Radio News

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...

Classic FM to air programmes for pets and owners

Classic FM’s Pet Sounds is returning this year to help anxious pets and their owners during the fireworks season. The feature, now in its third year, is hosted by weekend presenter and dog-owner Bill Turnbull. It will air on Guy Fawkes Night, Thursday 5th November, with a second programme on Saturday 7th November. Bill says he will play a selection of soothing and relaxing music, specially curated to help calm the nerves of the nation’s pets. There will also be dedications to listeners’ pets and advice from the RSPCA for any owners looking to reassure their animals...

Heart Xmas launches early for Christmas 2020

Global has started its annual festive radio station Heart Xmas early this year. The service is available on lots of local digital radio multiplexes across the UK rather than the national mux D1 used previously. The switch-on comes on the same day British Summer Time ends and more than 60 days before the big day itself. This year sees a slight name change, dropping the “extra” tag used in previous years as Heart extra changed to Heart UK in March...