Latest news about BBC Local Radio

Local BBC Radio marks 12 months of Make a Difference

BBC local radio stations across England are celebrating the first anniversary of its Make a Difference campaign on 23rd March. It’s the same date the UK was first put into lockdown, and the network says it has since taken calls from over four million people. To mark the occasion, all 39 local stations are dedicating a day of thanks to those who helped make a difference throughout the last challenging 12 months. Chris Burns, Head of Audio and Digital for BBC England said: “The power of radio is huge when it comes to connecting local communities in their hour of need. The impact of Covid-19 has been reflected by ‘Make a Difference’ across all our local stations and has highlighted acts of kindness and enabled us to share some amazing stories...

Steve Harris has Twitter success with Russell Crowe

BBC Radio Solent’s Breakfast in Dorset presenter Steve Harris has been making headlines after a simple request on Twitter. He sent a message on Tuesday morning asking if anyone knows how he can get a reply from Russell Crowe. Steve wanted him to ask him if he’d record a birthday message for one of his listeners, who is currently sailing around the world in the Vendee Globe race, and happens to be a big fan of the actor...

BBC local radio listeners donate 17,500 devices

The BBC’s Make A Difference: Give A Laptop campaign has seen 17,645 devices donated since its launch on January 7, with a further 30,000 devices pledged by businesses across England. Radio stations have been directing listeners to the local charities collecting devices in their area via the Make a Difference website for individual donations. Meanwhile, businesses, trusts and foundations from all over England have also been getting in touch to pledge devices, money and even data to those who need it most...

BBC Radio Lancashire celebrates 50 years on-air

Lancashire’s local BBC station is celebrating 50 years on-air today and the launch of its Make a Difference Awards. BBC Radio Blackburn, as it was originally know, started officially on January 26th 1971 and expanded to cover the whole county ten years later. And today, key workers from around the area, from doctors and nurses to teachers and bin crews, have come together to form the Lancashire Heroes Choir. More than 50 key workers recorded themselves singing to the Cannon and Ball classic Together We’ll Be OK...

BBC local radio reinvents Make a Difference

BBC Local radio is relaunching the Make a Difference: Give a Laptop campaign to help provide access to laptops and devices for children and young people in need. The network is asking for people with old laptops or tablets to donate them to help pupils still in need of a digital device. From today, all 39 local radio stations launched the campaign on-air by providing details of specialist charities across the country that will safely wipe donated devices before distributing them to local schools. Chris Burns, Head of BBC Local Radio comments...

New shows and presenters at BBC Radio Wales

BBC weather presenter Behnaz Akhgar is joining BBC Radio Wales as the new presenter of the afternoon programme, Monday to Thursday 2-5pm, with Eleri Sion continuing on Fridays. Behnaz said: “I am beyond excited to be part of the new BBC Radio Wales line up. I’m really looking forward to spending more time with the listeners, nice chats and great music.” Following the untimely death of much-loved Radio Wales presenter Chris Needs earlier this year, January sees the launch of The Late Show with Eleri Sion, Monday to Thursday 10pm – 12.30am. Eleri will be joined by long-time member of the BBC Radio Wales team and husband of the late Chris Needs, Gabe Cameron.

BBC local stations create a singalong with McFly

BBC Local Radio is teaming up with boy band McFly to create a special version of their hit Happiness. All 39 stations across England are calling up on audiences in bubbles to take part in the live singalong to help raise funds for BBC Children in Need. Listeners are being asked to tune in to any local station at 10am on Monday 9th November to sing along with the radio to the song, film it, and upload clips to the BBC Make A Difference website. A montage will then be made to be played on Children in Need night. Regional BBC TV News programmes and local radio stations will also share the uploaded clips on their social media platforms...

Joanna Page to host Sundays on BBC Radio Wales

Welsh actress Joanna Page is to present her own Sunday morning show on BBC Radio Wales, starting 18 October. Sunday Morning With Joanna Page will be her first ever radio show, following her titular role in the BBC comedy. The mother-of-three from Swansea, well know for her role in Gavin & Stacey, says: “I’m really excited about my new series on Radio Wales and look forward to just gossiping. Because the Welsh talk like nobody else. You can expect lots of good music, a sprinkling of showbiz, interesting stories and lots of gossip and chat. “I’ve never done anything like this before but we all know I’m a bit of a talker! I’m just going to imagine that I’m chatting to my best friend. You don’t know what I’m going to say – so you better tune in and listen!” ...

Winners announced at Irish radio awards event

Five radio stations in Northern Ireland picked up awards at the All-Ireland radio awards, the IMROs, last Friday. BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Radio Foyle, Q Radio and Cool FM/Downtown were recognised in various categories. Broadcaster Stephen Nolan won Best Interactive Speech Programme whilst John Toal got the Specialist Music Broadcaster of the Year award. Q Radio’s Connor Brennan won Gold for Newcomer of the Year whilst Cool FM/Downtown Radio’s Sarah McKinley won Silver...

Alex Jones joins BBC Radio Wales weekends

The One Show’s Alex Jones is joining BBC Radio Wales to host a new weekend show. Alex says: “I’m so excited to get my headphones back on for BBC Radio Wales and to play some of my favourite songs. “There is something so special about radio – the connection you can have with the listeners and there’s something extra special about talking to people in Wales.” So far the “Sunday Morning with…” slot has been presented by a series of Welsh names which have included Keeping Faith star Eve Myles, presenter Carol Vorderman, athlete Colin Jackson, actress Suzanne Packer and broadcaster Anna Ryder Richardson...