Learn more about the man behind the mic
Carl David Hartley is a broadcast journalist and radio personality.
He was born in the North West town of Bolton on the 23rd September 1982. During his childhood he attended The Oaks Primary School, before going to the Church of England voluntary aided Canon Slade Secondary School.
His first taste of radio came when he was 15 and joined the team at BMR (an instore radio station which broadcasts to Bolton’s outdoor market). It was here that Carl’s passion for radio really grew.
After leaving school, he got his first ‘real’ radio job on the sunny island of Tenerife. Working on national station Oasis 101 and Power FM (broadcasting to seven Canary Islands) Hartley plied his trade and became a household name.
After 2 years broadcasting in sunny climates, he decided it was time to return back to the UK, and took up the position as a broadcast journalist at Lakeland Radio. Over the next four years, Hartley worked his way up the ranks to present the Afternoon Drive show, eventually becoming news editor and then senior presenter.
In August 2006, Hartley moved from the scenic surroundings of the Lake District, to the Warwickshire town of Rugby. It was here he held the position of Head of Presentation, managing the on air presenters, whilst also hosting the stations flagship show ‘Hartley In The Morning’. At Christmas Carl hosted the Christmas lights switch on in front of around 7,000 people.
A year later, he was on his travels again, this time moving back North after he was asked to host the evening show at The Bay in Lancaster. Whilst presenting the show he once again became a popular figure across North Lancashire and South Cumbria.
Carl in the studio at 96.5 Bolton FM
In February 2009 Hartley got the opportunity to return to his hometown as Programme Manager at 96.5 Bolton FM. Carl was a leading figure in preparing the station for the official launch, creating a station format before presenting the Breakfast Show.
Hartley left the station in August 2010, after he was accepted on a masters degree course at the University of Central Lancashire. During his studies Hartley freelanced at both radio and TV stations across the country, including Bauer’s Key 103, 97.4 Rock FM and Viking FM, national radio station Kerrang! and Sky News in London.
In March 2011, Hartley became the regular voice of weekend news on Radio Wave in Blackpool.
7 months later Carl was offered the Sunday Breakfast Show on Lakeland Radio, returning to South Cumbria five years after originally leaving the station.
In December 2011, Hartley graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a ‘Masters with Merit’ in Broadcast Journalism.
Carl on his graduation day at the Guild Hall in Preston
Since March Carl has returned to fulltime radio after accepting the position of programme manager on four radio stations in South West Wales. Hartley is looking after the output on Radio Pembrokeshire, Radio Ceredigion, Radio Carmarthenshire and Scarlet FM. He’s also back on air presenting the Radio Pembrokeshire Breakfast Show, Daytime on Radio Carmarthenshire and Scarlet FM and West Wales Sport on a Saturday on Radio Ceredigion, Radio Pembrokeshire, Radio Carmarthenshire and Scarlet FM.
Away from radio Carl is a massive Bolton Wanderers supporter, and is on the books at Maesglas Football Club.
In January 2012, Hartley signed up for the Snowdonia marathon, one of Britain’s toughest marthons.
