Latest news about BBC Radio 2

After Chris Evans ... why women are leading the race for the breakfast slot

As the longtime presenter vacates his breakfast slot, five of the six favourites to take over his popular show are women. So what has prompted this cultural shift in a schedule that has been dominated by men for years? On Monday morning, on his Radio 2 breakfast show, Chris Evans surprised many by announcing that he would be leaving at Christmas. “Some of us are mountain climbers,” he said. “But if you get to the top of your favourite mountain and stay there, you become an observer.”

Chris Evans is returning to Virgin Radio for Breakfast

Chris Evans is returning to the Virgin Radio brand after announcing he’s leaving BBC Radio 2 before the end of the year. Speaking about his new appointment, Chris said: “In many ways Virgin Radio is my spiritual home. I see nothing but exciting and groundbreaking opportunities ahead. In a medium that is changing so quickly on a daily basis, the potential for growth is unprecedented. Our plan is: to give it all we’ve got, see where we can...

Chris Evans to leave BBC Radio 2

BBC Radio 2 today announces that Radio 2 Breakfast Show presenter Chris Evans will be leaving the network. Thirteen years after presenting his first show for the station, he will broadcast his last show in December 2018. Chris says: “I have absolutely loved every single moment of my time at Radio 2. The last 13 years have flashed by in what seems like the blink of an eye. I have learnt so much from so many people to whom I will be eternally grateful.

BBC Radio 2 celebrates three legends of pop: Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince

Across the August Bank Holiday Weekend (25-27 August), BBC Radio 2 will celebrate the 60th birthdays of three of the most influential names in pop music: Michael Jackson, Madonna and Prince. The weekend kicks off with a Pick of the Pops special (Saturday 25 August, 1-3pm), focussing on Prince and Madonna. To celebrate the huge contribution both artists have made to pop history, Paul Gambaccini will count down their 20 bestselling tracks from their long and illustrious careers.

RAJAR Q2 2018: London and national brands update

Kiss has taken over from Capital as the biggest commercial radio station in London in the latest Q2/2018 RAJAR listening figures. Capital’s audience in the capital is down 10.8% year on year to 2.063m, while Kiss has had a great quarter, hitting 2.087m weekly listeners – 24,000 more than its rival. In third place is Magic (1.667m), which leapfrogs rival Heart this quarter (1.404m). LBC is in fifth on reach with 1.280m listeners in the capital (down 9.3% year on year).

Kylie Minogue leads BBC Music Day celebrations

Kylie Minogue is headlining the promotion of BBC Music Day 2018, which will be heard across BBC Radio on Friday 28th September. Gareth Malone and Jarvis Cocker are also amongst the famous names taking part in the event, featured on Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 3, Radio 4, 6 Music and local and regional stations. Kylie has recorded some music-related messages that will be played out at major rail stations on that day and...

Radio helps mark release of Now 100 album

Radio stations including Absolute 80s, Virgin and BBC Radio 2 are among those airing special programmes as the 100th Now That’s What I Call Music album is released. Bauer digital station Absolute 80s is broadcasting a celebration at 8pm tonight (Thursday), presented by Mark Goodier, called “That Was Then, This is Now 100”. It will look back over 35 years of the compilation album.

Evans earning £1.6m for Radio 2 breakfast show

Chris Evans remains the BBC’s highest paid radio presenter in the latest figures published by the corporation today. The 2017-2018 annual report shows the Radio 2 breakfast show host being paid between £1.6m and £1.669m – compared to 2016-2017 when he was paid between £2.2m and £2.249m for his work on both Radio 2 and Top Gear.

BBC Children in Need announces 2017 total

BBC Children in Need announced its fundraising total for the 2017 Appeal, £60,750,000. Highlights from the 2017 Appeal include BBC Radio 2’s fundraising spearheaded by Chris Evans’ Breakfast Show which saw millions raised through CarFest and the Breakfast Show’s auctions, Countryfile’s 2017 calendar and Ramble weekends, The One Show’s Rickshaw Challenge and a BBC Children in Need Rocks the 80s concert.

2018 New York Radio Festivals winners announced

Two of the five top ‘Grand Awards’ of the New York International Radio Festivals have gone to the UK this year, thanks to the BBC and TBI Media. The BBC won in the Best Digital Special Event category for putting on BBC Radio 1 Vintage for the station’s 50th birthday last year, whilst TBI Media took home the prize for its Born This Way documentary made for BBC Radio 2.