The Independent, of which his brother Simon Kelner was executive editor. Kelner began writing for the Racing Post at the beginning of 2013.

Other publications he has written for include GQ, Men's Health, Later (now defunct), RCME, The Observer, Land Rover Owner magazine, You magazine, and Public Servant, the local and national government journal. He also has contributed to the YouGov website, and wrote television previews for the Daily Mail around 1994/95. He has posted humorous product reviews on Amazon.[3]

His first book, about the outer suburbs of show business, was called When Will I Be Famous?. His second book, Sit Down and Cheer, looked at the history of sport on British television.[4]

Personal life

[edit]

Kelner's daughter, Martha, is a journalist.[5]

Health problems

[edit]

in the summer of 2013, Kelner was diagnosed with fibromatosis; he later had surgery to remove a sarcoma from his abdomen and was cared for at St James Hospital, Leeds. He was later treated at the hospital's intensive treatment unit for a week, and returned to his home in Wakefield for further recovery. In his blog, Kelner noted that it would be early 2014 until he could fully "return to professional life".[6] He resumed his column in The Racing Post (at first on a semi-regular basis) and BBC Radio 5 Live later announced his return to Fighting Talk on 2 November. By mid-January he had resumed his lunchtime programme on BBC Radio Leeds.

References

[edit]
[edit]
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Martin Kelner

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Martin Kelner (born May 1949) is a British journalist, author, radio presenter, comedian, and occasional actor and singer, best known for his decades-long career in broadcasting, particularly on BBC local radio stations in northern England. Born and raised in Manchester, Kelner began his professional life as a newspaper reporter before entering radio in 1976 at Radio Hallam in Sheffield, where he hosted shows for four years. Over the subsequent decades, he worked across numerous stations, including Radio Aire, Pennine Radio, BBC Radio 2, the original BBC Radio Five, Jazz FM, and most BBC local stations in the North of England, often as a pundit on BBC Radio 5 Live and Radio 4. He relocated to Leeds in 1981 and began presenting for BBC Radio Leeds in 1995, co-hosting shows that blended news, sport, and humor, frequently accompanied by his comedy sidekick Edouard Lapaglie. Kelner's style, marked by a distinctive Manchester accent and offbeat wit, drew frequent comparisons to the fictional broadcaster , especially during his weekend late-night and evening programs on BBC northern stations. He contributed regularly as a columnist to , penning pieces on media, radio, and football from the 1990s onward, including commentary on figures like . His tenure at Leeds ended abruptly in March 2016 amid the broadcaster's cost-cutting measures, which he publicly criticized as undermining local radio's value despite its £153.8 million annual budget and loyal audiences. Following his departure from the BBC, Kelner joined in February 2018, hosting the overnight Extra Time show on Saturday and Sunday mornings, later expanding to Friday nights in what he dubbed the "Graveyard Show," known for its eclectic mix of sports talk, music, and comedy until his final broadcast on 31 August 2025. Beyond radio, Kelner has authored books, performed as a singer and comedian, and appeared in television, maintaining an active presence through his newsletter and , where he reflects on broadcasting and current events.

Early Life and Education

Upbringing

Martin Barry Kelner was born in May 1949 in , a northern of , . He grew up in North within a Jewish family environment. This backdrop contributed to the development of his observational skills and humorous outlook that would later define his journalistic style. From an early age, Kelner showed a fascination with and media, buying his first record—"(You're the) Devil in Disguise" by —in the early 1960s, amid the rising influence of rock 'n' roll on British youth culture. His childhood in provided frequent exposure to local newspapers and radio broadcasts, which captured the city's dynamic cultural and sports scenes during the 1950s and 1960s. These formative experiences in Manchester's vibrant, community-oriented atmosphere shaped Kelner's early worldview, briefly transitioning into his formal studies at the in .

Formal Education

Kelner grew up in before relocating to to pursue higher education. In the early 1970s, he enrolled in the Arts and Social Studies program at the . The program emphasized humanities and social sciences, providing a foundation in critical analysis that later shaped his incisive and reflective writing style in . However, Kelner dropped out following a "spectacularly unsuccessful" university experience, which prompted his pivot to a career in .

