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Ray Cokes
Ray Cokes
Ray Cokes
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Raymond Christopher Cokes (born 24 February 1958) is an English television presenter.

Key Information

Career

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Early life

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Cokes' father was an officer in the Royal Navy, and was stationed at various navy bases around the world. When Cokes was fifteen, the family permanently resettled back to Britain. At age 20, Cokes moved to Belgium, where he took on various jobs, including as a DJ on a local radio station. This led to a job as a music presenter on Belgian national TV channel RTBF, on which he presented the show Rox Box in 1982.[1] With growing reputation, more music video shows followed, on Sky Channel and Music Box.

When MTV Europe launched in 1987, Cokes became a video jockey, regularly co-presenting alongside Marcel Vanthilt.

MTV's Most Wanted

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Between 1992 and 1995, Cokes hosted MTV Europe's live television series MTV's Most Wanted, an award-winning daily show which soon became the most popular on channel with its zoo TV format. Each night (Tuesday to Friday), musical stars performed live as well as competitions and on-air phone calls to viewers. The team wanted to end the show at its peak, with the last six months with Will MacDonald as producer. MacDonald was associated with Chris Evans on many of his TV projects. The last musical act were The Cure, who let Cokes play guitar with them on their final song. Other guests that night included Björk and Bono from U2.

After a two-month sabbatical, MTV decided to spend money on a big once-a-week spectacular called X Ray Vision. Instead of coming from the studio, it used the first floor of the MTV building in Camden Lock.

After several weeks, the show went on location to Hamburg. It was billed to feature punk band Die Toten Hosen playing live on screen; however, a local journalist wrote that the band would be there in person. A large number of their fans turned up and were disappointed to discover the false advertising. They vented their anger by throwing glass bottles and beer at a confused Cokes and camera crew, who were unaware of what had been written in the press. For the safety of his crew, Cokes decided to end the show early. MTV used him as a scapegoat, and a week later the show went out for a final time, bringing Cokes' time at MTV to an end, after nine years.

Not long after, MTV Europe broke up into localised versions, and in 1994 Cokes released a single titled "Simply Sexy!",[2] under the name Ray Cokes & the Sex Gods, featuring Al Agami, the song's title referring to one of the catchphrases frequently used in Most Wanted.

After MTV

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While working with Will MacDonald on MTV's Most Wanted Cokes met Chris Evans, who brought him to the original Virgin 1215 in the UK. The show went out weekday evenings in a similar time slot to his old TV show.

Cokes also presented series 2 of Channel Four's hit 90s TV show Wanted.

His subsequent work includes presenting En Direct de from 2005 to 2009, broadcast on the French television station France 4.[3]

Cokes also became the compère for the White Concert, a live concert recorded in Horsens, Denmark, in November 2008 in honour of the 40th anniversary of the Beatles' eponymous White Album.

In late 2008 he moved to Berlin and in 2009 to Antwerp, Belgium, declaring that he would like to permanently settle there.[4]

During the summer of 2009, Cokes and Jean Blaute co-hosted Tournée Générale, a 10-part exploration of Belgian beer around the world from Sputnik Media, on Flemish channel Canvas.[5] A second 10-part series was aired in 2011 and a third in 2013 on the Belgian channel Eén.

In September 2011, Cokes hosted the Sunday afternoon show Cokes calling on Classic 21, one of the radio stations of the Belgian RTBF.[6]

From 2012 to 2014, he was one of the three judges in Belgium's Got Talent.

In February 2014, he hosted the Swedish music award ceremony the Grammis.

In October 2014, he released his autobiography, My Most Wanted Life - On-Screen, Off-Screen and In-Between, available in German and English editions.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cokes whilst living in Spain hosted an Instagram live show several nights a week.

