Latest news about BBC Radio 2

Graham Norton to drive his own desk at Virgin Radio

After years of not operating a radio desk at BBC Radio 2, Graham Norton has spoken of his delight to be able to finally drive his own at Virgin Radio. He appeared on Breakfast with Chris Evans Friday morning ahead of his first show on Saturday from 9.30am till 12.30pm. Graham said: “We did a little dummy run the other night and it’s fun – I really liked it. “Here’s my confession – at Radio 2 I was never allowed to touch a button, I was just gloves on, and I’d sit there and talk. So everything happened around me. But here, I’m pushing some buttons and it’s pathetic how excited that makes me...

Clare Teal is joining Bauer for new Jazz FM show

Clare Teal, who hosted her final show on BBC Radio 2 this week, is joining Jazz FM. Clare announced she was leaving Radio 2 in November, and did her last programme on January 3rd 2021. Now Jazz FM’s breakfast presenter Nigel Williams has announced the broadcaster is joining the national jazz station to present big band and swing every Sunday night for two hours on The Clare Teal Show. Her first show will be on Sunday 24th January and her weekly two-hour slot will feature music handpicked by Clare. Clare says: “I am beyond thrilled to be joining Jazz FM. To find a new home as excited as I am, to share the music I love with like-minded folks, is just brilliant" ...

Festive programmes and schedule changes at BBC Radio 2

Details of the Christmas specials and changes to the schedule for 2021 have been released by BBC Radio 2. Changes include an earlier start time for Vanessa Feltz who will be on from 4am till 6.30a starting on January 4th. Vanessa says: “When Radio 2 asked me to extend my show I was thrilled! It’s a real privilege to spend such intimate time with the UK’s early birds – and they continue to fascinate and astound us with their messages.” Radio 2 today launches a listener vote to discover the nation’s all-time favourite song from a musical. From 12pm on Friday 18 December to 12pm on Monday 11 January, listeners can take their pick from a long list of 50 classics spanning nine decades...

More syndicated programmes for BBC Radio this Christmas

The official launch of Christmas at BBC network radio will take place on Tuesday 1st December when Radio 1, Radio 1 Dance, 1Xtra, Asian Network, Radio 2 and 6 Music come together for a syndicated show. The BBC Radio Christmas House Party will see the six services come together to launch their festive celebrations at 5pm. And BBC local radio stations will be handing over their local frequencies for more networked shows than usual over Christmas with only seven hours of local output on Christmas Day as all 39 stations take the same shows before 7am and after 2pm. Between Christmas and New Year, local stations will also syndicate from 6pm till 6am with Nana Akua from 6pm and Jim Davis from 10pm...

Claudia Winkleman to take over Radio 2 Saturday morning show

BBC Radio 2 has announced Claudia Winkleman as Graham Norton’s replacement on Saturday mornings from next February. Graham will leave the station at Christmas to join Virgin Radio UK for weekend mornings. The BBC says Claudia’s Saturday 10am-1pm show will ‘welcome some of the world’s most popular stars to Wogan House for a chat against a backdrop of a brilliant mix of music and musings of the day’. Claudia says: “I’m not often speechless but the chance to be with the wonderful Radio 2 listeners every Saturday has left me, quite frankly, gobsmacked. I hope my voice comes back in time for the first show as I can no longer simply rely on a fake tan and a fringe. There’s nobody I’d rather be with at the weekend, it’s a privilege and an honour.”...

Graham Norton joins Virgin Radio UK for weekends

After news of his departure from Radio 2, Wireless has confirmed the signing of Graham Norton to do Saturday and Sunday shows for Virgin Radio. His new programmes will launch in the New Year and Graham will continue to present his Friday night chat show on BBC 1. During his appearance on Chris Evans’ Virgin Radio breakfast show on 30th September, Graham had commented on how nice the studios were and how close they were to his home in Wapping. Evans went on to spend a large part of the hour-long interview trying to convince Graham to join Virgin. Listen to the audio below…

BBC Radio 2 record star-studded official charity single to support BBC Children in Need’s 2020 Appeal, featuring Cher, Kylie Minogue, Gregory Porter and many more

To support BBC Children in Need this year, iconic artists from across the world have collaborated on a cover of Stop Crying Your Heart Out by Oasis, to help raise vital funds for the charity. Today (Tuesday 10 November), BBC Radio 2 announced that they are bringing together some of the most iconic artists from around the world for this year’s official BBC Children in Need single – Stop Crying Your Heart Out (BBC Radio 2 Allstars). The charity single, available for pre-order now, will be released by Decca Records on the day of the charity’s fundraising spectacular, Friday 13 November, and will see some of the music industry’s biggest stars...

BBC Radio 2 celebrates 50 years of pop performances

BBC Radio 2 is marking 50 years of pop music performances on the BBC with In Concert 50. From Fleetwood Mac and Bill Withers in the 70s to Craig David, Florence and the Machine and Sam Smith in the 21st Century, In Concert on the BBC in sound and vision has charted the history of popular music and this month of special archive shows and performances looks back across 50 years. From Sunday 1 November, all 50 performances are on BBC Sounds, with a special 10 artist Box Set available to watch on BBC iPlayer. BBC Four broadcasts Dido (Friday 30 October) and Seal (Friday 13 November) as TV-first In Concert exclusives. Dido performs at the BBC’s Maida Vale Studios from 2019...

Radio 2 challenges Joe Wicks to 24 hour workout

Joe Wicks will attempt to workout for 24 hours in aid of Children in Need on BBC Radio 2 this year. Appearing on Thursday’s Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, Joe announced his 24 Hour PE Challenge will start at 9.25am on Thursday 12 November, endeavouring to finish a day later at 9.25am on Friday 13 November. Joe will be at the BBC Studios in London and viewers can watch live on the Red Button and BBC iPlayer across the 24 hours. The final moments of Joe’s challenge on the morning of the BBC Children in Need Appeal day, from 9.05am-9.25am, will stream live on YouTube with schools up and down the country joining...

BBC Radio 2 to celebrate John Lennon At 80

BBC Radio 2 has secured an exclusive interview with Julian Lennon, Paul McCartney and Elton John chatting to Sean Ono Lennon. John Lennon would have turned 80 years old on Friday 9 October and in these special shows, John Lennon At 80, his youngest son Sean will present a celebratory, musical, family portrait of the legendary musician. Sean and Julian talk personally about their father and how he taught them about music. Julian recalls his dad buying him a guitar when he was around 11 years old and how it helped him get into music. Paul McCartney shares his memories of meeting John, talking about the combination of him and John, saying:...