"And we're back…"

When I left London in November 2014 and headed for the Blue Ridge Mountains, there were bound to be some changes. But one of the things I found hardest to give up was my connection to live broadcasting - I'd been at it for 25 years at that point - and in particular, to my work as a newsreader and announcer for the BBC World Service.

There was something about being on air at Bush House (and later Broadcasting House) that made me feel I was doing something important: taking unbiased news reporting not just to the wider world, but to places in the world that might otherwise have no access to reliable journalism and non-partisan media. Not only that, but for a voiceover artist who - like most voice talent - spent most of his time working alone in a home studio, I relished the interaction with the news and programme teams whom I was fortunate to work with.

In the two-and-a-half years since arriving in Asheville I've had a ball: hiking in the mountains, river trips, amazing food (and beer of course…), homesteading, and meeting a growing bunch of great friends to share it all with. My final connection with being on air in the UK was severed in February of last year, when a shakeup at A&E UK brought to an end my almost eight year tenure as a voice on HISTORY. And since then, it's been radio silence from me.

Over the last couple of years I've been courting my local NPR station - Blue Ridge Public Radio - and trying to convince them that what they really needed was a Brit in the mix to help take up the slack. Gaining trust can be a slow process, but today it all finally paid off, as I found myself doing my first morning of ad hoc hosting on the station, with more to come.

I'm thrilled to be back on air and working with another team that feels like a family, doing something that's of such obvious benefit to my local community in Western North Carolina. The station - though small - is going from strength to strength. It's just launched a 24-hour news channel, and it's now finally number one in the Asheville market (beating the local country station for the first time ever). I couldn't be happier to be getting involved, and I'm pleased to say that the thrill of the red light going on is just as strong as it was back in 1989…