In March 2024 Cokes started a weekly Saturday night live radio show in Germany on Radioeins.[7]

References

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Ray Cokes

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Raymond Christopher Cokes (born 24 February 1958) is an English television and radio presenter, renowned for his energetic hosting style and contributions to music television in . Best known as a and host on from its 1987 launch, he rose to prominence with the daily live show MTV's Most Wanted (1992–1995), which became one of the channel's most popular programs, featuring interactive viewer calls, music videos, and celebrity interviews. Born in the Isle of Wight to a officer father, Cokes moved to at age 20, where he worked as a DJ before entering television with the music program Rox Box on in 1982. He gained early experience presenting on channels like Sky Channel and , honing his distinctive, irreverent on-air persona that blended humor and music enthusiasm. Joining at its 1987 launch, Cokes hosted various segments, including , until a controversial incident in led to its end in 1996. During his tenure, he also ventured into music with the 1994 single "Simply Sexy!" and appeared in films like (1994). After leaving MTV, Cokes continued his career across , presenting Wanted on Channel Four in the UK and En Direct de... on from 2005 to 2009, while serving as a guest mentor on shows like Helden von morgen (2010). He hosted events such as the White Concert in , , in 2008 and maintained a presence in radio and online media. Cokes resides in (as of 2025) and hosts the weekly live radio program Die RayDio Cokes Show on radioeins every Saturday evening from 21:00 to 23:00 CET, curating and engaging listeners with his signature wit. He also streams The Eeevening Show on , fostering interactive discussions on and . In 2014, he published his autobiography My Most Wanted Life.

Early Life

Upbringing

Raymond Christopher Cokes was born on 24 February 1958 in the , . His father served as an officer in the Royal Navy, which resulted in frequent relocations for the family during Cokes' childhood to various naval bases around the world, including periods spent in . Cokes has a brother and a sister. This nomadic upbringing exposed Cokes to diverse cultures from an early age and contributed to his development of a cosmopolitan perspective, as he later reflected in his My Most Wanted Life. At age 15, the family permanently resettled in , , where Cokes struggled with strict schools and periods of poverty.

Training and Relocation

After completing his formal training, Ray Cokes qualified as a fully trained in during his late teens. This provided him with practical skills in , aligning with his ambition to pursue a career that would enable international travel. Following his certification, Cokes took on several entry-level positions to gain practical experience, starting with work as a chef in restaurants in . These roles, which included kitchen duties and service in hospitality settings, offered him insights into the demands of the industry beyond formal education and helped build his resilience in diverse work environments. At age 20 in 1978, Cokes relocated to after the suspension of his in the UK. Upon arriving in , he secured initial employment in a local café, followed by a position in a , roles that immersed him in the city's vibrant social scene and provided essential life experience during his early adulthood.

Career

Pre-MTV Work

Following his relocation to , Ray Cokes began his broadcasting career in the early as a in local discos and on radio stations, where he honed his energetic presenting style through programming and live announcements. This experience led to his television debut in as the producer and host of Rox Box, a weekly one-hour program on Belgium's public broadcaster , which was also syndicated to the pan-European channel Music Box. The show's format blended international clips—such as those from and —with satirical sketches commenting on contemporary culture, as well as recordings of live concerts by emerging Belgian artists. Rox Box significantly influenced the local music scene by allocating production budgets of 150,000 to 400,000 Belgian francs (approximately £1,875 to £5,000) to create professional video clips for domestic talent, enabling acts like , Kid Montana, and Pierre Rapsat to gain wider visibility and compete internationally. Cokes' role in these efforts distinguished the program from standard formats, emphasizing support for homegrown music amid the rise of global pop in the mid-1980s. Throughout the decade, Cokes built his on-air persona through additional music video presenting roles on channels like Sky Channel, where his charismatic, irreverent delivery—marked by quick wit and audience engagement—earned him a growing reputation in European media circles.