Journalism Beginnings

Local Reporting

Martin Kelner's journalism career began in the early 1970s as a trainee reporter with United Press, where he contributed to the Western Daily Press, a morning newspaper, and the Kingswood Observer, a weekly publication, following his dropout from university at age 19. This entry-level role marked his initial immersion in print journalism, starting with a six-month probationary period that led into a three-year in the North East suburbs of Kingswood. During his time in , Kelner developed foundational reporting skills through routine local assignments, such as compiling obituaries and wedding announcements. He regularly visited local undertaker Roy Alderwick on Mondays to gather death notices, then interviewed widows in their homes to collect basic details like employment history, resulting in neutral, factual reports—often phrased simply as "Shoe Factory Worker Dies." coverage involved processing family-submitted forms into concise stories, such as "Machinist Weds, Honeymoon in ." One early anecdote involved his pothole investigation on Grimsbury Road, where he interviewed frustrated residents about unaddressed road damage and secured council responses; the piece was rigorously edited by sub-editors like Norman, trimming it from 1,500 to 700 words to emphasize resident quotes and local accountability. These experiences honed his abilities in deadline-driven writing, factual accuracy, and engaging community voices, while working near Staple Hill introduced him to practical tools like maintenance. Kelner later advanced to the Oxford Mail, where he expanded his experience covering a broader range of , sports, and features. This role built on his Bristol foundations, allowing him to report on community events and develop investigative techniques amid the demands of daily newspaper production. His early exposure to sports coverage, including football and , emerged here, reflecting the typical beats of regional and laying groundwork for his later specialization.

Government Communications

In the mid-1970s, Martin Kelner transitioned from local to a role at the (COI), the government's primary agency for coordinating and producing public information materials, including press releases, films, exhibitions, and broadcasts to promote policies and services. He served as a there, contributing to the organization's efforts in disseminating government messages across various media formats. Kelner's responsibilities at the COI included producing press releases, informational films, and public campaigns focused on key government topics such as and , often involving regional to engage audiences. He covered announcements and developed broadcast-style communications, applying skills from his earlier reporting to larger-scale institutional projects. This experience bridged his autonomous journalistic beginnings with broader media exposure, emphasizing structured communication over independent storytelling. Over approximately 10 years, until around 1984, during which he began his radio career in 1976, Kelner progressed through postings in , in , and Birmingham, where he handled diverse regional demands. The role presented challenges in navigating government bureaucracy, which sharpened his observational skills and contributed to the satirical edge evident in his later comedy-infused media work.

Broadcasting Career

Radio Work

Martin Kelner's radio career began in the commercial sector during the late 1970s, with his debut at Radio Hallam in in 1976, where he initially read news on the breakfast show before transitioning to his own late-night program. He subsequently worked at London's and Manchester's Radio, honing his broadcasting style amid the early growth of in the UK. By 1981, he had moved to Radio Aire in , contributing to the station's programming during its formative years as one of the first independent local stations in the region. Kelner entered the BBC in the mid-1980s, securing his own shows on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio Leeds by 1986, where he presented sports and talk formats that blended his journalistic background with engaging on-air commentary. His tenure at Radio 2 lasted until 1996, featuring Saturday afternoon slots focused on sports discussion, particularly cricket and football. From 1996, he shifted primarily to BBC Radio Leeds, evolving from late-night shows to the Breakfast Show and later the lunchtime program, which he hosted until his abrupt dismissal on March 18, 2016, amid BBC cuts to local radio services. During this period, he also presented networked late-night programs across BBC local stations, including Radio Humberside, Radio York, and Radio Sheffield, running until his departure from the BBC in 2016 and covering topics from sports analysis to light-hearted talk. Beyond his solo presenting roles, Kelner served as a regular panelist on 5 Live's , a topical sports show, where his witty punditry on football and contributed to the program's acclaim, including its Gold Sony Radio Academy Award wins in the sports category. In 2018, he returned to commercial radio with , hosting the overnight Extra Time show on Saturday and Sunday mornings, a slot that emphasized humorous sports commentary and listener interaction until his final broadcast on August 31, 2025. Kelner's audio work extended to podcasts, starting with the Piss Poor Podcast in 2006, co-hosted with Edouard Lapaglie, which delivered semi-humorous discussions on sports and culture over its 15-year run until 2021. Earlier, in 2005, he co-produced the BBC Radio 7 comedy spoof Pleased to Meet You, featuring satirical showbiz anecdotes narrated by the fictional Dora Dale, which earned a nomination for a Radio Academy Award in 2007. Throughout his career, Kelner's style—marked by sharp wit, sports expertise, and a seamless mix of and —established him as a versatile voice in British radio, often prioritizing engaging narratives over rigid formats.

