‘Dream big’ with NPR

To mark the two-year anniversary of his release, former NPR producer and presenter, Nico, has returned to the HMP Brixton studios to share his story. He tells NPR how he has continued to pursue his dream of working in the radio industry. And he didn’t come alone – Nico brought his two new work colleagues along with him: none other than radio royalty, Rickie and Melvin from BBC Radio 1. 

Rickie and Melvin are long-term friends of NPR and first visited the studios over a decade ago. They returned to chat to us about their dreams for success, to share some I’m a Celebrity Secrets and to tell us the real story about how Nico’s getting on at BBC Radio 1! 

Nico’s radio story began when he was flicking through the channels at HMP Wormwood Scrubs. 

“I was sitting with my cellmate… I saw NPR on the telly… I saw it was from Brixton… I went from Scrubs to Isis, Isis to Brixton… I worked on Isis radio with Jason… that’s where my journey in radio really started and then they shipped me to Brixton.” 

If you were listening to NPR in 2023, it’s likely that you will have listened to one of Nico’s NPR shows. He presented Street Heat, the Request Show, Decibel and loads more. 

Since release, Nico has taken part in the Prison Radio Association trainee scheme. This enabled him to do work experience at BBC Radio 1Xtra.  

Nico says taking part in the Prison Radio Association trainee scheme “helped pave the foundations for where I am now. It taught me adaptability.”

After a lot of hard work, Nico has, this year, secured a contract on BBC Radio 1’s Rickie, Melvin and Charlie show. 

Rickie and Melvin have high praise for their new colleague: “Nico brings the best energy, he works hard, he’s got proper hustle, always brings ideas and he cares about radio.”

Coming back to HMP Brixton was obviously a significant moment for Nico. He tells NPR: “There’s a range of emotions. I feel good, it’s for a good cause, it’s for the right reason and I’m with the right people.” 

Two years on from release, Nico shares some advice with the NPR family: “Figure out your why”, he tells us. “Figure out what you want to do….think of something that will take you on a journey, something that excites you.”

And he wasn’t the only one with words of wisdom. 

“Keep your head up,” Rickie tells the NPR family. “Stay positive, focus on what you want to do going forwards… and don’t be afraid of failure.”

And Melvin wanted to share two words that were powerful for him during his own journey: “Dream big”, he says, “I actually had vision boards at home of what I planned to do and it’s not just about work, it’s health, it’s family. Visualisation is so powerful.” 

You can hear Nico, Rickie and Melvin on Outside In on Friday 2nd January 2025 at 5pm. 

You can also hear Rickie and Melvin on NPR Talk throughout the first week of January. NPR Talk is on every weekday at 12 noon and 6pm. 

National Prison Radio is the world’s first national radio station for people in prison. It’s available on in-cell TVs and via Launchpad laptops in prisons across England and Wales. 

You can get involved with NPR by calling 0808 123 1234 and leaving a message. You can request a track or share an inspirational story. We listen to every single message we receive. 

If NPR is not available in your prison, call us on 0808 123 1234 and leave a message telling us the prison you are in and how long it has been down for.