Michael Fanstone

Michael Fanstone was born and brought up in Brighton, and after school worked in the photographic trade before getting a call to Christian ministry. Having become a Christian at 14, he began theological studies at Spurgeon's College, London in 1972, was ordained and became a Baptist minister four years later. He married Diane while at college, and they have two (now grown-up) children: Becky, a music teacher and married to James, and Steve, who works for Premier.tv. Michael still serves as a minister, having worked in Kent for over twenty years.

But his broadcasting career has spanned longer than his clerical one, working at different times for Invicta FM, Classic FM and BBC Radio Kent. In fact, Michael first began hosting live phone-in counselling programmes, like his current Premier Tonight show on Premier, back in 1987.

Michael enjoys a wide range of music, including classical, listing Phil Collins and Elton John among his favourite artists. He rates Only Fools and Horses among his all-time favourite TV shows. He supports Liverpool Football Club, but still has a soft spot for Brighton & Hove Albion. More than anything else, he prays for spiritual revival to hit the UK in his lifetime, and sees his priority as being to help prepare the church, and each Christian, for all that God wants to do to impact our nation.

Fact box:

• Michael is a keen genealogist, and can trace his ancestors back to the 1500s
• Michael is an active photographer, and takes loads of digital photos each year
• Michael has a weakness for Cadbury's Dairy Milk Chocolate
• Michael was taught the piano when at school, and now wishes he'd practised a lot more!
• Michael was taken sailing by a friend on the Solent once, and vowed ‘Never again' - and has never been in a yacht since!