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Tag: Chris North

  • Lauren Redfern – BEST DEMO OF THE NIGHT – Winner 2024

    Lauren Redfern – BEST DEMO OF THE NIGHT – Winner 2024

    2024 saw the Demo Factor tour bus arrive at Leeds Students’ Union, University of Leeds, for the second time since our second ever appearance (and first officially names Demo Factor fact fans) in 2009.

    Demo Factor at Leeds Students’ Union 2024

    This year the show was hosted by Student Radio Alumni, and Radio 1 presenters, Sam & Danni. Sam Macgregor and Danni Diston formally of Xpress Radio in Cardiff, and Sam a former Student Radio Awards 2019 Best Male Presenter winner who also entered Demo Factor that year at Swansea Uni.

    We welcomed Capital presenter, herself a student radio alumnus, Aimee Vivian as a judge this year along with returning judges, Calum Macdonald (Breakfast Presenter, Times Radio), Paul Sylvester (Content Director, Absolute Radio), Aled Haydn-Jones (Head of Radio 1) and Head Judge, Chris North (Talent Manager, North Media Talent).


    Although many of the demos impressed the judges, only three demos were given the golden buzzer. Orla Dunne, Queen’s Radio Belfast (by Aled), Connie Shaw, LSR, Leeds Uni (by Calum) and Lauren Redfern, Scratch Radio, Birmingham City Uni (by Paul). Hear their Demos below!

    Paul regretted not pressing his Golden Buzzer for Lewis Smith from Spark Sunderland, Aimee regretted not pressing her Golden Buzzer for Amelia Salmons at Fly Live, and Shanai Dunglinson, from LSR was encouraged to enter the BBC Radio 1 Christmas scheme. So pretty positive stuff!

    DEMO FACTOR 2024 – GOLDEN BUZZED with the JUDGES

    The Best Demo of the Night went to Lauren Redfern who wowed all the judges and audience with her natural and warm personality.

    Lauren Redfern speaks to Sam & Danni after being chosen as Best Demo of the Night!

    Judges meet Lauren Redfern (Winner 2024) [L-R] Paul, Aimee, Chris, Lauren, Calum, Aled
    Since picking up the accolade Lauren has become a lead presenter on the newly launched stream BBC Radio 1 Anthems (launched November 2024). Not a bad result for attending SRACon 2024. Demo Factor will return in 2025.

    Lauren’s Winning Demo – DF 2024:

     

    Orla’s Golden Buzzed Demo:

     

    Connie’s Golden Buzzed Demo:

    DF Exec Producers, Rob Watson & Chris North with SRA Production and Events Officers, Emma Linton & Ben Swift – Leeds 2024

  • DEMO FACTOR SPRINGS BACK TO LEEDS 2024

    DF 2023 – EXETER UNIVERSITY

    The big gold letters are hopping in its tour bus and heading to Leeds SRACon 2024, this time hosted by LSR, Leeds Student Radio.

    History has a habit of repeating itself. This will be the 2nd time we’re being hosted by Leeds Students Union – the last time was back in 2009. That was also our second proper outing, first as Demo Factor but certainly our debut on a fancy stage setting the tone for things to come.

    GOLDEN BUZZED 2023 with JUDGES & HOSTS

    Following on from the huge success of Exeter 2023 with Spark Sunderland’s Chris Howard walking away as the evenings Winning Golden Buzzer the delegates of Student Radio wanted more. We can only oblige and bring the neon Big DF out of storage and get it to Leeds.

    HOSTS – SOPHIE K & EMIL FRANCHI

    If you enter DemoFactor and are picked out at random as part of the main live show remember the 5 Judges are there to give you constructive comments on your demo. You may even be spotted by them or someone else in the industry around the room. Or you could join the growing Golden Buzzed alumni – you have a one in 5 chance to pick one of them up!

    GOLDEN BUZZ!

    Remember you have to submit a demo and be at SRACon 2024 to take part in the 1-2-1 Demo Factor Clinic and main live show on April 15th 2024.

    2023 JUDGES (L-R) PAUL SYLVESTER, ALED HAYDN JONES, CHRIS NORTH, PANDORA, CALUM MACDONALD

    Plus more exciting news @DemoFactor

    You know you want to, it could change your life, forever!

