Radio News

Graham Norton joins Virgin Radio UK for weekends

After news of his departure from Radio 2, Wireless has confirmed the signing of Graham Norton to do Saturday and Sunday shows for Virgin Radio. His new programmes will launch in the New Year and Graham will continue to present his Friday night chat show on BBC 1. During his appearance on Chris Evans’ Virgin Radio breakfast show on 30th September, Graham had commented on how nice the studios were and how close they were to his home in Wapping. Evans went on to spend a large part of the hour-long interview trying to convince Graham to join Virgin. Listen to the audio below…

BBC Radio 3 presents the first broadcast of Max Richter’s Voices on Global Human Rights Day

Bringing together 35 radio stations across the world BBC Radio 3, Thursday 10 December, 7.30pm. BBC Radio 3 marks Global Human Rights Day with the first ever broadcast of Max Richter’s Voices, incorporating text adapted from the 1948 Universal Declaration Of Human Rights. 35 European Broadcasting Union radio stations in Europe and beyond to join the broadcast, sharing a message of unity through music with international audiences across the globe. The performance features Max Richter and his ensemble, conductor Robert Ziegler, solo violinist Viktoria Mullova, soprano Grace Davidson, Tenebrae, and actor Sheila Atim as the narrator...

The Lockdown Awards are heading to BBC Radio 1

BBC Radio 1 will host The Lockdown Awards to celebrate some of the most weird and wonderful moments of 2020. Greg James will dedicate his breakfast show on Thursday 26 November to the event, taking a look back at some of his favourite moments from the past twelve months, handpicking the nominees and eventual winners himself across a series of categories, including Favourite Live Performance, Biggest Zoom Fail and Fitness Inspiration of the Year. The Lockdown Awards will also feature live music highlights from over the years at Radio 1’s Teen Awards, including from One Direction, Little Mix and Camila Cabello...

BBC Radio 2 record star-studded official charity single to support BBC Children in Need’s 2020 Appeal, featuring Cher, Kylie Minogue, Gregory Porter and many more

To support BBC Children in Need this year, iconic artists from across the world have collaborated on a cover of Stop Crying Your Heart Out by Oasis, to help raise vital funds for the charity. Today (Tuesday 10 November), BBC Radio 2 announced that they are bringing together some of the most iconic artists from around the world for this year’s official BBC Children in Need single – Stop Crying Your Heart Out (BBC Radio 2 Allstars). The charity single, available for pre-order now, will be released by Decca Records on the day of the charity’s fundraising spectacular, Friday 13 November, and will see some of the music industry’s biggest stars...

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...