Simon Hirst: Radio DJ reveals he is to become a woman called Stephanie
Popular local radio DJ and former top 40 presenter Simon Hirst, now Stephanie, said ‘I don’t have to hide any more’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The presenter of a popular breakfast show on Capital FM Yorkshire has announced she is to undergo surgery to become a woman and has started calling herself Stephanie.
Stephanie Hirst, former known as Simon, announced in an interview on BBC Radio 5 Live last night that she is halfway through gender reassignment treatment. She has officially changed her name to Stephanie, in order to keep the same initials.
Hirst left Hirsty’s Daily Dose breakfast show in June. In the interview the 39-year-old said she had left to “focus on me, because I have devoted my whole life to radio.”
She told the Stephen Nolan programme: “I don’t have to hide anymore. I can be me. I am a woman and that’s it.”
Hirst also hosted the Hit40UK national commercial radio Top 40 chart between 2003 and 2006. Hirst spoke of the torment she had gone through carrying around the secret: “The thought was there in my head constantly…There were many times on the air in recent years where I nearly said that I'm transgender.
“I knew from around the same time that I knew I wanted to be on the radio that something wasn't right. I didn't feel complete, I didn't feel like it locked. I felt like a square peg in a round hole but I didn't know why and I couldn't work it out.”
She added: “And for anyone who is going through this or anyone who's thinking of going through this we don't change, we don't change. Yes, the exterior changes but we're still the same people.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments