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Neil Andrew Howe Fox is an English radio DJ and television presenter, known for many years as Dr Fox before he became "Foxy" in the 2000s, then simply as Neil Fox, M.D. before ree…
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Investigate this subjectNeil Andrew Howe Fox (born 12 June 1961) is an English radio DJ and television presenter, known for many years as Dr Fox before he became "Foxy" in the 2000s, then simply as Neil Fox, M.D. before reemerging as "Dr Fox" in 2020 to host the UDJ "Heritage Chart" countdown.
Neil Andrew Howe Fox is an English radio DJ and television presenter, known for many years as Dr Fox before he became "Foxy" in the 2000s, then simply as Neil Fox, M.D. before reemerging as "Dr Fox" in 2020 to host the UDJ "Heritage Chart" countdown.
Neil Andrew Howe Fox (born 12 June 1961) is an English radio DJ and television presenter, known for many years as Dr Fox before he became "Foxy" in the 2000s, then simply as Neil Fox, M.D. before reemerging as "Dr Fox" in 2020 to host the UDJ "Heritage Chart" countdown.
He was a judge on Pop Idol between 2001 and 2003 alongside Simon Cowell, Pete Waterman and Nicki Chapman.
Fox was born on 12 June 1961 in Harrow, Middlesex. As a boy he moved to Thames Ditton, Surrey, where he lived for a number of years. He was then educated at Kingston Grammar School in London and joined the Air Training Corps, before becoming a management student at the University of Bath, where he joined the student radio station University Radio Bath, and began his career as a radio presenter using the pseudonym Andrew Howe. After leaving university he worked as a binliner salesman. He does not hold an ordinary PhD or medical degree, but does have an honorary doctorate from the University of Bath in respect of his contributions to the media and charity.
In 1984, he started his professional radio career on what is now Hits Radio Herefordshire & Worcestershire (then Radio Wyvern) in Hereford and Worcester, starting off with a show called Mellow Yellow. This was broadcast on Fridays from 9.00 pm to 11.00pm and Saturdays from 8.00 pm to 11.00 pm. In 1985, Fox took over the weekday show from 6.00 pm to 9.00 pm, before moving to their weekday show from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm. He also presented a Saturday show for the station, which went out from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm. He remained there until late 1986, then joined Radio Luxembourg in February 1987 before joining Capital Radio in October the same year.
Fox presented a show from 7.30 pm until 10.00 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays (sharing weekday evenings with Pat Sharp), where some of his first shows were broadcast only on medium wave, because Capital were then broadcasting "adult" rock music on FM while mainstream chart music was played on MW. However, this soon ceased, the MW transmitters were given over to "oldies" station Capital Gold, and the FM service became Capital FM. He also presented a Saturday morning show.
In the very early 1990s, there was a short period during which Fox hosted a show starting at midnight on Saturday, specifically aimed at the club crowd. It was for this show that he adopted the moniker "Dr Fox", with the full title of the programme being "Dr Fox's Midnight Surgery". This was at the suggestion of Capital's Programme Director, Richard Park. Many people called the show for requests. Fox was well known for having banter with callers and the "Surgery" was soon extended to his weekday evening shows.
Fox was establishing himself as one of Capital FM's most popular DJs and in 1993 he began presenting the Sunday afternoon Network Chart Show, which owing to sponsorship went on to be called the Pepsi Network Chart before becoming simply the Pepsi Chart in 1996 and then hit40uk, sponsored by Woolworths in 2003. During Fox's tenure, this show, which had previously been hosted by David Jensen, overtook the official Top 40 show on BBC Radio 1 (broadcast at exactly the same time). In addition to this, he still continued with his evening show, although from 1995 he went out on Sundays to Thursdays. On Sundays, his show was from 7.00 pm to 8.30 pm, as he presented the Chart show beforehand. In 1997, it was rumoured that Matthew Bannister had offered Fox the breakfast show on BBC Radio 1, following the departure of Chris Evans from the station. In late 1998, he took over Capital's 4.00 pm – 7.00 pm drivetime show from David Jensen, which was later extended to 8.00 pm.
Fox also presented a show on Channel 5 from 1998 until 2002, and he was a judge on Pop Idol, as well as presenting various other ITV1 shows. On Capital FM, he moved from the weekday evening show to the drivetime show in 1998, again succeeding David Jensen. He deputised for Chris Tarrant on the station's breakfast show on many occasions, especially after Tarrant changed to part-time work in 2003, but was passed over in favour of Johnny Vaughan as Tarrant's successor.
Fox said that he wanted to leave Capital when he did not get the breakfast show, but he initially changed his mind and remained for a while longer. On 30 May 2004, he presented his last hit40uk after 11 years, but remained on Capital FM until the spring of 2005 when he left the station after 18 years, his drivetime show being taken over by Richard Bacon.
From 12 September 2005, he was the presenter of the "More Music Breakfast Show" on Magic 105.4 FM in London, and on DAB, Freeview and Satellite across the UK. His last show was on 30 September 2014, after which he was arrested on the studio's premises. Although ultimately acquitted in December 2015, Fox's contract expired in January 2016 and he did not return to Magic.
On 26 June 2016, six months after his acquittal, it was announced Fox would join the new London radio station Thames Radio, where he presented the Saturday morning show. He would later take on the station's breakfast show; however, the venture was short lived, when the station opted for non-stop music in July 2017. On 17 July 2020, it was announced Fox would join the internet radio station United DJs, presenting the "Heritage Chart Run Down" on Sunday evenings. In November 2020, Fox alongside Mike Read left United DJs in order to launch Nation Radio UK. Between January and April 2021, Fox hosted Drivetime and The Heritage Chart on Nation UK. He took over the breakfast show in April 2021, following the departure of Read.
In addition to the breakfast show, Fox also took over the "Nation Network Chart Show" on Sundays from 4.00 to 7.00 pm.
As of 2025, Fox continues to host the "Nation Network Chart Show" on Sundays but has since left the breakfast show. He now hosts the afternoon show on Nation 90s, and the drivetime show on Nation Radio London.
Fox holds ten Sony awards and was awarded the Gold award for lifetime achievement in 2009, as well as winning the "Best Disc Jockey" award at the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party multiple times.
Source: Neil Fox (broadcaster) (CC BY-SA)
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