Mallett presented the first breakfast show with multi-coloured hair, dressed in a dinner jacket and a bowtie which was filmed for a BBC documentary.
In September 1983, financial problems caused by the recession and alleged overspending setting up the premises hit the fledgling station hard, but attracting listeners also proved difficult.
Although Pointon’s rescue bid had widespread support from both the board and the National Union of Journalists,[3] the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) blocked it, because they felt the structure of the company that owned Centre Radio would change to such an extent that Centre Radio would have to reapply for the licence.
[1] In response to the IBA’s rejection of Pointon’s bid, Centre Radio announced on the following day (6 October) that it would cease trading, appointing Ernst & Whinney as its liquidators: regular programming ended at 1pm with the playing of Paul Young's "Come Back and Stay", followed by a short news bulletin read by Tony Cook (Centre's head of news) announcing the station's closure.
[4][3] The station's licence was re-advertised and awarded to Radio Trent, which commenced broadcasting as Leicester Sound on 7 September 1984.