MTV Period

Cokes joined in 1987 as a shortly after the channel's launch, where he co-presented programs and honed his energetic, irreverent style despite nearly being dismissed on his first day for his unconventional approach. From 1992 to 1995, he hosted the flagship daily live program MTV's Most Wanted, broadcast centrally from in English to reach millions across , featuring a deliberately chaotic format that eschewed scripted structure in favor of spontaneous live segments, celebrity interviews, and comedic skits involving recurring characters such as Naughty Nina and Pathetic Pat. The show's unpolished, high-energy vibe captured the alternative spirit of 1990s , blending rock, pop, and emerging indie acts to influence discovery and television presentation styles continent-wide. Notable episodes highlighted interactions with high-profile guests including , , of , , and debuts by bands like Blur and , which amplified the program's role in promoting boundary-pushing artists and fostering a shared European music identity during a time of cultural unification post-Cold War. Its cultural impact extended beyond entertainment, achieving cult status among viewers and inadvertently aiding exposure for non-native audiences through its accessible, slang-filled dialogue. In 1994, capitalizing on his on-air persona, Cokes released the Euro house single "Simply Sexy!" under the moniker Ray Cokes & the Sex Gods, featuring Al Agami, which served as a playful extension of his image and charted modestly in several European markets. The series concluded with its final episode on December 15, 1995, marking the end of Cokes' primary tenure; he departed the network in 1996 amid fallout from a chaotic live broadcast on Hamburg's involving an on-air mishap that strained relations with producers and led to personal challenges.

Post-MTV Roles

After leaving MTV in 1996, Ray Cokes presented the second series of the interactive game show Wanted on Channel 4 during the summer of 1997, replacing Richard Littlejohn as host; the program involved viewers nominating fugitives for challenges across the UK, blending reality elements with public participation. In 1998, he transitioned to radio broadcasting in the UK, joining Virgin Radio where he hosted an early evening show, London Calling, a two-hour FM program that incorporated live music sessions, celebrity gossip, and interactive segments like "The London Lottery," broadcast from studios in London. In 2005, Cokes moved to France and began hosting En Direct de on , a live music and program broadcast from a mobile coach traveling through streets, which ran until 2009 and featured emerging artists and on-location performances. In 2008, he hosted Denmark's White Concert, a live to ' White Album marking its 40th anniversary. In 2009, following En Direct de, he co-hosted the first season of Tournée Générale with musician Jean Blaute on Belgian channels VRT and (and later Eén in subsequent seasons), a three-season documentary series exploring Belgium's heritage through road trips to breweries and cultural sites, emphasizing the country's traditions and history. The show combined travelogue storytelling with tastings and interviews, airing episodes across 2009, 2011, and 2013. In September 2011, he briefly hosted a Sunday afternoon radio program titled Cokes on Sunday on Q-music in Belgium, focusing on music and light-hearted talk. In 2010, he served as a guest mentor on the Austrian talent show Helden von morgen. Cokes expanded into judging roles in 2012, serving on the panel for the first three seasons of Belgium's Got Talent on vtm until 2014, alongside judges like Koen Wauters and Karen Damen, evaluating diverse acts in the Flemish format of the international franchise. In February 2014, he co-hosted the Grammisgalan, Sweden's premier music awards ceremony, with Gina Dirawi on SVT1, presenting categories and performances to an audience of industry professionals and fans. During the , Cokes maintained his media presence through regular Live sessions from , several nights a week, sharing music discussions and informal chats as a continuation of his broadcasting career. In recent years, Cokes has returned to radio with the RayDio Cokes Show on Germany's Radioeins (rbb), debuting on March 23, , as a live night program from 21:00 to 23:00 CET, where he curates a mix of classic and contemporary music, engages listeners via phone and , and conducts entertaining interviews, all delivered in English. The show, which emphasizes audience interaction and Cokes' signature energetic style, continues to air weekly as of November 2025, with no major new television appearances announced beyond this ongoing radio commitment.

Personal Life

Residences

In late 2008, Ray Cokes relocated to , , drawn by the city's dynamic media and cultural landscape, which offered fresh professional prospects following his tenure. He settled in the neighborhood, immersing himself in Berlin's creative vibe for two years until 2010. By 2009, Cokes had moved to Antwerp, Belgium, where he took up residence and expressed strong intentions to make it his permanent home, citing a sense of comfort and familiarity in the country where his career had earlier roots. This relocation supported his ongoing European media work. His time there reflected a return to Belgium's multicultural setting, facilitating adaptation to diverse linguistic and social environments. Cokes' pattern of relocations, often tied to career shifts in post-MTV , fostered a nomadic lifestyle marked by quick adjustments to new cultural contexts, from 's eclectic arts scene to Antwerp's bilingual urban fabric. By the mid-2010s, he had returned to , where as of 2025 he continues to reside and host radio programs, maintaining ties to both cities' vibrant media communities.

