Radio News

Radio is vital in local communities now more than ever

Opinion: Alistair Clarke, awarded an MBE for services to Social Enterprise in Lancashire this week, writes about the importance of radio in the community. “US Marine Toby Studabaker flew from America to Manchester and absconded with a young girl from Wigan. Media outlets from around the globe were onto the story. It was 2003 and little old me was the head of news at 102.4 Wish FM in Wigan with the biggest story in the world on my patch. I rang the headteacher of the girl’s school to ask if she’d do an interview."...

Annie Nightingale recognised in New Year Honours List 2020

BBC Radio 1 presenter Annie Nightingale has been awarded a CBE for services to radio in the New Year honours list. Annie joined the BBC in 1970 for a regular programme on BBC Radio 1 and remains there to this day with a weekly show, and will celebrate 50 years at the station next year. She was also appointed as a Member of the Order of the British Empire for her services to radio broadcasting in 2002. In 2004, Annie was the first female DJ from Radio 1 to be inducted into the Radio Academy Hall of Fame...

Winners of BBC Radio 2 Young Choristers of the Year 2019 announced

Anna Haestrup from St Paul’s Girls School in London and William Miles-Kingston from St Peter’s School in York have been announced as the winners of the BBC Radio 2 Young Choristers of the Year 2019. The grand final took place at the BBC Philharmonic Studio at Media City UK, Salford. It was hosted by former Blue Peter presenter Radzi Chinyanganya and will broadcast in a special programme on Radio 2 at 6pm on 22 December. Anna is lead soprano at Saint Mary’s Church in Barnes and William sings in the St Peter’s Chapel Choir. Now in its 33rd year of broadcast, BBC Radio 2 Young Choristers of the Year celebrates...

Ruth Davidson returns to radio for LBC Christmas shows

Former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson is joining LBC to host five Christmas specials next week. In An Inconvenient Ruth, the ex-radio journalist will look behind the public façade to uncover the achievements, challenges, victories and disappointments of her five guests each weeknight from 9pm till 10pm. Guests from Monday to Friday are former Chancellor-turned-Editor George Osborne, Labour peer Dame Joan Bakewell, the forensic anthropologist Professor Dame Sue Black, businesswoman Baroness Martha Lane-Fox and broadcaster Piers Morgan...

Paul Jones returns to Jazz FM for Christmas show after 15 years

One of Jazz FM’s original presenters, Paul Jones, is returning to the station as part of its Christmas schedule. Festive programmes include specials from comedians Marcus Brigstocke and Rachel Parris, and on New Year’s Eve Omar Lye-Fook MBE and The Brand New Heavies will see in the Big Ben bongs alongside Jazz FM’s John Osborne and Sarah Ward with a commercial-free party soundtrack. Marcus Brigstocke will join Jazz FM for two special programmes. On Christmas Day from 1pm, he’ll be joined by comedian wife Rachel Parris, as they celebrate their first Christmas together as...

BBC Radio 6 Music Festival 2020 to be held in Camden, London

Lauren Laverne has announced on her BBC Radio 6 Music Breakfast Show that Camden, London will host the 6 Music Festival in 2020. The festival will take place from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 March. Many of 6 Music’s much loved presenters will be broadcasting their shows live from Camden, as the station takes over some of the area’s most iconic venues for the weekend. Highlights will also be shown on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer. There will be events in the day as well as at night, with activity including a series of live performances, spoken word, poetry, Q&A sessions and DJ sets...

Schedule changes at Heart as James Stewart replaces Jenni Falconer

Jenni Falconer is stepping down from weekday early breakfast on Heart making way for James Stewart as part of a number of schedule changes at the station. JK and Kelly Brook are moving to Saturday mid-mornings 9am – 12pm, whilst Zoe Hardman adds Saturday breakfast to her current Sunday breakfast show. Mark Wright will present two new weekend shows every Saturday and Sunday from 12pm – 4pm, whilst Mother Pukka founder Anna Whitehouse will present her own show on Sunday nights 10pm – 1am, chatting everything from sex and relationships to parenting...

New presenters for Absolute Radio late shows

The Absolute Radio late show will be re-launched in the New Year with Jay Lawrence on weeknights and Dan Noble on weekends. Jay joined the station in 2018 and this year launched Through the Decades on weekends, playing three hours of music from the brand’s decade stations – Absolute Radio 60s to Absolute Radio 10s. He’ll move to weeknights, Monday-Thursday 10pm – 1am, bringing Through The Decades to the first hour of each programme, and will also become the host of Rock N Roll Football on Sundays...

Rochelle Humes takes a break from Heart radio show

Heart weekend presenter Rochelle Humes is taking a break from the station to concentrate on television work. Rochelle started a weekend show on Heart in January 2018 after covering the Big Top 40 with her husband Marvin Humes. The Saturdays singer also co-hosted the Global Awards in 2019 along side Roman Kemp and Myleene Klass. Rochelle told RadioToday: “It doesn’t really feel like goodbye as I’ll continue to see all of the regular Heart presenters and producers that I can now call my friends...

Katy Johnston to replace Garry Spence on Capital Scotland Drive

Garry Spence has just announced his replacement on Capital Scotland Drive ahead of his move to Cylde 1 to host the same show. The Capital show will be hosted by Katy J, who already co-hosts the programme alongside Garry. The 24-year-old from Aberdeen has been on the show for the last few months and goes solo from January 2nd. Speaking about her brand new Capital Scotland Drive show, Katy J said: “I can’t wait to get started – it’s a total dream come true! I have listened to Capital for years and love the station. I’m buzzing to get stuck in and share all the exciting things we’ve got planned for the new show!” ...