Television and Podcasts

Martin Kelner has ventured into television through a series of guest appearances and acting roles, often highlighting his comedic and performative talents beyond radio. In the 1990s, he appeared in the British TV series Cryer's Crackers, a comedy production that showcased his acting skills. His television work continued into the 2000s with a feature in the BBC documentary series The Comedy Map of Britain in 2007, where he contributed to explorations of regional humor. More recently, in 2015, Kelner had a role in the series After Hours, further demonstrating his multifaceted media presence. Kelner's comedic persona extended to live performance, notably at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2008, where he performed as part of the Free Fringe with Mr Methane. This appearance allowed him to blend storytelling, singing, and satire, elements that echoed his radio style but in a visual, stage format. In the realm of podcasting, Kelner co-created and hosted the Piss Poor Podcast alongside Edouard Lapaglie, a long-running series known for its irreverent, semi-humorous discussions on sports, comedy, and everyday absurdities, which ran for over 300 episodes until 2021. Post-2021, he expanded into digital audio via his Substack platform, producing exclusive podcasts that tie into his journalistic insights on sports and culture, often incorporating comedic monologues and personal anecdotes for paid subscribers. These efforts have allowed Kelner to maintain an active presence in non-traditional broadcasting, building on his reputation as a versatile entertainer.

Writing Career

Columns and Features

Martin Kelner established himself as a prominent commentator on sports media through his long-running "Screen Break" column in , which debuted in and focused on satirical examinations of television coverage of sporting events. The weekly feature delivered witty critiques of broadcasting quirks, from over-the-top commentary to production mishaps, blending humor with insightful observations on how TV shaped public perceptions of sports like football and . Over its 16-year span, "Screen Break" became known for its lighthearted tone, often tying Kelner's broadcasting experience to analyses of on-screen absurdities, such as the BBC's abrupt end to coverage in 2012. The column concluded on December 30, 2012, amid The Guardian's staff reductions, marking the end of an era for Kelner's TV satire in the publication. Shortly thereafter, in January 2013, Kelner revived a version of "Screen Break" in the , shifting emphasis toward analysis while retaining his signature observational style on sports broadcasting. His contributions there included commentary on media trends and celebrity crossovers, such as Frankie Dettori's appearance on reality TV, and continued for several years, providing in-depth yet entertaining takes on the industry's evolving coverage. Beyond regular columns, Kelner penned features for outlets including , , and , where he offered humorous perspectives on topics like football punditry and cricket's nocturnal broadcasts. Notable examples include a Guardian piece—reflecting his Observer affiliations—on Jimmy Hill's pioneering role in football television commentary, highlighting how Hill's combative persona influenced modern sports analysis. Another standout was his 2006 commentary on series, portraying cricket's late-night TV scheduling as an unlikely but engaging companion to everyday routines. These pieces often drew on Kelner's radio background to critique how broadcasting amplified or distorted sports narratives, evolving his early reporting roots into more persona-driven, satirical prose. In recent years, as of 2025, Kelner has continued writing with a monthly column for the magazine 40-20, often covering non-sport topics with his characteristic humor. He has contributed occasional travel pieces to and maintains an active newsletter, publishing essays on , current events, and personal anecdotes.

Books and Publications

Martin Kelner's literary output centers on two major books that draw from his extensive experience in entertainment and sports media, blending autobiographical reflections with broader critiques of the industries he navigated. His debut book, When Will I Be Famous?: Travels Through the Dark Side of Show Business, published in 2003 by BBC Books, offers a humorous autobiographical account of his early career struggles in the fringes of British entertainment. The work profiles eccentric performers and behind-the-scenes figures Kelner encountered, such as flatulist entertainer Mr Methane and illusionist Sticky Vicky, mixing sympathy for their fame-chasing pursuits with sharp, observational wit that reviewers likened to Bill Bryson's style. Themes of perseverance amid rejection and the absurdities of show business dominate, informed by Kelner's own radio and production roles, though the narrative occasionally meanders amid its quips. In 2012, Kelner released Sit Down and Cheer: A History of Sport on TV, published by Wisden as part of its Sports Writing series, which chronicles the evolution of televised from the to modern broadcasting eras. Drawing on his decades in , including stints at the and , the memoir interweaves personal anecdotes—such as mishaps in radio commentary—with critiques of how television has shaped viewer engagement with , football, and other events. Reviewers praised its unremitting humor, particularly in dissecting presenters' eccentricities, hailing it as potentially the funniest of the year for its insightful yet lighthearted take on the medium's cultural impact. Kelner's books often expanded ideas from his Guardian columns, such as "Screen Break," into fuller explorations of media's quirks. Both works received acclaim for their witty prose and industry insider perspective, cementing his reputation in sports literature despite his primary fame in broadcasting.

