Paul Golder writes for the Brentwood Gazette

We’ve been making some changes to the schedule on Phoenix FM and we’re really pleased to welcome Martin Bell and Johnny Spurling to the Phoenix FM team.

Martin and Johnny are both local boys who have been singing professionally for over 20 years. Chart watchers may remember them recording “Sven, Sven, Sven”, a single honouring the then-England football manager Sven-Göran Eriksson, which reached no 7 in the UK singles chart in 2001.

With their follow up, Goldenballs, they’ve managed to sell half a million records in the UK. They’ve also both been involved in numerous projects since then – Martin is singing at our charity ball taking place in Orsett Hall next month in aid of Saint Francis Hospice.

Bell and Spurling have stayed together as a duo particularly where radio is involved. They presented their own radio show, The Bell and Spurling Show, on Love Sport Radio, a station set up by colourful former Sun editor Kelvin McKenzie.

Love Sport were one of the many radio casualties caused by Covid, which had a dramatic effect on the commercial radio sector – but their loss is our gain, as the Bell and Spurling show has now moved over to Phoenix FM and can be heard every Thursday at 6pm.

It’s great to get them on board as they have a great local following and this helps them help a lot of local causes too.

You can hear their usual mix of sport, music, comedy and a little bit of politics on air – and the shows are also being podcasted on our website at www.phoenixfm.com.