Aim: To develop a truly local radio station for Haringey. Bold, unfiltered and proudly independent. A new voice for music, comedy and community.
Humbug Radio – The Heartbeat of Haringey
Humbug Radio is the go-to local radio voice for Haringey, broadcasting from the heart of the borough to listeners in Crouch End, Tottenham, Muswell Hill, Wood Green and beyond.
We’re here to do what commercial radio doesn’t: celebrate real people, real stories and real music, with no recycled playlists or robotic DJs. Instead, you’ll hear funny, original, irreverent shows hosted by locals; authors, comedians, artists, musicians and more with deep connections to Haringey and passionate about making the borough buzz.
This is community radio reimagined – unpredictable, joyful, and proud of where we come from.
Sustainability
All our presenters work from their own bespoke home studios, eliminating daily travel. Humbug Radio is committed to the highest standards of sustainability and constantly reviews its processes and procedures to ensure compliance.
Who We Are
Humbug Radio was set up by CEO Simon Lipson and Head of On-Air Brian Luff in 2024.
Simon is a much in-demand voiceover artist. As a comedian he performed at venues like The Comedy Store and Jongleurs, and appeared on countless TV and radio shows including Dead Ringers. He has presented shows for various radio stations as well as his own podcasts. In his early career, Simon qualified as a solicitor and later founded his own successful legal recruitment business.
Brian is a writer, producer and award-winning short film maker. Brian has worked as Head of Digital Content for two global broadcast networks and in various senior roles for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and BSkyB. During this time, he has also hosted many radio shows and an award-nominated podcast.
A Local Station with Character
From local news and weather to updates on neighbourhood events, from spotlighting community issues to promoting grassroots talent, Humbug Radio is set on becoming a vital hub for Haringey, offering a truly local, richly human alternative to formulaic stations.
Whether you’re walking the dog in Ally Pally, riding the bus through Harringay, or stuck in traffic on Seven Sisters Road – Humbug will keep you entertained and connected to what’s going on and who’s doing what in your borough.
Why We’re Different
* Haringey First: Local presenters, local content, local causes. We know our community because we are the community.
* Curated Music, Not Algorithms: Every show is handpicked by our presenters – no auto-playlists, no generic filler.
* Original Shows & Characters: From sitcoms to storytelling, satire to soul music – you never know what’s coming next, but it’s always worth tuning in.
* Eclectic Voices: Our presenters are as diverse as Haringey itself – comedians, actors, authors, teachers and neighbours.
* No Corporate Gloss: Just real people, great music, and stories that matter.
Our Programming – Built for Haringey
We keep things light, local, and lively. Our weekday line-up includes:
* The Breakfast Show with Simon Lipson – cheeky, chatty, irreverent and very N8.
* Morning Mayhem with Misha Mansoor – musical deep-dives with a comic twist.
* Afternoons with Brian Luff – trivia, twaddle, and terrific tunes.
* Drivetime with Carolina Bliss – wonderfully theatrical storytelling and sublime sounds.
* Friday Nights With Rick Kieswetter - laugh out loud reflections and a wonderfully esoteric playlist.
* Age Against The Machine: Friday night boogie for oldies.
Saturdays & Sundays Include: Actor and comedy writer John Voce, with his acerbic and hilarious take on life as a former Haringey resident in Australia; educator Maureen McKarkle's fascinating cultural deep dive and sparkling musical choices; actor and writer Lee Brown with his lovingly curated playlist and warm, witty banter; Kevin Acott, a latterday N8 Bob Harris offering an irresistible menu of weird and wonderful music and insightful chat.
Original Content
We’re breaking the mould with fresh shows, including:
Hidden Lives - a funny, heartwarming original series with a stellar cast including Emmy nominated Jeremy Swift (Ted Lasso) and the voice of the Fat Controller himself, Keith Wickham.
John Dredge's award winning Nothing To Do With Anything Show. Sketches, songs and a cast of thousands.
Original Jingles composed, produced and performed by former Re-Flex lead vocalist John Baxter with additional vocals by Marian Lloyd-Jones.
Plus: local news bulletins, event spotlights, weather updates and interviews with the people who shape the borough.
Why This Matters
In an era where big media ignores local voices, Humbug Radio is building a platform that speaks directly to the people of Haringey.
We’re here to connect, entertain, inform, and amplify the voices of Haringey. Every ward. Every walk of life.
From Tottenham’s community champions to Muswell Hill’s musicians, from Wood Green creatives to Crouch End’s eccentrics – this is your station.
What We Need
To grow Humbug Radio into Haringey’s essential listening destination, we need £10,000 to:
* Enhance our home-studio broadcasting kit
* Fund local news production and event reporting
* Promote the station across Haringey
* Pay local creatives to develop new shows
* Keep the whole enterprise sustainable and independent
Your Support = Your Station
We’re offering fun and meaningful rewards for backers – from song dedications to personal voice messages, impressions, and founder’s circle membership. Businesses can get involved too, with bespoke advertising and sponsorship packages that put your brand in front of a loyal and engaged local audience.
Charity Tier
We’ll also donate 20% of all donations over £50 to local charities like Haringey Giving and Hope in Haringey, and national charities such as Dementia UK and the British Heart Foundation.
Personal Incentives
* £10 Dedication & Song: We'll play your favourite song, read out your dedication and thank you for your contribution, in a show of your choosing.
* £20 Dedication & Song: We'll play two of your favourite songs, read out two dedications and thank you for your contribution, in two shows of your choosing.
* £30 Your Own Recorded Message, Dedication, Song: Send us a 15 - 20 second voice file with your own dedication and song choice which will be played into a show of your choosing.
* £40 An Impression of You: Send us a 20 second audio file and professional impressionist Simon Lipson (Radio 4’s Dead Ringers) will ‘do you’ and you will receive your own personal audio file of his best attempt!
Local Business Sponsorship
Whether you’re a Haringey café, yoga studio, bookshop or plumber, we’ll help you reach your neighbours:
* £200 – 4 week ad campaign + 40 plays of a professionally produced custom-made ad
* £250 – Sponsor a weekday or weekend show for a month
* £500 – Sponsor the news every weekday hour for 2 months
* £500 – Sponsor the weather every weekday hour for 2 months
* £1000 – High-impact 3-month ad campaign with two produced commercials
Legacy & Community
Every donation helps us build something lasting: a voice for Haringey that’s rooted in joy, creativity and community spirit.
Why Invest in Humbug?
Humbug Radio is part of a bigger movement, an authentic voice that prioritises and enriches the lives of local people. We’ve got the team, the talent and the spirit – and now we need your help to make Humbug Radio the beating heart of Haringey.
Funny. Original. Human. Local.
Help Haringey hear itself.