Publications

In 2014, Ray Cokes published his autobiography My Most Wanted Life: Onscreen, Offscreen and In Between, a hardcover edition released on October 20 by the Berlin-based publisher Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf, spanning 376 pages with an of 978-3862653331 for the English version. The book was made available in both German and English editions, with special hand-signed copies offered to fans, emphasizing its personal touch as a reflecting Cokes' multifaceted career and private experiences. The autobiography delves into key themes such as the rise and fall of Europe during its formative years, Cokes' off-screen personal struggles including battles with addiction and depression, and candid anecdotes from his encounters with music icons like , , and . It traces his journey from a teenage shoplifter and trained chef to a prominent DJ and television host, highlighting the chaotic, no-holds-barred style of early music television and the professional repercussions of a 1996 public incident on Hamburg's that led to his departure from . Beyond career highlights, the narrative offers intimate insights into resilience amid industry changes, blending humor with raw honesty about life transitions post-fame, including his later comebacks in hosting roles. The book's launch featured a promotional reception at the Rock Photo Gallery on October 20, 2014, where Cokes engaged with attendees and media, underscoring its appeal to European audiences nostalgic for the era. Reception has been positive among readers, earning an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 50 reviews on major retail platforms, praised for its entertaining anecdotes, emotional depth, and value as a nostalgic of television history for fans of the genre. No follow-up publications or significant updates to Cokes' written works have been documented since 2014.

References

  1. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1267527-ray-cokes
  2. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0170108/
  3. https://www.radioeins.de/programm/sendungen/raydio-cokes-show/
  4. https://www.youtube.com/@RealRayCokes
  5. https://www.amazon.com/My-Most-Wanted-Life-English/dp/3862653331
  6. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0170108/bio/
  7. https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/ray-cokes.html
  8. https://raycokesonline.tripod.com/theearly.htm
  9. https://www.morgenpost.de/kultur/berlin-kultur/article134368859/Als-MTV-Moderator-Ray-Cokes-ploetzlich-ausrastete.html
  10. https://u2tour.de/specials/Ray_Cokes_EN
  11. https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/p/my-most-wanted-life-english-edition/9200000020446493/
  12. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/80s/1986/M&M-1986-04-12.pdf
  13. https://www.discogs.com/release/881130-Ray-Cokes-The-Sex-Gods-Simply-Sexy
  14. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808117/
  15. https://uk.themedialeader.com/ray-cokes-gets-new-fm-virgin-show/
  16. https://raycokesonline.tripod.com/virgin.htm
  17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPJrLsPuKQI
  18. https://www.dr.dk/presse/beatles-den-hvide-koncert
  19. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2780386/
  20. https://thetvdb.com/series/tournee-generale/allseasons/official
  21. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1790190/
  22. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4990370/
  23. https://grammis.se/om-grammis/grammisvinnare-genom-aren/
  24. https://www.rbb24.de/kultur/beitrag/2024/03/berlin-brandenburg-rbb-radioeins-mtv-legende-ray-cokes-eigene-sendung-raydio-cokes-show.html
  25. https://www.bz-berlin.de/archiv-artikel/fernseh-legende-ray-cokes-hat-sein-berliner-glueck-im-radio-gefunden
  26. https://www.standaard.be/media-en-cultuur/cokes-wil-belg-worden/46632324.html
  27. https://www.radioeins.de/team/a_z/
  28. https://www.facebook.com/realraycokes/
  29. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Most-Wanted-Life-Autobiography-Handsigned/dp/3862653331
  30. https://www.abebooks.com/9783862653331/Wanted-Life-English-Edition-Onscreen-3862653331/plp
  31. https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/der-ehemalige-mtv-moderator-ray-cokes-aufgenommen-bei-der-news-photo/876328596
  32. https://www.amazon.com/Ray-Cokes/e/B00HY6JD60
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