As we got closer and closer to the start of BBC 2002 Commonwealth Games Radio the competition was on between all the teams to see which show would have the most spectacular line-up of guests.

We were determined that the Breakfast show - RISE, would lead the way. Our first bit of good fortune was the news that the then Minister of Sport, The RT Hon Richard Caborn had accepted our invitation to be a guest on our first show.

The competition was won but we were not satisfied...we wanted even more.

As well as the Minister of Sport, also live in the studio was athlete Diane Modahl whom I had met at the 15th Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada. In addition, we also had Sir Bob Scott who spoke to us on the line from Liverpool, where he is attempting to win for them the nomination as the 2008 Capital of Culture. [Yet another success for Sir Bob].

As we got close to 6:30 on that first morning, everyone was tense. Was everything going to work? Were the live guests going to turn up? Would the phones work?

Well the answer was yes to all of the above.

At exactly 6:30 on the 4th of March 2002, I welcomed listeners to BBC2002 Commonwealth Games Radio for the very first time, and we played the wonderful Shackles by MARY MARY. As an emergency plan, we had asked our Managing Editor Tim Pemberton to be on stand-by incase anything went down...we didn't need him.

At 8:10 we welcomed live on the phone the Chief Executive of Manchester 2002, Frances Done. It was a great interview as she explained everything about the Games and where we were at the moment in the whole scheme of things.

When the Minister of Sport walked in, the big bosses arrived almost simultaneously. There was great tension in the air as producer Kaylois Henry (Miss Kaylois) said on the talk-back, take him next.

To break the ice, I started off by asking him exactly what was going on in Sheffield football. We were off... it was brilliant. He answered all the questions and was very compilmentary about the City of Manchester and about the Games.

The big Games story that day was the fact that some people in the Beswick area were having their TV pictures interrupted by the new City of Manchester Stadium. We were able to hear from the residents and also from the City Council. In the coming weeks, Manchester City Council would provide SKY dishes to help solve the problems.

The first show was a huge success and just before 9:00 we welcomed morning presenters Chris and Jessie into the studio to preview their show. On the dot of 10:00 we went to the News and cleared the studio for Chris and Jessie. Editor Tim Pemberton was delighted with the show and so were the big bosses - Mike Briscoe and Martin Brooks. The Breakfast team then went up to the BBC canteen for breakfast and our debrief.

My favourite bit was speaking to Diane Modahl. She spoke about her sporting career and we spent quite some time speaking about her drug problem which began in Victoria when she was accused of taking performance enhancing drugs. Eventually she would be completely cleared.

We spoke about her plans for these Games as, at this time, there was still a possibility that she would compete, but, no matter how hard I pushed her, she would not confirm whether she would be taking part or not.

I loved that first show, we had arrived on time and had a first show that we were extremely proud of. BBC Commonwealth Games Radio was on the way.

Next time I'll tell you about the early weeks on Rise - The Breakfast Show on BBC2002 Commonwealth Games Radio..