Garvey's was the first voice on BBC Radio 5 Live when it launched at 5:00 am on 28 March 1994. She became the co-presenter of 5 Live's award-winning breakfast programme in 1994, and also presented the "Everywoman" programme on the BBC World Service. She was also the presenter of the relaunched "Midday" show on BBC Radio 5 Live (during which the award-winning "Postcards from the Street" series by Stan Burridge was broadcast). Her final long-term assignment on 5 Live was as co-presenter of its "Drive" show on weekday afternoons with Peter Allen. She and Allen have won four Sony Gold Awards, and their relationship on air was described in "The Times" in 2002 as "a marriage made in radio heaven".