Radio News

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...

BFBS to broadcast via BBC Radio 1 on Christmas Day

BBC Radio 1 is teaming up with BFBS on Christmas Day to give troops the opportunity to send Christmas messages to their families and friends in the UK. Four one hour shows from 10am till 2pm will broadcast from military bases in Cyprus, Germany, Brunei, Gibraltar and Bahrain, with each featuring messages from members of the forces and some surprise guests. All shows will be hosted by BFBS presenters – Akylah Rodriguez and Ben Coley will kick off the takeover at 10am from Cyprus, followed by Elliot Darby and Rosie Da Costa broadcasting from Germany between 11am and midday...

Nation Radio UK reveals weekday presenter line-up

Mike Read, Russ Williams, Neil Francis, Neil Fox and Dean Martin are leading the programme schedule for Nation Radio UK. The team of well-known presenters will be on the station from launch day – 4th January 2021 – on a number of local DAB multiplexes. It’ll be available initially in London, Scotland, the North West and the South Coast as well as the usual online places. Former BBC Radio 1 Breakfast presenter Mike Read says: “Unbelievable! Someone’s let the Jocks out. The boys are back in town…and we know how to do radio. We love the music, we have the passion, and we know how to entertain.” ...

Former Radio 1 host Dev Griffin is joining Heart

Dev Griffin will join Heart in January just weeks after leaving BBC Radio 1 at the end of December. Dev’s last show at the BBC, where he has been for the last 18 years, is on December 20th, and he’ll start on Heart January 2nd 2021. He’ll be on the Heart network every Saturday afternoon from 12pm till 4pm replacing Zoe Hardman who moves to Saturday breakfast in addition to her Sunday morning show. Andy Everett, Managing Editor of Heart, said: “Dev is a huge talent and we’re over the moon to welcome him to Heart. He brings a fresh new sound to weekends on Heart and I’m sure our listeners will instantly connect with him...