If you don’t mind I’ll start by writing about the place I work Monday to Friday – Beacon Radio, writes James Carpenter.

You may have read in the Express & Star recently that Beacon has decided to move premises?

I wanted to clear up a few things as Chinese whispers tend to spread when local stories like this break.

Beacon has decided to move to more modern, fit for purpose premises because we have outgrown Tettenhall Road.

I have only been at the station for 15 months but I know what a warm and friendly place it has been to anyone who has worked there for the last 35 years.

We’re not sure where we’ll be yet, but it will be within our transmission area approved by Ofcom, and as simple as it sounds, many people who were divided by separate offices within the building, will experience open plan – which can only be a positive thing.

I was rooting around on this very website the other day when I came across an interesting piece by Nicky Butler with soul singer Jaki Graham – it was about how many more celebrities are using Twitter.

I had a very similar conversation with Sharon Corr when I interviewed her for my show, she was saying how much easier it is to access fans, but also useful to put the record straight when papers and paparazzi get things wrong!

She tells a story about Lilly Allen experiencing this first hand in the audio below.

Click here to listen.

I like Twitter, it’s so useful for checking things with people, you can see what stories are leading in the papers, clicking on the ones you’re most interested in.

If there’s an interviewee on a particular radio station you might just listen in to hear what they’ve got to say.

Tour dates for artists are posted and opinions given at an instant.

If you’re on Twitter, please feel free to message me @ajamescarpenter or you can follow @expressandstar. Sharon is playing at the O2 Academy in Birmingham next month if you’re a fan.

If you’re looking for a night out next month ‘Cheeky Monkey’ returns to the Slade Rooms on Friday 5^th August. I alternate each month with Simon James on a guest DJ spot and this one is my turn.

This night has been going for years and the main organiser, Dave Travis, is a bit of legend.

For starters, he’s been a plugger for many of the biggest and best rock stars, and every time I offer him to come on my show as a guest, he always refuses saying that he doesn’t want the limelight – what a top bloke!

That is a man completely happy with his lot. If you come along, you’re likely to hear anything from Soft Cell, Depeche Mode and Joy Division to The Killers, Oasis, Guns ‘n’ Roses and Queen.

I started with Beacon, so I’ll finish with it. The man who gave me the job on drivetime has decided to leave the station after five-and-a-half years to pursue a new career in helping children.

This is something he has always wanted to do and I would just like to say a big thanks to him for what he has done, not just for me, but for the station and for the community.

Some of the projects he has worked on has done wonders in helping raise money for charity, the latest over £100k for Promise Dreams – Darrell Woodman, all the very best for the future.

James Carpenter, Beacon drivetime presenter

Weekday afternoons from 4pm – 7pm

97.2FM | 103.1FM | Online | DAB

james.carpenter@beaconradio.co.uk