Radio News

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...

Mica Paris to host music series on Greatest Hits Radio

Greatest Hits Radio is launching a new three part music series called ‘Soul Food Songs’, guest presented by Mica Paris MBE. It will be exploring what makes an uplifting Soul anthem and how music helps our physical and mental health. The series will culminate in a Top 200 Countdown of the Greatest Soul Food Songs, as voted for by listeners. Alongside Mica, contributors including Tony Hadley, Dr Amir Khan, Jaki Graham, Omar, Paul McKenna and Ainsley Harriott will also take part in the series which airs from Wednesday 13th January at 7pm, with weekly repeats Sundays at 9pm...

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...

BBC local radio reinvents Make a Difference

BBC Local radio is relaunching the Make a Difference: Give a Laptop campaign to help provide access to laptops and devices for children and young people in need. The network is asking for people with old laptops or tablets to donate them to help pupils still in need of a digital device. From today, all 39 local radio stations launched the campaign on-air by providing details of specialist charities across the country that will safely wipe donated devices before distributing them to local schools. Chris Burns, Head of BBC Local Radio comments...

Adrian Chiles confirmed as Emma Barnett replacement

Adrian Chiles is the new permanent host of BBC Radio 5 Live’s weekday mid-morning show every Thursday and Friday from 10am to 1pm. He starts today (Thursday 7th January) following Emma Barnett’s move to Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. Naga Munchetty presents mid-mornings Monday to Wednesday. Adrian joined 5 Live at its launch in 1994 and has featured regularly across the schedule presenting everything from Wake Up to Money, to football and 5 Live Drive. He currently presents Chiles on Friday and Question Time Extra Time on Thursday evenings...

Google removes talkRADIO YouTube channel

talkRADIO is no longer able to stream via its YouTube channel after Google suspended its account. The station says it wants a details explanation about the suspension, and has issued a statement about the move. All of talkRADIO’s archive is also offline, but is expected to reappear should the situation be resolved. talkRADIO points out it is regulated by Ofcom and has robust editorial controls in place taking care to balance debate...

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" ...

Tom Green joins Hits Radio as Hattie Pearson moves to weekdays

Morning changes at Hits Radio mean a new weekday early breakfast show for Hattie Pearson and Tom Green joining the network for weekend breakfast. Tom Green comes from KISS where he previously co-hosted Breakfast. He’ll replace Hattie on the Saturday and Sunday 6-9am slot, as Hattie moves to Monday to Friday 4-6am. It marks a return to ‘Hits’ for Tom as he used to present Breakfast on The Hits before joining KISS in 2017. John Isherwood, who previously hosted the overnight show on Hits Radio, departed the network at the end of 2020...

Game over for Kelvin MacKenzie’s Love Sport radio

Love Sport radio has ceased transmission on the national Sound Digital Ltd multiplex marking the end of the road for the service. The station told listeners it was taking a break back in April due to the coronavirus and has been airing mostly non-stop music ever since. Love Sport, founded by Kelvin MacKenzie, joined SDL a year ago taking over the slot from Panjab Radio but as of 10pm New Year’s Eve it is no more. Kelvin told RadioToday this morning: “Covid killed the radio star. Commercial revenues collapsed in March. The radio business, especially small radio, is taking a terrible hammering.” ...

Radio presenter Charlie Powell swaps KISS for Capital

DJ and producer Charlie Powell is joining Global as the new host of The Capital Weekender overnights. The former KISS and KISS FRESH host will be on-air from tomorrow every Saturday and Sunday from 1.30am till 5am and Monday afternoons on Capital Dance 4pm – 7pm. Charlie Powell said: “I’m so excited to be joining the Capital family. It hasn’t sunk in yet, but it’s a dream come true. My passion is always playing the biggest and best dance music for everyone and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to do this on the Capital Weekender & Capital Dance! I can’t wait to get started!” ...