DJ Spoony BEM | |
|---|---|
| Spoony DJing at the Lewes Music Festival, 2022 | |
| Born | Johnathan St John Joseph 25 June 1970 Hackney, London, England |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Website | djspoony |
Johnathan St John Joseph BEM (born 25 June 1970 [1] ), known professionally as DJ Spoony, is a British DJ and radio & television presenter. He is a member of the UK garage production trio, the Dreem Teem. Spoony also presents his BBC Radio 2 show The Good Groove.
Joseph was born in Hackney, East London [2] to British West Indian parents. As Spoony, his career started on London Underground (a leading pirate radio station in the mid-nineties), forming the trio the Dreem Teem with Mikee B (of Top Buzz) and Timmi Magic. With the Dreem Teem, he joined Kiss 100 in December 1997, followed by bringing UK garage nationally to BBC Radio 1 in January 2000. They went on to win a Sony Award in their first year. [3]
He went on to host the Weekend Breakfast show on Radio 1 between October 2003 and September 2006. Listeners could join the Early Doors Club, play Judge Fudge, and become a Local Legend. Another long-running feature was Mills & Spoon (a nameplay on the Mills & Boon books), in which Scott Mills read out love stories every Sunday. On 31 July 2006, the BBC announced that Spoony was to leave Radio 1 after six years with the station to concentrate on Five Live work. His early breakfast slot was replaced by Fearne Cotton and Reggie Yates. [4] He presented his final Radio 1 show on 17 September 2006.
He then commenced hosting 606 on Radio 5 Live as well as 'Spoony Meets...', a series of shows in which he interviewed various personalities from British football, including Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho and David Beckham.
He joined BBC Radio 2 with a new show in February 2019. On 25 October 2021, he stood in for Steve Wright for one day only. [5] He has also deputised for Ken Bruce and Craig Charles on the station. On 22 July 2022, Spoony joined BBC Radio 2 permanently with The Good Groove broadcast every Friday from 9-11pm. [6]
In January 2025, Spoony moved The Good Groove from Friday nights to weeknights (except Fridays) from 10pm to midnight, replacing Trevor Nelson's Rhythm Nation, who moved to the afternoon slot. [7]
As well as appearing on various television shows, he also had a role in the 2012 British drama film Payback Season .
Joseph was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to charities through music during the COVID-19 pandemic. [8]
Joseph is an ambassador for the Golf Roots Foundation and also organises an annual golf tournament at Stoke Park Club, Buckinghamshire. [9] [10] He lives in Bedfordshire. [11]