The radio station was part of day-to-day life in the city
13:00, 06 Nov 2025Updated 13:14, 06 Nov 2025
Leanne Campbell was one of the prominent figures at Juice FM(Image: Liverpool ECHO )
When Juice FM was sold to Global Radio in 2015 thousands of listeners were left feeling disappointed. Ten years since the sale, a glimmer of hope has been shared by Clive Dickens, one of the biggest names in radio and someone who spearheaded the popularity of the radio station.
Absolute Radio co-founder Clive Dickens, who had a great deal to do with the success of Juice FM, has shared a statement to social media about the much-loved radio station and tagged a number of the station’s former presenters including Leanne Campbell, Donnach O’Driscoll and Adrian Ronson.
He posted: “107.6 Juice FM 2000–2026: BORN LOUD, STILL PROUD. Liverpool doesn’t whisper. It sings, it shouts, it celebrates and in March 2000, it got a new local radio station that did the same.
“107.6 Juice FM burst on air as a defiant love letter to a city that refuses to blend in. Built on the rebel DNA of Crash FM, it mixed pop hooks with underground beats, cheek with charm, and Scouse wit with world-class swagger.”
He added: “Then came the golden years, the Juice FM Renaissance. From 2003 to 2005, a powerhouse trio, Clive Dickens, Donnach O’Driscoll and Adrian Ronson took the mic behind the mic. They sharpened the vision, backed the talent, and turned Liverpool’s soundtrack into a movement. Under new leadership, Juice became more than a station, it was the city’s pulse.”
Speaking about Juice FM, he said: “it’s time to come home” as he continued to discuss what Juice FM meant to Liverpool, and still means. He added: “On Saturday March 21 2026 in Liverpool – the second city of the empire, the first city of soul. We’ll gather where it all began: DJs, producers, sales teams, street teams and fans who tuned in religiously.
“We’ll raise a glass to Janice Long, Bernie Connor, and every dreamer who made the red light flicker to life. Because Juice wasn’t just on the radio it was Liverpool.
“Bold, Brilliant Unapologetic and this March, we’ll prove it still is 107.6 Juice FM – born loud, still proud. More details soon…”
Leanne Campbell, who started her radio career on Juice FM, replied to the post with a picture of a blue sofa with yellow cushions as she added a tongue pulling emoji.
Leanne Campbell was one of the prominent figures at Juice FM(Image: Liverpool ECHO )
Another comment from Katy O’Regan said: “It was also great before 2003 too! Well we had fun! And worked hard, lived and breathed the station. Mounty, Mike Baker and many others too. Built a great reputation and audience. We were crazy in work and out of work!”
Juice FM stemmed from the creation of Crash FM. Originally launched in 1995, Crash FM was the brainchild of the late Janice Long and Bernie Connor and first operated from Liverpool city centre’s trendy Palace shopping complex.
Initially given as a licence for a month’s trial period, Crash FM became known for playing independent music from North West bands and more. At the time, Janice Long told the ECHO: “Sitting there with a box of records, getting really excited about what you play, is what Crash is all about. So is booking someone for the session, doing interviews, and finding out about all the stuff you don’t usually hear.”
In a few weeks, Crash FM attracted a host of big-name guests like Julian Cope, The Boo Radleys, Phil Redmond and Glenda Jackson. And by 1998, it was back on the airwaves across Merseyside.
But by the noughties, the station became known as something else entirely. In November 1999, the station was taken over by Forever Broadcasting and the name change to Juice FM in March 2000 was part of an extensive revamp.
Juice FM repositioned itself as a youth-orientated station, still very much part of day to day life in the city, by 2003, Juice FM changed hands after Newcastle-based broadcaster Forever sold the station to Absolute Radio (AB-UK) to “reduce its debts.”
In December 2015, the ECHO reported how Liverpool’s Juice FM will be known as Capital Liverpool from January 2016 after the radio station was sold to the brand’s owners for a reported £10m.
Juice FM sofa(Image: Facebook)
At the time, Ashley Tabor, founder and executive president of Global, Capital’s parent company, said: “This is a really big day for Global. “Finding the right way to introduce Capital to the wonderful city of Liverpool has been something we’ve wanted to do for a long time and we’re so pleased we’ve found the best local line-up and team to make that happen.
“In 2016, we’ll be bringing Liverpool the biggest hits from the world’s hottest stars and so much more.” Graham Sarath, Capital Liverpool’s commercial director, also said: “Adam, Gemma and Imogen are loved by listeners on Juice FM and as we launch 107.6 Capital FM Liverpool, they will continue to wake up the city with their brand of humour and fun alongside the best hit music.”
In February 2016, an online petition was launched to bring Juice FM back to Liverpool’s airwaves. More than 3,000 people signed the petition asking Global Radio to ditch the new Capital Liverpool station, or at least bring back “Juice anthems.”