Radio News

BBC racing correspondent bows out with 5 Live special

BBC Radio 5 Live has broadcast an hour-long special featuring Cornelius Lysaght, who’s leaving the corporation this week after almost 30 years. In the programme presented by Steve Crossman, the BBC racing correspondent picked his 10 favourite moments from horse racing over the last three decades – and was joined by BBC Radio horse racing commentator John Hunt to talk through the highlights. “Since I started in August 1990, the Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot have been staged 29 times each and there have been 28 Grand Nationals and 146 Classic races – and that’s just in Britain,” he wrote on the BBC Sport website...

Grand Award for BBC Radio 2’s Beatles documentary

Howlett Media Productions has won the Grand Award at the New York Festivals for a documentary about The Beatles made for BBC Radio 2. Beatles historian Kevin Howlett earned the prize for his musical documentary celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Abbey road. He wrote and produced two documentaries that went deep into the creation of the last album the Beatles recorded together. Himesh Patel, star of the movie Yesterday, presented it, and it was broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in the UK and SIRIUS XM in the States. Kevin said: “It is such an honour to have Abbey Road Phase One and Phase Two recognised in this way by an international Grand Jury of very talented radio people...

Aasmah Mir leaves Radio 4’s Saturday Live after six years

BBC Radio 4 Saturday Live presenter Aasmah Mir has hosted her final edition of the show, after announcing her departure on social media. She signed off with co-host Reverend Richard Coles this morning (Saturday) after almost six years on the show. Rev Coles told listeners she was leaving for “fresh fields and pastures new” and joked he would hang a “tribute plaque on the office wall as soon I can get to Wilko’s again”. Aasmah said: “This is my last programme, it’s been almost six years and it’s time to move onto something new. Thank you so much to the programme team, the producers, the runners, the studio managers, to Richard, to everyone associated with the show – but especially to the listeners...

Prime Minister’s sister Rachel Johnson joins LBC

The journalist and broadcaster Rachel Johnson – who also happens to be the Prime Minister’s sister – is joining LBC to present a new Friday evening programme. Her show – an hour from 6pm until 7pm – begins tonight, with LBC saying she will bring her ‘unique insight, candour and personality’ to the station for a programme ‘packed with opinions, debate and the latest news’. Rachel Johnson said: “I am genuinely honoured that LBC has found a slot for me on its hallowed schedule alongside broadcasters I have listened to in awe for many years.”...

Greg James sends message to teenage hospital radio host

Greg James has recorded a special video message for a 15 year old hospital radio presenter who’s broadcasting shows to patients from a gazebo in her garden. The Radio 1 breakfast show presenter has also invited Amy Cardno from Forth Valley Royal Hospital’s Radio Royal in central Scotland to sit in on his show once the lockdown has finished. Amy – better known to her listeners as ‘Wee Amy’ – featured in an STV News report, with Greg sending the programme a video message to Amy to be included. Greg told her: “I wanted to send you a message because I heard all about your extraordinary work on your hospital radio station"...

Radio 1 makes Stay Home Live Lounge to raise money

BBC Radio 1 is to record its biggest ever Live Lounge for charity amid the coronavirus crisis, featuring Dua Lipa, Chris Martin, AJ Tracey, Rita Ora, Ellie Goulding and more. The Stay Home Live Lounge will be broadcast for the first time across Radio 1, Radio 2, 1Xtra, 6Music and Asian Network from midday on Thursday 23 April and will see some of the music industry’s biggest stars collaborate on a cover of Foo Fighters’ ‘Times Like These’ to raise money for charities, with the accompanying video to receive its world exclusive premiere during BBC One’s The Big Night In...

Machynlleth Comedy Festival returns with BBC Radio Wales

BBC Radio Wales is to broadcast the previously cancelled Machynlleth Comedy Festival on the radio. Spread across the original dates for this year’s festival, 1st to 3rd of May, The Machynlleth Comedy Festival on the Radio will feature stand-up and cabaret. In addition, BBC Radio Wales will also look back on the first 10 years of the festival with a documentary retrospective, talking to some of the acts who have performed at the event. All of the programmes feature Welsh comedy talent, with a mix of performers from the rest of the UK and around the world...

Europe’s Biggest Dance Show returns to Radio 1

Europe’s Biggest Dance Show returns with seven radio stations from seven different countries coming together for another seven-hour dance music simulcast. BBC Radio 1 will be partnering with stations from across the European Broadcasting Union to broadcast the dance marathon. Annie Mac will kick the show off at 7pm on Friday 8 May 2020 with an hour of exclusive mixes and interviews from UK acts before handing over to the next country. Annie says: “When we did this last year it was unprecedented and the reaction was huge. It felt genuinely special. This event is about harnessing the collective listening experience of radio, it’s about togetherness and I look forward to sharing my show with millions more listeners and six more radio stations.”...

Virgin Radio plans concert for 35,000 key workers

Virgin Radio and The Sun are planning to hold free concerts at venues across the UK as a thank you to key workers. Tour dates to take in The SSE Arena, Wembley on Wednesday 28 October, Manchester Arena on Thursday 29 October and The SSE Hydro Arena Glasgow on Sunday 1 November, assuming large gatherings are allowed by this time. The Wembley show will incorporate The Sun’s Who Cares Wins Awards, celebrating healthcare workers at the front line of battling the virus. 35,000 free tickets will be given away for key workers – from health care staff to bus drivers – as Virgin Radio and The Sun say a Big Thank You...

Greg Burns moves to new Hits Radio afternoon show

Changes at Hits Radio in reaction to the coronavirus pandemic include breakfast co-host Greg Burns moving to a new afternoon show. Greg will be on-air from 1pm till 4pm across the Hits Radio network of stations replacing Hattie Pearson who is currently in the slot. Hattie will remain with the station at weekends. The station says it has evolved elements of its music programming, competitions and afternoon show to meet the changing needs of audiences and their listening patterns during the lockdown period...