    RADIO 1’s ALED HAYDN JONES INTRODUCES HIMSELF TO HIS GOLDEN BUZZED CHRIS HOWARD (2023 WINNER)

  • It’s a 2020 virtual wrap!

    We did what we promised. We were not going to be beaten. Against the odds, with a lot of hard work, some brilliant behind the scenes technology and a brilliant production team we brought you Virtual Demo Factor 2020.

    Not live in the New Adelphi Theatre in Salford as part of SRACon, but in the comfort of your home, Demo Factor was in ACTUAL LOCKDOWN but you can’t keep a good thing down. With the support of the SRA but more importantly those who were brave enough to upload their demo, we had a show.  

    Absolute Radio’s Ben Burrell (and first winner of this competition all those years ago) returned as Host alongside the 5 Judges, Chris, Aled, Paul, Pandora and this year new addition, Pippa Taylor from Radio X.  The quality of Demos (that were chosen at random) was very strong, but only 3 got the GOLDEN BUZZER treatment. Want to hear them?!  

    • The Judges 20202

    First to Golden Buzz was Chris North, 9 seconds into Mollie Finn from Nerve Radio‘s Demo. 

    Goden Buzzed, Mollie Finn, Nerve Radio

    New Judge Pippa jumped in for the second, Golden Buzzing Jack Hellier from Spark.  

    Golden Buzzed, Jack Hellier, Spark

    Demo Factor traditionally loves a twist and often we don’t know how it’ll happen – and even though the third Demo that was played on the night wasn’t Golden Buzzed, and played for the full minute, at the end of the show Paul requested a ‘Retro-Buzz’, which happened.

    Good call as it really impressed the panel and the Judges agreed that the winner of Virtual Demo Factor 2020 was Alex West from URY. Congratulations Alex and he’ll get a show on Absolute Radio as a prize! Not bad for entering eh?

    • Alex West, URY gets Gold and becomes our 2020 Winner!
    Demo Factor 2020 Winner, Alex West, University Radio York

    You can see the Judges chatting to the Finalists on Demo Factor Xtra here!   

    After the main show 20 industry professionals Guest Judged another 10 demos chosen at random. The remaining Demos were then divvied up between the main judges for feedback to be sent by email.

    We hope you enjoyed the show as much as the team did, but we hope to be getting the BIG GOLD LETTERS out as we can be together at the live show in 2021, because it can change your life, forever…it really can! 

    CREDITS

    Host

    BEN BURRELL

    The Judges

    ALED HAYDN JONES

    CHRIS NORTH  

    PANDORA CHRISTIE

    PAUL SYLVESTER

    PIPPA TAYLOR

    Guest Judges

    • ADAM CATTERALL
    • AMY VOCE
    • DAVE CRIBB
    • DICK STONE
    • FIONA HANLON
    • GREG HUGHES
    • INDY SAHOTA
    • JOCELIN STAINER
    • JORDAN NORTH 
    • LUCY WINTER
    • MIKE CASS
    • NEIL SLOAN
    • ROB WATSON
    • SAMMY JAMES
    • SOPHIE K
    • STEPHANIE HIRST
    • STUART MORGAN
    • VICTORIA EASTON-RILEY

    Visuals & Graphics: TOBY D’OLIER & JONNY NORTON

    Theme Music: BEN ‘JINGLES’ TOWNSEND with thanks to NO SHEET MUSIC

    Voice Over: REDD PEPPER

    Additional Voice Over: KAM KELLY with thanks to JULIETTE NICHOLS, PINEAPPLE AUDIO PRODUCTIONS

    Social Media: SCOTT DUFFIELD & LEWIS ISRAEL

    Technical Production: DANIEL WILDMAN

    Additional Production: JAMES WALKER

    Editor: HANNAH-MAE GRAHAM

    Thanks to: NAOMI OIKU, THE STUDENT RADIO ASSOCIATION, AND ALL WHO ENTERED! THANK YOU!

    Producer: ROB WATSON

    Executive Producer: CHRIS NORTH 

    • DEMO FACTOR