Former stammerer Gareth Cottrell has pioneered a radio station now attracting 35,000 listeners.,,,
A radio presenter silenced by his stammer is celebrating the first anniversary of his unique Christian station.
Gareth Cottrell struggled to speak as a child but overcame his stammer to present on national and commercial stations before launching Konnect Radio last March – a station which aims to bridge the gap between Christian and secular broadcasting.
The passion for radio that led to this launch began in Gareth’s teens, when a career as a presenter seemed impossible.
“How can you present when you can’t actually talk?” he asks.
He had opted instead to work off-air for stations around Manchester, but breakthrough came when vocal and breathing training gave him his voice back.
“We mocked up radio shows and interviewed people. It was frightening, but I began to be able to say my name and more.”
Studying media radio production at Manchester University then kick-started his career.
Gareth hosted a breakfast show on Thameside Radio, then presented for Manchester’s Key 103 and XFM, Magic AM, BBC Radio Manchester and others.
But in 2014, he felt God nudging him in a new direction.
“God placed on my heart the fact there is a huge gap between Christian and commercial radio. To bridge this gap, Gareth needed experience of Christian radio, and he presented an afternoon show for UCB for four years until he felt God prompted him to move again and Konnect Radio was born. From a laptop in his kitchen a basic show quickly attracted a monthly audience of 10,000.
In March 2021, with Mercy UK sponsoring his breakfast show, Gareth began running Konnect full-time.
The station grew fast. Organisations lined up to advertise, mid-morning and evening shows were added, the station was given a broadcast trailer and the audience hit 35,000.
Plans are now in place to launch afternoon and drive-time shows and add listen again and podcast features to Konnect’s app.
“If you’ve been a Christian for 50 years, there’s something for you on Konnect Radio,” Gareth says. “And if you don’t know who Jesus is, you will after you’ve listened!”
