Radio News

Simon Mayo to host Drive on Greatest Hits Radio

Greatest Hits Radio Drivetime is going networked with Scala Radio presenter Simon Mayo joining the schedule full time from March 15th. He’ll leave his daily programme at Scala but stay for a weekend show, after two years in the mid-morning slot. Current regional Drivetime presenters on Greatest Hits Radio will move to the afternoon 1-4pm show, keeping its Ofcom obligation to provide at least three hours of regional programmes each weekday. The exception being Greatest Hits Radio NW Drivetime presenter Darren Proctor who moves to 7-10pm on the network, replacing Rick Houghton who is leaving Bauer...

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 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 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...

New weekend schedule at Cool FM as Andy Baird leaves

In his place, a range of new presenters and programmes as the Bauer service introduces a new ‘Spring schedule’. There are new slots for Melissa Riddell, Katharine Walker, DJ Hix, and Owen Beers. Fashion blogger Melissa Riddell will take over the weekend breakfast slot (6-10am). Melissa started her time at Cool FM in 2017 through the ‘Cool Choices’ programme – a scheme designed to offer work experience in the media industry to young people aged 16 to 24.

talkSPORT team announced for cricket coverage

talkSPORT is covering England’s tour of India, starting next month, with every ball of every game live on talkSPORT 2. Ashes winner Kevin Pietersen will join the team for its free-to-air coverage of the four Tests, five T20s and three ODIs, which start on February 5th and conclude on March 28th. The broadcast team includes talkSPORT cricket regulars, Darren Gough, Mark Nicholas, Mark Butcher, Matt Prior, Steve Harmison, Gareth Batty, Alex Tudor, Neil Manthorp, Jarrod Kimber, Jon Norman, Guy Swindells and Andrew McKenna. Kate Cross also joins the team when she returns from representing England in New Zealand alongside former India batsman and commentator Aakash Chopra...

History of the human body explored by BBC Radio 4

Independent radio production company Made in Manchester has made a ten part series for Radio 4 and BBC Sounds about the history of the human body. Written and presented by anatomist, anthropologist and broadcaster Professor Alice Roberts, Bodies also includes drama from voice actor Jonathan Kydd. Alice’s time travelling tour of anatomical knowledge traces the history from cave men to DNA. Executive producer and MIM Creative Director Ashley Byrne says: “This is a brilliant and most enlightening series authored expertly by Alice and peppered with great drama from Jonathan. The shows are equally informative and entertaining.” ...

Two new presenters for BBC Radio 4’s Open Book

Elizabeth Day and Johny Pitts are the new presenters of BBC Radio 4’s Open Book. Elizabeth’s first programme will be Sunday 17 January and Johny’s on 31 January. Elizabeth is an author, journalist and broadcaster and the presenter of the podcast How To Fail. Her other broadcast work includes co-presenting Sky Arts Book Club Live. As an author Elizabeth has written six books, both fiction and non-fiction, including The Party and How To Fail: Everything I’ve Ever Learned from Things Going Wrong. She is a judge for the Women’s Prize for Fiction 2021...

Jorja Smith and Celeste to host BBC Radio 3 series

Singers Jorja Smith and Celeste are hosting two new series for BBC Radio 3 exploring music from orchestral and piano to pop. BBC Radio 3 says each 12-part series aims to uplift and restore with powerful and emotive music to soothe the soul. Tearjerker With Jorja Smith begins this Saturday and will be available on BBC Sounds, followed by Downtime Symphony with Celeste the following Saturday. Jorja Smith encourages listeners to press play and shed a tear, exploring the healing powers of sad music, from piano classics such as Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven to the soothing electronica of artists like James Blake...

Anita Rani to host Woman’s Hour on BBC Radio 4

Anita Rani is to join BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour as presenter every Friday and Saturday. She joins alongside Emma Barnett, who became the show’s main host in early January. Anita is well known as one of the lead presenters on BBC One’s Countryfile, and has been a regular on Radio 2. Previously, Anita hosted weekend breakfast on BBC Asian Network and started her radio career at Sunrise Radio in Bradford when she was 14. Anita’s first programme will be Friday 15 January and she will present the Friday and Saturday editions of the programme...