Radio News

TV presenter Michael Underwood joins Virgin Radio Groove

Digital station Virgin Radio Groove has added Michael Underwood to its weekend line-up in the 10am-2pm slot. Last month the presenter – who is also a teacher – fronted Virgin Radio’s 500 Words: Black Lives Matter children’s writing competition alongside his wife, TV presenter Angellica Bell. Michael and Angellica hosted a stream of famous names reading out the shortlisted entrants and winners. Michael said: “The Virgin Radio family is the home of the best music on the radio and it’s a real treat to host Weekends on Virgin Radio Groove. If you want to get your groove on with all the best feel-good music, come and join us!” ...

Scott Mills to cover the big show on BBC Radio 2

Scott Mills will be covering for Steve Wright on BBC Radio 2 when he takes a week off later this month. Scott has been on the station in the past hosting specials, and has also covered Rylan and Claudia Winkleman but this will be his first stint covering weekday afternoons. Steve’s regular stand-in, Craig Charles is busy filming new ITV series, Don’t Rock The Boat. Jordan North will cover the BBC Radio 1 afternoon show while Scott sits-in for Steve Wright...

Sideman quits 1Xtra over BBC’s use of racist word in news report

Sideman has left 1Xtra with immediate effect following the BBC using a racist slur in a news report. The 1Xtra presenter announced his departure from the station on social media, saying it felt like “a slap in the face to our community”. It happened after the N-word was used in a report about a racially aggravated attack in Bristol, broadcast by Points West and the BBC News Channel. In a video posted on Instagram, Sideman said: “This is an error in judgement where I can’t just smile with you through the process and act like everything is okay. “I’m happy working with organisations until we all get it right, but this feels like more than getting it wrong. The action and the defence of the action feels like a slap in the face to our community...

Faron McKenzie named Head of BBC Radio 1Xtra

BBC Radio 1Xtra has announced Faron McKenzie as the new Head of the station. Faron has been with the BBC since 2017 and has recently led the corporation’s first ever Creative Diversity Xperience (CDX) which took place on 28 – 29 July 2020 and brought together iconic stars, cultural disruptors and influencers to showcase the vibrancy, innovation and leadership of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic talent in the creative industry. As Marketing Manager for Radio 1, 1Xtra and Asian Network he was also involved in the first-ever paid strategic partnership with GRM Daily and LinkUp TV for BBC Three’s ‘The Rap Game’...

Jazz FM to play The Music That Made Me

A new eight-part series exploring the influences and important songs in the lives of Jazz FM’s superstar musicians starts this weekend. The Music That Made Me is part of the Established 1990 season of programmes transmitting across the year. Hosted by Nigel Williams, each weekly conversation explores their life as a musician with the songs that have made them the artist they are today. Those in conversation across the first four weeks include Grammy winners Ramsey Lewis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Kurt Elling, plus Jean-Paul ‘Bluey’ Maunick – founder of the UK jazz-funk trailblazers Incognito – while September will...

Breakfast with Greg James extended to 10.30 at BBC Radio 1

Greg James is getting a new time slot of 7am till 10.30am as BBC Radio 1 returns to a new regular schedule from 1st September. The new schedule means Clara Amfo’s show will move to 10.30am – 1pm, followed by Scott Mills from 1 – 3.30pm and Nick Grimshaw from 3.30 – 6pm. Radio 1’s Future Sounds with Annie Mac moving forward an hour to a new 6 – 8pm slot with the Hottest Record in the World feature moving from 7.30pm to the start of the show at 6pm. Rickie, Melvin and Charlie will now host 8pm till 10pm and a brand new show, Radio 1’s Future Artists with...

Additional weekend show for Moira Stuart on Classic FM

A new programme starts on Classic FM this Sunday 9th August called Moira Stuart Meets. Moira will host the eight-part series programme in addition to her Saturday afternoon show. Broadcast every Sunday at 9pm, Moira Stuart Meets… marks her first-ever interview series, as she chats to well-known names from the worlds of the arts, politics, sport and entertainment. Katherine Jenkins is the guest on the first show followed by Sir Tim Rice. A second eight-part series of Moira Stuart Meets… has already been lined up for later in the year on the Global station...

Nick Ferrari picks up Gold at the IRN Awards

All the winners have been announced for the IRN Awards 2020, including the Gold Award going to LBC’s Nick Ferrari. Nick won the IRN Gold Award to mark his outstanding contribution to commercial radio news. Viewers of the online event were played a montage of Ferrari’s best interview clips in which he challenges Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Dianne Abbott, the former Green Party leader Natalie Bennett and the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick. Accepting the award, Nick said: “These are strange times to be receiving an award but I know it’s great that there are many class Global acts that are on the list so for me to actually receive one means a lot. Thank you so much.” ...

BBC Radio 1 puts corona blimp above Cardiff

BBC Radio 1’s Up Yours Corona promotion has taken a new turn today with a blimp emblazoned with the slogan on appearing above Cardiff. Photographed 60 metres in the air this morning from the grounds of Cardiff Castle, the blimp’s flight commenced as the search to find 193 people from 193 countries enters its final 24 hours. Led by Greg James, the station wants people from all over the world to deliver their ‘up yours’ on Radio 1 in time for the end of the breakfast show (10am) on Wednesday 29 July...

DJ Manara gets regular radio show on BBC Asian Network

DJ Manara has secured a permanent slot on BBC Asian Network as the new host of ‘Pure Spice with DJ Manara’, Saturday’s 10pm-1am. The London based DJ first appeared on the station in 2018 as part of Asian Network’s Residency, a show for fresh DJ talent. She made a name for herself through fresh mixes and live appearances around the world, including at London’s Wireless Festival and for Boiler Room. DJ Manara says: “As a DJ I love mixing Asian sounds with all kinds of club music. I’ve been lucky enough to tour internationally for the past two years, bringing my sound everywhere from Japan to Canada and India...