A WELL-known figure in Andover is relocating up north to take an amazing opportunity to work for a national radio station.

Former carnival prince and the face of InAndover videos Luis Wyatt is moving away from the town to join the national radio station Gaydio, which has over half a million listeners a week.

After over two years, Luis will leave InAndover, having presented hundreds of videos promoting town centre business, which have reached thousands of people.

He said: “I have absolutely loved presenting for InAndover. I’m going to miss popping into all the shops and businesses and speaking to the amazing people that run them. It’s vital that we support them and I hope that I’ve helped remind people to do that.”

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The Travelling Cupcake owner Beverly Power said: “We are so sad to be losing the amazing Luis to Manchester. From the moment we met him, we knew Luis was destined for great things, he has such a presence about him, a maturity and professionalism far exceeding his years. Luis has always been such a supporter of ours, and we are honoured to be a small part of his journey to stardom.”

Luis was carnival prince in 2012, and attended Winton Community Academy where he first got his taste for broadcasting. He spent most of his spare time in a storage cupboard that had been converted into a radio studio.

Luis has hosted the last two Christmas Lights switch-ons, along with Pride of Andover Awards 2022, and Andover Carnival in 2019, and previously presented shows on Andover Radio.

During his time on Andover Radio, Luis won Best Male Presenter at the national Community Radio Awards at the age of just 18.

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One judge at the awards said: “If you told me Luis had been on air for decades, I wouldn't have questioned you. His style is engaging and cheeky. If I were a programme manager, I'd be poaching him immediately.”

He then went on to join huge names like Graham Norton and Chris Evans on the presenting line-up for Virgin Radio Pride, a national pop-up radio station.

Luis continued: “This was a massive opportunity for me. I listened to Chris Evans on Radio 2 every morning on my way to Anton School. I was broadcasting on a station with presenters that I spent my childhood listening to.”

Luis’ new role at Gaydio involves broadcasting to a national audience as well as producing radio adverts and social media content for the radio station.

He will also carry on presenting video content for The Manc, where he recently had the opportunity to interview famous faces on the red carpet of the Pride of Manchester Awards 2023.

Luis concluded: “I love Andover, it’s given me the platform and opportunities I need to work on my ambitions and it will always be where I call home.”