Students take Christmas Day slot on Radio Exe

Student broadcasters from Exeter University will present a Christmas Day programme on Devon’s Radio Exe.

The Xpression on Exe Takeover brings voices from the university’s student station, Xpression FM, to a commercial audience across the county, marking a rare festive collaboration between the two broadcasters focused on giving students real airtime.

The programme is presented by Ben Dunkley and Finn Aston, both aged 21, who study at the University of Exeter and are station manager and head of news at Xpression FM. The pair are due to complete their degrees in Exeter next summer and will lead a mix of music and short features produced by fellow students.

As part of his course, Finn joined Radio Exe on a work placement last year and went on to produce and present a podcast examining student housing issues in the city. The series has recorded twenty five thousand downloads and led to Finn becoming a newsreader on the station, strengthening the link between the university and the broadcaster.

The Christmas Day takeover will also give other Xpression FM presenters the chance to broadcast on a commercial station, sharing student perspectives and programming with listeners across Devon at a time when local radio schedules traditionally change pace.

Ashley Jeary, Programme Manager and Drivetime presenter at Radio Exe, said the partnership reflects a long standing relationship with the university. He said, “We have a great relationship with the University of Exeter, and regularly have students with us on work experience. This year, we’re going a step further and letting Xpression take over a slot on Christmas Day.”

He added that the station expects the programme to bring “creativity, energy and a youthful outlook” to its festive output, while continuing Radio Exe’s focus on local voices and community connections during the holiday period.