Radio News

Olivia Jones joins Rock FM to co-host Breakfast

Presenter Olivia Jones is to join Joel Ross as part of the Rock FM Breakfast Show from January. Olivia will replace current co-host Janine Marsh who has been on the show since 2016. She presented her last show on Friday (18th December). On joining the Rock FM Breakfast Show from January 4th, Olivia says: “I am beyond thrilled to be taking on a new radio challenge at the start of 2021 with an incredibly talented team at Rock FM. “Breakfast radio is one the most exciting jobs in the world and I look forward to spending each morning with our funny, caring and loyal listeners.”...

Christopher Biggins and Rick Astley in panto at Magic

Magic will be broadcasting its very own festive pantomime starring Christopher Biggins as well as a host of presenters on Christmas Day. The decision to air the panto follows the cancellation of many pantomimes across the country due to Covid-19. Christopher Biggins will be leading the festive show as the ‘Good Fairy’, and the hour long show will also have a cameo from singer Rick Astley. Christopher told Magic Radio’s Tom Price about his excitement for the show, which is sponsored by Gold TV Channel. When asked if this was his biggest panto to date, he replied “Oh without a doubt! The excitement when you first approached me was palpable, I couldn’t believe my luck. Just wonderful, because I know most of your audience are pantomime people!” ...

Presenters Ewen and Cat are reunited at Breakfast

Cat Harvey is returning to breakfast radio in Scotland as she joins Ewen Cameron on the Greatest Hits Radio Network. Ewen and Cat will be back together again, almost a decade after they first worked together on Real Radio Scotland. They’ll be on Clyde 2, Forth 2 and the rest of the network in Scotland from 11th January 2021. Ewen said: “Cat is the epicentre of fun and I can’t wait for her to bring that every single morning to the radio studio. I’m over the moon we’re back together because as much as I’ve enjoyed working on my own, it’s like Ant without Dec, C3PO without R2D2. Cat completes me.”...

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...

Nadia Jae gets breakfast full-time on BBC Radio 1Xtra

Nadia Jae is the new permanent host of the BBC Radio 1Xtra breakfast show after covering the programme since Dotty left in July. Nadia first joined 1Xtra in 2018 as part of 1Xtra’s Residency and has since risen up the ranks, from presenting 1Xtra’s Weekend Breakfast show, to temporarily hosting weekday mornings on the station since August. Nadia Jae says: “After four months of covering I have fallen in love with The 1Xtra Breakfast Show, and I’m proud to officially call it mine! “The show is the spearhead of the station and I can’t thank management, production, my fellow presenters and the listeners enough for making me feel at home...

New shows and presenters at BBC Radio Wales

BBC weather presenter Behnaz Akhgar is joining BBC Radio Wales as the new presenter of the afternoon programme, Monday to Thursday 2-5pm, with Eleri Sion continuing on Fridays. Behnaz said: “I am beyond excited to be part of the new BBC Radio Wales line up. I’m really looking forward to spending more time with the listeners, nice chats and great music.” Following the untimely death of much-loved Radio Wales presenter Chris Needs earlier this year, January sees the launch of The Late Show with Eleri Sion, Monday to Thursday 10pm – 12.30am. Eleri will be joined by long-time member of the BBC Radio Wales team and husband of the late Chris Needs, Gabe Cameron.

Henrie Kwushue joins KISS for weekend radio shows

KISS has hired 25-year-old DJ, presenter and broadcaster Henrie Kwushue to host the weekend early breakfast show from 9th January 2021. Best known for her work on Spotify’s Who We Be UK’s podcast and contribution to the No Signal Radio station online, Henrie also famously presented the Thursday evening drivetime show on community station, Reprezent Radio. Following her production company’s (HTK Production) docuseries ‘IS YOUR AREA CHANGING’ in 2020, Henrie won the Dazed 100 fund, which allowed her to hire creatives from underprivileged backgrounds to work on the production of a series of short films under the title ‘Untold Stories’...

BBC Asian Network on the lookout for new talent

BBC Asian Network is looking for new presenters to join the station who will host their own shows from March 2021. The talent search initiative is looking for 12 new voices who live and breathe British Asian culture and have a passion for reporting on the latest in music, current affairs and the world of entertainment. The search for new voices will focus on those whose strengths lie in presenting however, Asian Network welcomes applications from people with and without previous radio experience...

Special guests line up for Just a Minute return

BBC Radio 4’s Just a Minute will have long-standing panellists Paul Merton and Gyles Brandreth, as well as Lucy Porter, Stephen Fry, Jo Brand and Nish Kumar in the host’s chair for a new series beginning in February. This series will see 10 guest presenters follow in the footsteps of Nicholas Parsons who died earlier this year. Each will take a turn to lead the comedy panel game and to uphold the tradition of attempting to talk for 60 seconds with no hesitation, repetition or deviation. Sioned Wiliam, Radio 4’s Commissioning Editor for Comedy says: “We’re delighted that this group of superbly talented guest hosts will be joining us to take part in the brilliant and much loved game that is Just a Minute...

Garry Spence gets Drive on MFR and Radio Borders

Garry Spence is set to return to weekdays on MFR, the station where he started his career over 20 years ago, as well as Radio Borders. He’ll be taking over the networked 4pm to 7pm slot on both stations from Tuesday 5th January 2021. Garry grew up in Inverness and started as a volunteer at the station in 1996. He got his very first Saturday night show in 1997 at just 14 years old and by the age of 17 he was doing three shows a week and went full-time on daytime in 2001. Garry left the station in 2003 but returned earlier this year to host Saturday Night Anthems on the network...