| Birth Place: | Prescot, England |
| Station: | BBC Radio Lancashire, BBC Radio Cumbria, BBC Radio Merseyside |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
John Gillmore (born)[1] [2] is an English broadcaster and compere. During his 38-year career, he was a presenter on BBC Radio Lancashire, BBC Radio Cumbria and BBC Radio Merseyside.[3]
Born in Prescot, Gillmore got his start in voiceover work for commercial radio, and volunteered in hospital radio at Whiston Hospital. He landed his first stint as a presenter at Red Rose Radio in 1985, where he worked for 13 years, presenting every programme on the station.[4]
Gillmore (nicknamed Gilly) went on to work as a broadcaster for various stations throughout the United Kingdom, including Rock FM,[5] The Bay (Lancaster) and, from 2005, BBC Radio Lancashire. His shows were often simulcast on BBC Radio Cumbria and BBC Radio Merseyside.[6]
On 5 October 2023, Gillmore hosted his final Late Show, due to BBC Local Radio cuts. Gillmore currently hosts events across Lancashire with local authors.[7] [8]
Gillmore is a Guinness World Record holder, for the most radio interviews conducted in 24 hours. Gilly held 293 interviews during his "Gillathon", in aid of BBC Children in Need in 2014. During a 24 hour period, Gillmore asked 1,649 unique questions to girl guides, a choir, and members of a jujitsu club. He also won the Lancashire Ambassador Award at the Best of Lancashire Awards in 2022.[9]