James Cridland

James started his radio career in 1989 working at Pennine FM and Classic Gold. His first job was carrying the mobile phone for the newsteam, but his first paid job was as a tech-op.

Becoming a commercial copywriter in 1990, he moved to Viking FM in 1992, returning to Bradford in 1993 to work as a presenter, James Andrews, on The Pulse.

In 1995 he moved to commercial copywriting again in Hallam FM in Sheffield, and became Head of Creative Production in 1997.

Made redundant by Emap in 1999, he was given a short-term job at Piccadilly Key 103, before leaving in 2000 to work on a dot-com set up by Piccadilly's sales director Paul Cranwell. After a few months, he left to work on his own dot-com, Media UK - which is the website you're looking at right now.

In 2001, he joined Virgin Radio as Managing Editor, New Media, and is now Director of Digital Media. He manages the team responsible for the award-winning streams and website at virginradio.co.uk, which was recognised as Online Radio Station of the Year at the Digital Music Awards 2003 and again in 2004. In 2005, the station won the Radio category in the Webby Awards, scooping both judged and people's choice awards.

James's team also produces an Electronic Programme Guide used on six platforms, LiveText for DAB and RDS, and the Visual Radio service to compatible Nokia mobile phones. A policy of continual innovation has resulted in a large number of awards and firsts for the station; it was the first to broadcast online in Europe, and the first station to broadcast on Sky satellite television. In 2005, Virgin Radio became the first station to produce a 3G Radio Player, and produce a daily podcast.

James lives in North London with a big black cat, and is a committed member of the Campaign for Real Ale.