Valerie Wheeler – Broadcasting From Home: "We will all get through this together!"

Opinion
23 Apr 20

As people turn to radio during the Lockdown for company and a sense of community, a selection of the country’s top DJs tell us how they’ve kept the show on the road whilst broadcasting from a variety of novel spots around their homes!

I have the home broadcasting kit on a vanity desk, beside my bedroom window looking out onto my housing estate in Limerick – a mic, laptop and all the essentials needed to get me to air.

The greatest challenge has been trying not to wake the neighbours at 7am. You forget how loud you are! It’s extremely important to continue to broadcast. Radio is a companion for listeners, so it’s nice to be able to keep people entertained and informed and have fun, while everyone is going through such a tough time.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve had some amazing people on, who have contributed to the community during these times of need. Ed and I started a campaign to get listeners to send letters to local nursing homes, and the response from adults and kids around the South West has been incredible.

To be honest, it’s hard to put into words how I’ve been feeling. It can be scary. I’m currently living alone for the first time ever, due to COVID-19. You almost have too much time to be thinking the worst. I usually do sports reporting on the weekends too, and feel like part of my identity has been taken away from me while there is no sport – so I’m looking forward to getting back to that.

Stay safe, stay home, wash those hands and we will all get through this together!

• Valerie Wheeler co-presents the Fully Charged Breakfast Show from 7am on SPIN South West