Mike Read is one of the most recognisable voices in British broadcasting. As a BBC Radio 1 DJ, a regular host of Top of the Pops, and a familiar face on Saturday morning television, he became a household name in the 1980s. Born Michael David Kenneth Read on 1 March 1947, he remains an active broadcaster today.
His on-air career is widely documented, but his personal life is not. Search queries about “Mike Read wife Eileen”, his children, his net worth and even whether he wears a wig consistently outnumber what public sources actually confirm.
How old is Mike Read DJ?
Mike Read was born on 1 March 1947 in Bury, England, making him 79 years old in 2026. His full name is Michael David Kenneth Read. The family moved to Walton-on-Thames when he was an infant, and he later attended Woking Grammar School and sixth-form college. These details are recorded in his Wikipedia entry.
| Full Name | Michael David Kenneth Read |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 March 1947, Bury, England |
| Occupation | DJ, Radio Broadcaster, TV Presenter, Writer |
| Status | Active (hosting The Heritage Chart, still broadcasting) |
- Mike Read is 79 years old in 2026, having been born on 1 March 1947.
- He is best known for his long-running work at BBC Radio 1, including five years on the breakfast show.
- He presented Top of the Pops during the late 1970s and 1980s.
- His written output includes more than 50 books, according to one source, among them the autobiography Seize the Day.
- He is currently active, hosting The Heritage Chart / The Heritage Chart Show.
- He was declared bankrupt in February 2009 after a large tax demand.
- No reliable public source confirms his spouse, children, or net worth.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birth Date | 1 March 1947 |
| Birthplace | Bury, England |
| Full Name | Michael David Kenneth Read |
| Schooling | Woking Grammar School and sixth-form college |
| Known For | BBC Radio 1, Top of the Pops |
| Other Programmes | Saturday Superstore, Pop Quiz, Classic FM |
| Current Role | Host of The Heritage Chart / The Heritage Chart Show |
| Writing | More than 50 books, including Seize the Day |
| Spouse | Not publicly confirmed |
| Children | Not publicly confirmed |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
| Financial Note | Declared bankrupt in February 2009 |
Is Mike Read DJ still alive?
Yes. Mike Read is alive and continues to work in broadcasting. His official X/Twitter account posts regular updates about his programmes, and he remains listed with The Heritage Chart team. A booking biography at NMP Live also describes him as an active broadcaster.
A career that began in local pubs
Read started his show business career singing and playing guitar in local pubs, according to a biography hosted by the John Miles Organisation. From those beginnings he moved into broadcasting and eventually became a long-running BBC Radio 1 DJ, a role for which he is still widely remembered.
Television and radio at their peak
As well as radio, Read presented Top of the Pops during the late 1970s and 1980s. He also hosted Saturday Superstore and Pop Quiz, with UKGameshows listing his appearances across that period. Later, he worked at Classic FM and other stations, showing unusual range across different music genres.
Where is he working now?
Current sources describe Read as the host of The Heritage Chart / The Heritage Chart Show. A widely shared Facebook post from a restaurant in Monmouth, which hosted him for dinner, also points to an active public presence in the UK.
Regular posts on Mike Read’s X/Twitter account, his listing with The Heritage Chart team, and third-party public sightings all point to an active broadcasting presence.
Who is Mike Read DJ’s partner?
Online searches frequently link Read’s name with “Eileen”. However, none of the available biographical sources reliably confirms the name of his partner or spouse.
The name “Eileen” in search queries
Eileen is regularly typed alongside Mike Read’s name in search engines, but the name does not appear in his Wikipedia entry, his IMDb biography, or the professional profiles written about him. Without a reliable mention in any of those places, it cannot be treated as a verified fact.
A private life kept off the record
Read has rarely discussed his private life in interviews. The main reference pages about him focus on radio, television, and writing, and none mention a wife or partner by name. This silence in the record does not confirm or deny the existence of a partner.
The name Eileen appears in search queries but is not confirmed in any available biographical source. It remains unverified until a reliable source addresses it directly.
Does Mike Read DJ have children?
No reliable public source confirms whether Mike Read has children. None of his major biographies mentions children, and he has not discussed fatherhood publicly. The question therefore remains open.
The absence of information is not the same as a negative answer. If Read has children, he has chosen to keep them out of the public record, which is consistent with how he has handled his personal life throughout his career.
Available biographies of Mike Read contain no mention of children. This absence of public information means the question cannot be answered either way.
What is Mike Read DJ’s net worth?
Mike Read’s net worth is not publicly disclosed. No reliable source provides a current figure, and any number in circulation is speculation. What is documented is a difficult financial period: he was declared bankrupt in February 2009 after a large tax demand, as reported by the Mirror.
Around the same time, his record collection was sold at auction. Record Collector magazine covered the sale in detail, describing it as a personal tragedy for Read and a treasure trove for collectors. That episode is often cited in discussions of his finances, but it does not provide a basis for estimating his current wealth.
Does Mike Read DJ wear a wig?
No available source confirms whether Mike Read wears a wig. The question appears often in search engines, but it is not addressed in any biography, news article, or interview. Read himself has never publicly commented on the subject.