Personal Life

Family

Martin Kelner is married to Janet Kelner. The couple has four children: David, Anna, Martha, and Ruth. His daughter Martha Kelner is a prominent journalist, currently serving as US correspondent for Sky News, having previously worked as a sports and news reporter for The Times, the Guardian, and the Daily Mail. Another daughter, Ruth Kelner, collaborated with her father on the podcast Ruthie - Me and My Dad during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns, where they discussed current issues from generational perspectives. Kelner's brother, Simon Kelner, is a noted media figure who served as editor of and assistant sports editor at the . The family resides in , .

Health Issues

In the summer of 2013, Martin Kelner was diagnosed with , a rare condition involving aggressive soft tissue tumors, which led to the development of an . He was admitted to the hospital on August 5, 2013, experiencing severe , and underwent emergency the following day to address bleeding from the tumor. On August 6, 2013, he had major surgery including excision of the large abdominal tumor, right hemicolectomy, , and ureteric repair at in . Kelner documented his experiences through posts, maintaining his characteristic humorous tone amid the challenges of recovery, which included seven days in intensive care and complications such as pleural effusions, pulmonary emboli, and abdominal collections. The and treatment necessitated a brief hiatus from his professional commitments, with him spending several months off work in late 2013 and early 2014. A second surgery followed to address ongoing issues, but by April 2014, he had resumed writing his column for the on a regular basis, marking his return to full broadcasting and journalism activities. The challenges influenced Kelner's later reflections, infusing his columns and podcasts with resilient, light-hearted commentary on personal adversity. There have been no major health updates reported since his full recovery in early 2014, allowing him to continue an active career in radio and writing until his departure from in August 2025.

References

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  2. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/sep/29/radio.regional.local
  3. https://www.bbc.co.uk/england/radioleeds/profiles/martin_kelner.shtml
  4. https://radiotoday.co.uk/2010/07/kelner-back-at-radio-leeds/
  5. https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/mar/21/bbc-local-radio-martin-kelner-radio-leeds
  6. https://www.theguardian.com/profile/martinkelner
  7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjDN_j_B29k
  8. https://uk.linkedin.com/in/martin-kelner-98698414
  9. https://martinkelner.substack.com/
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  11. https://martinkelner.substack.com/p/bristol-early-1970s
  12. https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/07_july/22/leeds.shtml
  13. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2002/apr/01/comment.martinkelner
  14. https://quarterly.blog.gov.uk/2018/07/02/a-century-of-government-communications/
  15. https://martinkelner.substack.com/p/facing-the-final-curtain
  16. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C160
  17. https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/news/journalist-and-broadcaster-kelner-leeds-hospital-remove-tumour/
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  20. https://soundcloud.com/martinkelner/a-free-15-minutes-of-the-piss-poor-podcast
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  27. https://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/journalism-news/kelners-screen-break-to-re-appear-in-racing-post/
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  30. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/nov/27/comment.gdnsport3
  31. https://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/books-and-reviews/kelners-60-year-history-thinks-inside-the-box/
  32. https://www.scratchingshedpublishing.com/magazine/
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  34. https://www.amazon.co.uk/When-Will-I-be-Famous/dp/0563487771
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  36. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1126611.When_Will_I_Be_Famous_
  37. https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/author/martin-kelner/
  38. https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/book-review-sit-down-and-cheer-a-history-of-sport-on-tv-by-martin-kelner-8720934.html
  39. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2000/nov/22/familyandrelationships.martinkelner
  40. https://rts.org.uk/article/martha-kelner-news-breaker
  41. https://newsdip.co.uk/martha-kelner-sky-news-us-correspondent
  42. https://shows.acast.com/ruthiemeandmydad
  43. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bradford/hi/tv_and_radio/newsid_8848000/8848453.stm
  44. https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/news/i-had-no-inkling-i-was-about-be-defenestrated-martin-kelner-lifts-lid/
  45. https://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/members-news/woody-allen-old-man-steptoe-and-a-hospital-update/
  46. https://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/members-news/kelners-back-on-the-interweb-and-racing-post/
  47. https://martinkelner.substack.com/p/an-old-cricketer-leaves-the-crease
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