ONE of the nation’s favourite radio and television stars stole the show at kmfm for Ashford’s launch.

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? host Chris Tarrant joined listeners who had won tickets to the exclusive event along with representatives from businesses and organisations backing the station at the Liquid and Life nightclub for the party.

Chris’s daughter Fia helps present the kmfm breakfast show with Scott Phillips.

kmfm’s head of radio Penny Williams said: "It was a real pleasure to see Chris. Just like all parents, he wanted to show just how proud he is of one of his children."

The final countdown sent a shiver down everyone’s spines as the station hit the airwaves for the first time.

Mayor of Ashford Malcolm Eke and Mayoress Cllr Carol Brunger helped push the button at the headquarters in North Street, Ashford, that launched the broadcast on 107.6fm.

kmfm breakfast presenters Scott Phillips and Fia Tarrant then took control and the first song played was Push The Button by the Sugarbabes.

The station has been offering the best music variety this week – songs from the last four decades as well as today’s hits – along with up-to-date traffic and travel information and the latest stories affecting listeners’ lives.

kmfm for Ashford is supported by a wide range of businesses in the town.

The Kent Messenger Group, parent company of the Kentish Express, has a majority shareholding and other prominent local businesses such as Hobbs Parker and Barretts also own shares.

Among those on hand to see the birth of the new station were Roger Lightfoot from Hobbs Parker, Park Mall centre manager Paul Stone, Kent Messenger Group chairman Edwin Boorman and chairman-designate Geraldine Allinson, Ashford Borough Council chief executive David Hill, Nikki Allen who founded Lark FM, from which kmfm for Ashford developed, and Martin Phippen, chairman of LARK Ltd, the company that operates the station.