Radio station inspired by Peter Kay's Car Share forced off air

Forever FM has been forced off air just days after it launched.

DJ Steve Penk set up a real-life version of the station heard on Peter Kay’s Car Share, even featuring the voice of ‘DJ Mike’ from the comedy.

However, he tweeted: ‘Sadly there’s been an objection to me using the name Forever FM so I’ve dropped the project & pulled the station. No further comment on this.’

That tweet has now gone, too, but not before trade website RadioToday spotted it.

There is no trademark on Forever FM, but the BBC may have taken a dim view of a station riding on the coattails of its most successful comedy.

And there is a trademark on Forever Radio, registered in 2015, by owners unrelated to the TV show.

Penk has put his other station, Radio Dead, playing only records from now-dead artists, on to the Forever FM’s slot on the DAB multiplex in Manchester.

When the station launched, Penk said: ‘‘I wanted to do it as a tribute really to Peter Kay, Sian Gibson, Paul Coleman, Tim Reid and the whole team behind TV’s Car Share, I hope they like it and enjoy listening.’

It featured the voice of Rob Charles, who plays breakfast DJ Mike on Car Share.

Published: 26 Apr 2017