Latest news about BBC Radio 2

RAJAR Q3 2018: Record share of 52.4% for digital radio

Digital listening share has remained above the important halfway mark and increased from 48.8% to 52.4% in the last 12 months. Total digital listening hours grew by 5.4% year on year, or 27.5 million hours. DAB listening in cars accounted for 11 million hours (or 40%) of all digital listening growth, while listening in home via online/Apps accounted for 13.5 million hours (or 49%) of all digital listening growth.

RAJAR Q3 2018: London and national brands update

Nick Grimshaw left the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show with half a million more listeners than a year ago – handing them to Greg James who took over the show halfway through the last quarter. The show now attracts 5.75m listeners (Mon – Fri) and is up 465,000 Year on Year. In London, Capital is back on top with almost 2,100,000 listeners according to Reach in the London commercial radio battle, as Kiss slips back under the 2m listener mark (1,958,000). Magic is in third place (1.5m) whilst Heart comes in 4th (1.4m). But BBC Radio 4 continues to lead the London Reach with 2.4m listeners.

Audio and Radio Industry Awards 2018 – winners

Podcasters, local radio and the independent sector challenged the big networked radio groups at this year’s Audio & Radio Industry Awards, picking up some of the evening’s biggest awards. The ceremony at the first direct Arena in Leeds saw podcasters picking up three of the big awards on the night, with Best New Show going to You, Me & the Big C; Best Specialist Music Show was won by Edith Bowman with her podcast, Soundtracking and Best Sports Show was...

Zoe Ball to replace Chris Evans on BBC Radio 2 Breakfast

Zoe Ball will take over as the new permanent presenter on the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show from 2019, Chris Evans has announced on-air. Chris announced a month ago that he was leaving the show and then revealed he was joining Virgin Radio UK from the New Year. A newspaper report two weeks ago suggested that Zoe had been offered the Radio 2 gig – to present Europe’s biggest radio show.

Will the BBC be on the Ball replacing Chris Evans?

Opinion: Howard Kosky, CEO & founder of broadcast specialists markettiers4DC, shares his thoughts on Chris Evans moving to Virgin Radio. It’s no surprise BBC Radio 2 is lining Zoe Ball up to fill the shoes of Chris Evans on the breakfast show. And what shoes they are to fill. Rumours Chris himself wanted a woman to replace him have been rife. More importantly, this is a perfect opportunity for the BBC to rack up some brownie points following...

BBC Radio 2 announces In Concert series for 2018

Fresh from a hugely successful Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park, BBC Radio 2 announces the full star-studded line-up for this year’s In Concert series. Artists on the bill are Paul Weller (1 November), Boy George and Culture Club (8 November), Ed Sheeran (15 November) Emeli Sandé (22 November), and Sir Cliff Richard (29 November). All artists are performing at the BBC Radio Theatre in London.

Zoe Ball in talks to replace Chris Evans at Radio 2

The BBC and Zoe Ball are currently negotiating over a new contract which will see Zoe take over from Chris Evans on the Radio 2 breakfast show. A report in the Sun says a contract is expected to be signed within the next two weeks which will see Zoe handed a significant pay rise. If Zoe refuses, it will be offered to Sara Cox. The report appears to be backed up by a quote from a BBC source, which says:...

BBC Radio 2 announces Paul Weller for Radio 2 In Concert

BBC Radio 2 announces Paul Weller as the first act confirmed for this year’s star-studded line-up for this autumn’s In Concert series. Paul Weller was announced in a special Chris Evans’ Breakfast Show from Weller’s studio in Woking today. The line-up in full will be announced by Jo Whiley & Simon Mayo between 5-8pm on Radio 2 on Wednesday 19 September.

Final agenda confirmed for Drive to Digital event

Digital Radio UK has confirmed the final conference agenda for Drive to Digital 2018: The Future of Radio. Drive to Digital 2018 will be chaired by Gethin Jones, co-presenter of the new Hits Radio Breakfast Show, and has a line up of senior speakers from broadcasters, supply chain, the automotive sector, the audio market and podcasters, who will be sharing their views on the future of radio.

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.”