The Pazza Factor - The Story of The Birth of Classic FM

The launch of Classic FM is an incredible rollercoaster of a story. In many ways, the station was never meant to exist: the first national commercial radio licence was awarded to a consortium who planned a station of music from the musicals. When they couldn’t deliver on the financial obligations, the team behind Classic FM was given the opportunity to secure the money in time.

Twenty-five years on, this dramatic story is going to be told again in a special, tongue-in-cheek, music-based play, commissioned by Classic FM for its 25th birthday. The Pazza Factor: The story of the birth of Classic FM stars the renowned impressionist Jon Culshaw as Michael Bukht, Classic FM’s co-founder and its first Programme Director; Duncan Wisbey as Ralph Bernard, Classic FM’s co-founder; and Kate O’Sullivan as the then Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.

The play has been written by Sean Grundy and Cara Jennings. The director is Bill Dare.