The Jingling Gate in Stanley, County Durham was the most common location, but other events were held at the Stadium of Light and the Dolphin Centre in Darlington.

[1] Ex-Metro Radio presenter Steve Colman's highly marketed introduction to the breakfast show was very unpopular, and he was sacked after just three weeks in August 1996.

[2] The station has previously broadcast extensively on football, a passion in the north east, and had a particularly close relationship with both Newcastle United and Middlesbrough.

[citation needed] The station began its association with the game with the 1994 launch of 'The Big Mal Football Phone-In' hosted by Teesside presenter Dave Roberts and ex-manager Malcolm Allison.

[citation needed] Two famous ex-players for local sides, Malcolm Macdonald, who played for Newcastle United and Bernie Slaven, who played for Middlesbrough, presented the Legends Football Phone-In on weekday evenings, alongside ex-Sunderland player Eric Gates, and latterly, FA Cup Final 1973 winner Micky Horswill.

[6][7] As of 5 November 2012, the station's local programming consisted of a daily breakfast and weekday drivetime shows from Newcastle upon Tyne with most non-peak output broadcast from Salford Quays.

The Real Radio branding was phased out a month later ahead of a full relaunch as Heart North East on 6 May 2014.

Gary Philipson and Lisa Shaw presented their final breakfast show in December 2014 after almost five years at the station.

[17] All networked programming originates from Global's London headquarters, including Heart Breakfast, presented each weekday by Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden.

[citation needed] Regional programming is produced and broadcast from Global's Newcastle studios weekday afternoons,[18] presented by Adam Lawrance.