Former Capital FM radio host comes out as trans

A former Capital FM radio show host has come out as transgender.

Stephanie Hirst – formerly known as Simon Hirst – is currently midway through her male-to-female transition, she revealed.

Hirst, 39, who hosted Hirsty’s Daily Dose on Capital FM Yorkshire before leaving the station in June, spoke publicly about her transition for the first time during an appearance on BBC Radio 5 Live yesterday (October 11) to mark National Coming Out Day.

“The thought was there in my head constantly,” Hirst told host Stephanie Nolan. “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,” she continued. “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.”

“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,” she added.

Former Radio 1 Breakfast Show host Chris Moyles took to Twitter today (October 12) to congratulate Hirst on her decision to come out as trans. Read his tweets below.

Very proud of my dear friend @hirstydose tonight. Amazing, honest, fascinating and lovely interview with @StephenNolan tonight. Happy.

— Chris Moyles (@ChrisMoyles) October 11, 2014

140 characters is just not enough to explain how proud I am of my dear friend @hirstydose and the life she will now lead. It’s all good!

— Chris Moyles (@ChrisMoyles) October 12, 2014

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