Anyone who has searched for Mike Read online has encountered the confusion: is he the Radio 1 DJ or the EastEnders actor? The answer matters because the two men have very different biographies.

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Born: 1 March 1947 ·
Birthplace: Manchester, England ·
Profession: radio DJ, writer, journalist, TV presenter ·
BBC Radio 1 start year: 1978 ·
Notable song: “Baby Oh Baby”

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact year of his divorce from Carol is not publicly recorded
  • His current net worth is not officially disclosed
  • Whether he wears a wig remains speculative
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Hosts The Heritage Chart Show on various radio stations and Talking Pictures TV (Wikipedia)
  • Co-hosts The Footage Detectives with Noel Cronin (Wikipedia)

Seven key facts trace the outline of Mike Read’s public identity.

Label Value
Full name Michael David Kenneth Read
Date of birth 1 March 1947 (IMDb)
Birthplace Manchester, Lancashire, England
Occupation Radio DJ, writer, journalist, television presenter
BBC Radio 1 start year 1978 (John Miles Organisation)
Marital status Divorced (formerly Carol) (Wikipedia)
Children None (Wikipedia)

Does Mike Read have any children?

Details on Mike Read’s family

  • Mike Read does not have any biological children. Wikipedia confirms this.
  • He was the only child of a publican. Wikipedia

Were there any stepchildren?

  • There is no public record of him having stepchildren.

The implication: Mike Read’s personal life has remained largely private, with no children from his marriage or elsewhere.

Was Mike Read ever married?

Who was Mike Read married to?

  • Yes, Mike Read was married to a woman named Carol. Wikipedia records this marriage.
  • He has been divorced and his current marital status is single.

Are there any current relationships?

  • No public information is available about a current partner.
Bottom line: Mike Read was married once, to Carol, and is now divorced. He has no children and no known current partner.

What is Mike Read famous for?

Career at BBC Radio 1

Mike Read joined BBC Radio 1 in November 1978 (John Miles Organisation) and became a household name. He took over the Breakfast Show on 5 January 1981 (YouTube interview description). He is known for refusing to play Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s “Relax” in 1984 because he considered the lyrics obscene (same source).

The upshot

Mike Read’s career spanned multiple media, but his refusal to play “Relax” in 1984 remains his most talked-about moment. That decision cost him airplay but cemented his reputation as a principled broadcaster.

Television presenting roles

Read presented Top of the Pops, Saturday Superstore, and Pop Quiz (Wikipedia). He also hosted My Kind of Music and The Heritage Chart Show.

Music career

He released the single “Baby Oh Baby” and is a songwriter whose work has been recorded by more than forty major artists (NMP Live agency). He has written eight stage musicals (NMP Live).

Writing and journalism

Mike Read has written over 50 books, including his autobiography Seize the Day published in October 2014 (NMP Live).

Why this matters

The confusion between Mike Read and Mike Reid is not just a spelling error — it leads to incorrect biographical details being repeated online. For fact-checkers and researchers, distinguishing the two is essential.

The pattern: Mike Read’s fame rests on his radio and television presence, while Mike Reid’s fame comes from acting. They are entirely different people.

Who is Mike Reid the actor?

Mike Reid (1940–2007) was an English actor best known for playing Frank Butcher in EastEnders (Wikipedia). He is the one people search for when they type “Mike Reed EastEnders”.

Did Mike Read appear in EastEnders?

No. Mike Read is a DJ, not an actor. The confusion arises because the names are similar. The actor who played Frank Butcher was Mike Reid, not Mike Read.

Bottom line: The pattern: The two men share a similar-sounding name but entirely different careers.

What we know for sure

  • Mike Read was born in 1947. (Wikipedia)
  • He has no biological children. (Wikipedia)
  • He was married to Carol. (Wikipedia)
  • He joined BBC Radio 1 in 1978. (John Miles Organisation)
  • He is a DJ and television presenter.

What remains unclear

  • The exact year of his divorce from Carol is not publicly recorded.
  • His current net worth is not officially disclosed.

Mike Read began his show-business career singing and playing guitar in local pubs.

— John Miles Organisation profile

His autobiography Seize the Day came out in October 2014.

— NMP Live agency profile

For anyone researching British radio, the distinction between Mike Read and Mike Reid is clear: one shaped radio, the other shaped soap opera. The verified facts show a broadcaster with a long career, no children, and one marriage that ended in divorce.

Additional sources

imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, ishof.org, opiniondesk.uk, signalpost.uk, archive.org, pressdeskly.com

Readers often confuse him with the EastEnders actor, a topic covered in Mike Reid actor and chef.

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Frequently asked questions

Does Mike Read have any children?

No, Mike Read does not have any biological children.

Was Mike Read ever married?

Yes, he was married to a woman named Carol. He is now divorced.

Does Mike Read wear a wig?

Mike Read has denied wearing a wig in multiple interviews, but there is no verified source.

What is Mike Read’s net worth?

His net worth is not officially disclosed.

What songs did Mike Read release?

He released the single “Baby Oh Baby”.

When did Mike Read start at BBC Radio 1?

He joined BBC Radio 1 in November 1978.

Is Mike Read the same person as Mike Reid?

No. Mike Read is a radio DJ. Mike Reid (1940-2007) was an actor who played Frank Butcher in EastEnders.

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