Mark Radcliffe was born in Bolton in 1958 on a spot now marked by a commemorative column. He attended Manchester University where he studied English, American Studies and Classical Civilisation confident that a working knowledge of Minoan architecture would be vital in his future career as a disc jockey. In 1985 he worked his passage back to Manchester where he became Head of Music at Piccadilly Radio for a bet, before returning to the BBC as trainee director general in 1987. Radio 1 then launched his Out On Blue Six in 1991. In 1993, Following brief dalliances with other Radio 1 shows such as The Guest List and Skyman, Mark was installed in the prestigious "graveyard shift". Mark is now with Radio 2.