Latest news about BBC Radio 2

Hear the new Wisebuddah Zoe Ball jingles here

Zoe Ball has a new package of jingles from Wisebuddah on her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show from today. Wisebuddah has also created two new themes for Claudia Winkleman’s new Radio 2 programme which can be heard every Saturday. Four new themes have been produced for Zoe Ball, which are described as a contemporary pop dance take on her fun jazz hands style and love of disco and swing. The tracks, which continue to sing The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, contain live drums, horns, bass and guitars...

April Fool’s Day on Heart, BBC Radio 2, and more

April Fool’s Day pranks have been played on listeners and presenters across the UK once again this year. Including on Heart where Amanda Holden was pranked by her co-workers when she was led to believe she was responsible for a marriage proposal gone wrong live on the air. Watch the short video below to see the whole thing unfold. Also at Heart, Olly Murs pranked evening show presenter Mark Wright by having Mark’s car wrapped in an image of Olly, naked. See how that went down here...

BBC Radio 2 to give away VIP Camp Bestival experience

Zoe Ball announced BBC Radio 2’s Text To Win prize which will be raising money for this year’s Comic Relief. During Breakfast on Monday morning, Zoe revealed to listeners that, “This week, you could be in with the chance of winning the staycation of a century at this summer’s Camp Bestival. “We’ve sorted out VIP tickets to the festival – for either a family of 2 adults and up to 4 kids, or a ticket for you and 3 mates – to stay at Lulworth Castle, on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. You’ll spend 4 nights sleeping under the stars in a luxury Tipi in the premium Backstage Camping area, from Thursday the 29th of July to Sunday the 1st of August 2021.”...

Ken Bruce named as Britain’s favourite radio presenter

BBC Radio 2 presenter Ken Bruce has been named as Britain’s favourite radio presenter in a new poll. Capital’s Roman Kemp takes second place with BBC Radio 2’s Zoe Ball in third. Chris Evans takes 4th and Jeremy Vine is in 5th place. Research carried out by digital radio manufacturer Pure also shows millions more Brits have turned to radio since the pandemic, regarding it as a trusted source of breaking news and instant information. Ken Bruce takes the top spot, despite not making the Top 10 in the same survey last year. Here’s how the top 10 shapes up...

Vernon Kay to host Super Bowl LV on BBC Radio 5 Live

The Super Bowl is back on BBC Radio 5 Live for the first time in five years with a new show hosted by Vernon Kay. Live radio coverage of the showdown between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs begins this Sunday at 11pm on 5 Live and BBC Sounds. BBC One will also provide live TV coverage from 11.30pm. Vernon Kay, a frequent visitor to Super Bowl as a fan and broadcaster, is also a former player himself with the London Warriors. His last regular radio show was with Radio X four years ago but he’s also covering on BBC Radio 2 at the moment...

BBC Radio 2 presenters get in the musicals mood

Presenters from BBC Radio 2 have been dressing up ahead of the station celebrating musicals this weekend. Zoe Ball, Sara Cox and Ken Bruce all dressed up as characters to mark a weekend of only songs from musical theatre, stage and screen all day from 5am-7pm. In the Breakfast Show on Friday, Zoe will be leading a sing-a-long of three songs from musicals and is encouraging listeners to get dressed up as their favourite musicals character for it. There will be musicals themes and guests across all the Radio 2 shows on Saturday and Sunday, culminating in Musicals: The Greatest Show on Sunday night hosted by Sheridan Smith...

BBC Radio 2 celebrates musicals with BBC One

Musicals: The Greatest Show is coming to BBC Radio 2 forming part of three days of special programmes about the stage and screen. Hosted on radio and television by performer Sheridan Smith, the initiative puts the songs, the shows, and the stars, back on stage at the London Palladium. It will be broadcast from 7pm – 9pm on Sunday 31 January on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds, and as a 75-minute show in February on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. From Friday 29 January to Sunday 31 January, for Radio 2 Celebrates Musicals the station has lined up an array of music, programmes and documentaries...

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...