The curiosity may stem from the style of his hair during his 1980s television appearances, combined with natural changes in appearance over time. Without a statement from Read or a credible source, the wig question remains in the realm of rumour.
What does Mike Read’s career timeline look like?
The following key dates trace Read’s path from a young performer in local pubs to a national broadcasting figure. The Independent’s profile of Read provides additional background on his upbringing.
- – Born in Bury, England.
- As an infant – Moved with his family to Walton-on-Thames.
- School years – Attended Woking Grammar School and sixth-form college.
- – Began his show business career singing and playing guitar in local pubs, then moved into broadcasting.
- Late 1970s to 1980s – Presented Top of the Pops.
- – Became a long-running BBC Radio 1 DJ, including five years on the breakfast show.
- Later career – Presented Saturday Superstore and Pop Quiz; later worked at Classic FM and other stations.
- – Declared bankrupt after a large tax demand.
- – His record collection was sold at auction.
- Present – Hosts The Heritage Chart / The Heritage Chart Show.
Which facts about Mike Read are confirmed, and which are not?
Separating verified facts from speculation is important in this case because so little of Read’s personal life is publicly documented.
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| Born Michael David Kenneth Read on 1 March 1947 in Bury, England. | Whether his wife is named Eileen. |
| Began broadcasting in the 1970s and became a long-running BBC Radio 1 DJ, including five years on the breakfast show. | Whether he has children. |
| Presented Top of the Pops during the late 1970s and 1980s. | His current net worth. |
| Alive and still active in broadcasting, hosting The Heritage Chart. | The wig question, which no available source addresses. |
| Declared bankrupt in February 2009; his record collection was sold at auction in 2010. | Details of his current private life. |
Why does Mike Read still matter in British radio?
Read belongs to the generation of British DJs who helped make BBC Radio 1 a cultural force in the 1970s and 1980s. As a station regular and a Top of the Pops host, he connected the music charts with the country’s living rooms at a time when radio and television were the main ways listeners discovered new music.
His later career showed unusual adaptability. He presented children’s television on Saturday Superstore, tested musical knowledge on Pop Quiz, and moved into classical music at Classic FM. He also wrote extensively, with more than 50 books to his name, including the autobiography Seize the Day. His current work with The Heritage Chart and appearances organised through Radio Reunion show that his connection with audiences has never fully faded.
Fans of British radio may find similar value in Cerys Matthews – Biography, Radio Shows, and Albums, which profiles another popular presenter.
What do the main sources say about Mike Read?
Mike Read’s biography is documented across several reference sources, including Wikipedia, IMDb, The Independent, Record Collector, the John Miles Organisation, UKGameshows, NMP Live, Radio Reunion, The Heritage Chart team and the Mirror.
Record Collector magazine reflected on the 2010 auction of his collection:
The forced sale of Mike Read’s collection was, perhaps, a personal tragedy for a much-loved DJ, but it proved to be a treasure trove for collectors.
Record Collector Magazine, 2010
On X/Twitter, Read has announced new broadcasting arrangements directly to listeners:
From next Monday live 2-4 Mon-Thurs the great Kenny Tosh joins us…from Radio Six, BBC Three Counties & United DJs.
Mike Read on X (@MikeReadUK)
What is the bottom line on Mike Read in 2026?
Mike Read is alive, still active in broadcasting, and best remembered for his years at BBC Radio 1 and Top of the Pops. Born on 1 March 1947, he is 79 years old in 2026. His personal life, including the identity of any partner, whether he has children, and his net worth, is not documented in reliable public sources. A closer look at his current activity is available in Mike Read DJ – Still Alive and Broadcasting in 2025.
Short answers to common questions about Mike Read
Is Mike Read the same person as Mike Judge or Mike D?
No. Mike Read is the British DJ and broadcaster. Mike Judge is the American actor and creator of Beavis and Butt-Head, and Mike D is a member of the Beastie Boys. Search engines often confuse them.
What happened to Mike Read’s record collection?
In 2010, his record collection was sold at auction, as reported by Record Collector magazine. The sale was described as a forced sale and a personal tragedy for Read, but it became a treasure trove for buyers.
Where can I find the Mike Read Wikipedia page?
The Wikipedia article on Mike Read provides a comprehensive career overview and is available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Read.
What is Mike Read doing now?
He hosts The Heritage Chart / The Heritage Chart Show and remains active in broadcasting. His X/Twitter account posts regular updates about his programmes.
Did Mike Read present Saturday Superstore?
Yes. He presented Saturday Superstore and also hosted the music quiz show Pop Quiz during his television career.
Was Mike Read declared bankrupt?
Yes. He was declared bankrupt in February 2009 after a large tax demand, according to the Mirror and Record Collector.
How many books has Mike Read written?
One source reports more than 50 books, including his autobiography Seize the Day.
Oliver Arthur Morgan Harrison is a staff writer for StoryShift.uk, covering UK news, culture, politics and technology. He works under Editor-in-Chief Maarika Tamm and UK Managing Editor Oliver Grant, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.