Across The Line (radio Show) - History

History

Established on 8 September 1986, The Bottom Line was named after the Big Audio Dynamite song which the programme used as its theme tune. The original presenters were Mike Edgar, Davy Sims, Michael Bradley and Barry McIlheney. Mike Edgar had been drummer with Cruella de Ville and started the programme presenting on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Davy Sims was the producer and founder of the programme. He had been working in Downtown Radio before joining BBC Radio Ulster and presented the Thursday edition. Michael Bradley "Mickey", had been Bassist with The Undertones. He presented three out of four Friday editions. The monthly London edition of the programme was with Barry McIlheney, former editor of Smash Hits and Empire magazines.

After a short time off air, the programme returned as Across the Line, presented by Mike Edgar. It was broadcast on Sunday nights on Radio Ulster and, between 1990 and 1994 on BBC Radio 5. For much of this time, the programme was broadcast from 10:10-11pm on Radio Ulster, but continuing to midnight on Radio 5. During this period, there were several non-music features such as The Week in the World of Politics, presented by contributors such as Malachi O'Docherty and sketches from The Hole in the Wall Gang who would later go on to star in Radio and TV shows of their own.

After the demise of Radio 5, Across the Line continued as an hour-long Radio Ulster programme, before moving to Monday-Thursday 9-10pm.

The show is aimed at teenagers and young adults (the same target audience as BBC Radio 1, but with a more regional focus). The show is notable for its promotion of local musical talent, actively promoting Snow Patrol before they became widely known. This tradition continues with the regular "That New Band Smell" section on the show .

Over its three decade span ATL radio has had various core presenters for the main indie and rock shows most notably Mike Edgar, Donna Legge, Rory McConnell and Paul McClean (co-presenting) and Rigsy (David O'Reilly) but has also regularly entertained guest presenters and co-presenters such as Michael McKeegan from Therapy?, Snow Patrol, David Holmes, Radiohead, In Case of Fire, Two Door Cinema Club and General Fiasco.

Since 1999 Dance and club life has played an important role. Initiated by Paul McClean, and beginning on Thursday nights, the show has since moved to a Saturday night slot before its current Friday night slot and is dedicated to Electronic music from Hip-hop and House music to Drum and bass and techno and is presented by Belfast club dj Paul Hamill with a strong emphasis on supporting the music of local dj's and artists. Recent co-presenters include legendary techno DJ Dave Clarke.

In 2008 Across the Line was awarded the New Irish Music gold award at the prestigious PPI Irish Radio awards, with the same production team gaining a second gold in the Music Special category for the documentary 'A Beautiful Day'about the U2 and Ash waterfront Hall concert in 1998 which arguably had an effect on the NI peace process. Across the Line repeated their success in 2009 lifting the gold award once again.

Early in 2009 the ATL team assemble a line-up for the celebrations of the reopening of the Ulster Hall in Belfast. Broadcasting live from the venue, (and later making its way onto BBC 2NI), the event featured a surprise appearance from Snow Patrol after performances from Ash, Divine Comedy, Duke Special, Therapy?, Foy Vance, Panama Kings, Cashier No.9, Kowalski, LaFaro, Fighting with Wire, The Lowly Knights and many more.