For a self-confessed "night person", Spencer Howson does pretty well to get up each day at 3.30am!
2015 is Spencer's tenth consecutive year presenting the 612 ABC Brisbane Breakfast shift. He first took over the Breakfast reins in 1997, fronting the program until the end of 2000. From 2001 till 2005, Spencer's alarm clock went off at the far more human hour of 8am while he presented afternoon shifts on 612. Then, at the beginning of 2006, Spencer Howson returned to the Breakfast show, where he beat all comers and gave 612 ABC Brisbane its first win in the Breakfast radio ratings since 1984.
Spencer's first ABC posting was to Rockhampton. He delights in telling people he lived in Rocky for "two years, 23 days, seven hours" - not that he was counting! That was 1993-5.
Spencer's been in Brisbane ever since. Though he was born in England, Spencer's called Brisbane home since 1979.
He was educated at Bald Hills State School, Toowong State School, Manly State School (where one of Spencer's friends was Sydney commercial radio shock-jock Kyle Sandilands), Brisbane Grammar School and the Queensland University of Technology.
Spencer's first radio experience was at Brisbane community station 4RPH, part of the Australia-wide Radio Print Handicapped Network, from 1990 to 1993. In 1991, at the age of 19, Spencer was elected Vice President of the 4RPH Board of Directors.
In 2005, Spencer was named ABC Local Radio "Broadcaster of the Year". In September 2006, Spencer co-hosted ABC Local Radio's live national broadcast of the Steve Irwin Memorial. He and co-anchor John Stokes were the only broadcasters permitted to commentate from inside 'The Crocoseum'. 2010 is Spencer's ninetenth consecutive year on 612 ABC Brisbane.
Spencer's listeners probably feel they know his wife Nikki and son Jack - he often talks about their family outings and home life. Jack is now in grade eleven. For the trivia collector: Spencer proposed to Nikki at the Eiffel Tower in January 1995. They married on Mount Coot-tha in June 1996. Jack was born in April 2000, weighing a 6lb 12oz! Yes, it's true, 6-12!
Working alongside Spencer each morning are producers Bernadette Young and Rachel Fountain, and reporter Terri Begley.
Spencer and the team would love to hear from you. During the show, SMS 0467 922 612 or phone 1300 222 612 (1300 ABC 612 if you prefer). At other times, call Bernie or Spencer on (+617) 3377 5161 - or you can call the Cereal Box anytime on 3223 0612.