Radio News

Two in five Brits prefer local radio stations

People who enjoy local stations over national ones are more likely to listen to commercial radio and less keen on podcasts than the average person, according to a YouGov poll. Some 38% of Brits tend to (29%) or definitely (9%) agree that they prefer local radio stations to national ones. A closer look at those who definitely agree shows that their media habits in general differ from the wider population. Two in five (39%) said they listened to commercial radio in the last week when surveyed, compared with three in ten Brits (30%) overall. They also read regional (12% vs 8%) and local (15% vs 11%) newspapers more frequently...

Three radio presenters confirmed for I’m A Celebrity

Vernon Kay, Victoria Derbyshire and Jordan North have been confirmed as contestants in this year’s I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! BBC Radio 1 presenter Jordan North tweeted “The Cat’s out the bag….. It’s True!!!” after the news was confirmed on Sunday evening following days of speculation. He joins former Radio 1 and Radio X presenter Vernon Kay along with former 5 live host Victoria Derbyshire, both of which are well known for their television work. Vernon says: “I am hoping I can stay positive throughout it all. People will get fed up, bored and tired and I hope I can try and keep everything positive.” ...

Greg James goes five days a week at BBC Radio 1

BBC Radio 1 is changing its schedule for 2021 with Greg James going five days a week and five new presenters joining the line-up. The news comes as Dev, Huw Stephens and Phil Taggart are set to leave the network in December. In addition, Adele Roberts will move from Weekday Early Breakfast to Weekend Breakfast, whilst Arielle Free will become the new host of Radio 1 Dance and Radio 1’s Early Breakfast, moving from her current role as host of Weekend Early Breakfast. Greg moving to five days a week is a U-turn on a decision made in 2018 to start weekends on a Friday morning, with Nick Grimshaw going Monday to Thursday only when he hosted Breakfast...

BBC Asian Network celebrates Diwali 2020 with 24 hours of broadcasting

From Thursday 12 November, BBC Asian Network will dedicate 24 hours of programming to Diwali, allowing listeners to observe the festival of lights safely at home, with uplifting music, celebrity guests, and positive discussions. Throughout the 24-hour celebration and into Diwali weekend, listeners will be encouraged to share online and on-air their own stories of what they are grateful for, in the year that saw many unpredictable changes due to the coronavirus pandemic. Diwali will also mark the creation of BBC Asian Network’s new brand Asian Network Celebrates... where specially commissioned mixes will be played on-air...

Smooth ends AM transmission in Luton and Bedford

Global has handed back the AM licence for Smooth Radio’s frequencies in Luton and Bedford. It follows Network Rail taking over one of the transmitter sites. The two frequencies – 792 and 828 AM were originally home to Chiltern Radio and the Supergold brand, and more recently broadcast Gold then Smooth. The transmitters were officially launched in October 1981 and the station had five years left on its Ofcom licence...

KISS reinvigorates specialist shows with KISS Nights

Eleven new specialist shows are heading to Bauer’s KISS in the form of KISS Nights. From 9pm Sunday – Thursday, and 7pm Fridays and Saturdays KISS will reflect the current musical landscape of dance music, black music and everything in between. Launching Monday 9th November KISS Nights will reflect Drum and bass, Afrobeats, Grime, Hip Hop, all forms of House, Garage and more. October this year saw KISS mark its 35th year since launching as a pirate station, and KISS Nights will bring the entirely new programmes and a reassembly of existing KISS talent to complete the transformation...

UK radio stations set to cover US Election 2020

The biggest event of the year in US politics is set to be covered live by a number of radio stations in the UK this Tuesday. LBC, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live and News Radio UK will all pause regular programmes for non-stop coverage from America. LBC’s special show starts at 10pm and will be in video as well as audio with Iain Dale and Shelagh Fogarty live from LBC’s new studios in Westminster. Tom Swarbrick will be live from the Election Hub at Global’s news centre in Leicester Square and Ben Kentish will swap Westminster for Washington, D.C. to provide the latest reaction and breaking news Stateside as the votes are declared...

Presenter and journalist Anila Dhami joins Sunrise Radio

Sunrise Radio has hired presenter and journalist Anila Dhami to host a new current affairs show. The new weekly programme starts on Sunday 1st November 2020 with the television host and marks a return for a current affairs show to the station. Tony Lit MBE said, “Sunrise Radio has always been the voice for British Asians over the past 31 years and with the challenges being faced here in the UK and Worldwide, I feel that it’s important that Sunrise keeps our listeners informed and also gives them a platform to share their opinions...

BBC Radio 2 celebrates 50 years of pop performances

BBC Radio 2 is marking 50 years of pop music performances on the BBC with In Concert 50. From Fleetwood Mac and Bill Withers in the 70s to Craig David, Florence and the Machine and Sam Smith in the 21st Century, In Concert on the BBC in sound and vision has charted the history of popular music and this month of special archive shows and performances looks back across 50 years. From Sunday 1 November, all 50 performances are on BBC Sounds, with a special 10 artist Box Set available to watch on BBC iPlayer. BBC Four broadcasts Dido (Friday 30 October) and Seal (Friday 13 November) as TV-first In Concert exclusives. Dido performs at the BBC’s Maida Vale Studios from 2019...

BBC local stations create a singalong with McFly

BBC Local Radio is teaming up with boy band McFly to create a special version of their hit Happiness. All 39 stations across England are calling up on audiences in bubbles to take part in the live singalong to help raise funds for BBC Children in Need. Listeners are being asked to tune in to any local station at 10am on Monday 9th November to sing along with the radio to the song, film it, and upload clips to the BBC Make A Difference website. A montage will then be made to be played on Children in Need night. Regional BBC TV News programmes and local radio stations will also share the uploaded clips on their social media platforms...