Kevin, a dad from Surrey has radio station named after him

Kevin McIlmurray,  a 47-year-old dad from Ewell has won a competition to have a radio station named after him.

He beat off competitors from hundreds of other entries to win radio’s most innovative competition.

Absolute Radio is famous for its spin-off stations including Absolute 80s, Absolute Classic Rock and Absolute Radio Country, and now Kevin’s winning idea is to create a new one dedicated to playing the very best debut singles and songs from debut albums.

Explaining what people can expect from his station, Kevin explained: “Anything from Oasis right through to Shaggy and ‘Oh Carolina’. It’s all those debut songs, debut albums, everything. Those memories of songs gone past and the stories behind them.”

Absolute Radio Breakfast host Dave Berry had the idea for the competition. He left Kevin speechless when he revealed him as the winner on this morning’s show.

Dave said: “To start a new year on my breakfast show exploring the creative genius of our listeners was a joy. The visions they all shared with us for their own radio stations were truly inspired and no more so than Kevin. His idea for Absolute Radio Kevin AKA Absolute Radio Debut is superb! And I cannot wait to give it a listen!”

Kevin, who usually spends his days working as a Guest Relations Manager at Chessington World of Adventures, will get to become a music producer, presenter and interviewer for the new station.

Absolute Radio Kevin is Where Debut Songs Matter launches from 8am on Friday 10 February. It will be available to all to until Monday 20 February after which it will be available as one of the exclusive Absolute Radio stations available to Premium subscribers.

Here's the moment listener Kevin found out he had won his very own radio station!

Absolute Radio Kevin… AKA Absolute Radio Debut will play the best debut singles and songs from debut albums and your presenter will be the man himself 💜

Welcome aboard, Kevin! pic.twitter.com/lyqpdNE29T

— Absolute Radio (@absoluteradio) January 27, 2023