Ed Nell


Edward Ian Nell is a British DJ, known as Ed Nell or Nelly.
He was educated at Gresham's School, Holt, Norfolk, between 1990 and 1997 and Loughborough University between 1998 and 2001.
Before radio Nell played semi-professional rugby union for North Walsham R.F.C. and had trials with Bedford Blues, Leicester Tigers, Northampton Saints and Saracens F.C..

Student radio

At Loughborough University, while studying Information Management, he was a member of Loughborough Campus Radio, the student radio station, which is part of the Student Radio Association. It was while at Loughborough that he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, which effectively finished his semi-professional rugby career. It was during rehabilitation from this injury that he decided to focus on a radio career. He graduated from Loughborough as a Bachelor of Science.

Post-graduation

After graduating in 2001, Nell worked as a freelance DJ at KL.FM 96.7 in King's Lynn, The Beach in Lowestoft and Beacon Radio in Wolverhampton. His first commercial radio show, which was drivetime on KL.FM 96.7, was on the day of the September 11 attacks.

Career

Island FM

Nell started his full-time radio career in 2002 at Island FM in Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands. He initially presented the late show, eventually moving to the evening show while also working in production and competition administration.

Wyvern FM

In 2003 he was offered the drive time Show at Wyvern FM, which he presented for nearly 3 years and also became deputy Programme Controller. Whilst at Wyvern FM he also provided cover on GWR FM Bristol, GWR FM Wiltshire, Leicester Sound, Key 103 and the One Network’s evening show Music Control.

Beacon Radio

In early 2006 Nell moved to Beacon Radio, 5 years after first presenting shows on the station, to present drive time and after a reshuffle moved to mid-mornings. While Nell was at Beacon Radio the station won The award for 2006 Arqiva Commercial Radio Station of the Year. From June 2006 he started to provide cover on 96.4 BRMB.

BRMB

In October 2007 Nell moved to 96.4 BRMB as the full-time cover presenter, providing weekday holiday cover and presenting weekend breakfast. At the beginning of August 2008 it was announced that 96.4 BRMB, Beacon Radio, Mercia FM, Wyvern FM and Heart East Midlands would be sold to satisfy the Office of Fair Trading's ruling on the takeover of GCap Media by Global Radio. As a direct result of this, to replace The Global Radio network programming, Nell presented the networked mid-morning show on Beacon Radio, Mercia FM, Wyvern FM and Sunday breakfast on 96.4 BRMB from Monday, 25 August 2008.
On 10 February 2009 it was announced that Nell would leave BRMB to join Hallam FM to present drive from mid March.

Hallam FM

On 16 March 2009 Nell presented his first weekday drivetime show on Hallam FM. Nell was part of the programming team that won UK commercial station of the year and Commercial radio marketing award for "Get Me to the Church on Time 2" at the Arqiva Commercial Radio Awards 2010. He also hosted Sunday mornings from 08:00-12:00.

Heat Radio

From 24 November 2009 Nell started a daily 4–7 pm show on Heat Radio, which was voice-tracked, in addition to weekday drivetime on Hallam FM. The times of his Heat Radio changed to 3–6 pm from 5 July 2010. From 5 September 2011 Nell moved to evenings and Sunday mornings.

Free Radio

Nell returned to Free Radio to cover various shows from May 2012. Until Sunday 6 April 2014, he presented Sunday afternoons on the Free Radio network between 1300 and 1600 as well as providing regular daytime cover. From the launch of Free Radio 80s he presents 10am-2pm on Saturdays.
From Monday 3 March 2014, Nell began presenting the regional breakfast show with Cat James on Free Radio Shropshire and Black Country. A week into the show, Cat and Ed became Cat and Nelly, referring to his surname after a conversation about school nicknames. On 16 July 2015, it was announced by Orion Media that from 20 July, Nell would be moving to present drivetime without his co-host Cat James. This slot was vacated by Tom Newitt, who moves to Free Radio Coventry & Warwickshire. Breakfast will be presented by Jo & Sparky who have previously presented drivetime on Free Radio Birmingham.