Radio News

Panjab Radio to cease broadcasting on national DAB

Panjab Radio has taken the decision to stop broadcasting nationally via the Sound Digital DAB multiplex. The station will be removed tonight at midnight, three years after it joined. Panjab Radio’s Managing Director Surjit Singh Ghuman MBE told RadioToday it’s been tough to sustain the national service due to a number of reasons. Surjit points out there are a number of local community stations competing with commercial radio in their field, which have lower overheads so can offer lower advertising rates, and because of the financial climate within the radio industry in whole...

John Humphrys joins Classic FM on a permanent basis

Classic FM’s new Sunday schedule for 2020 includes former BBC Radio 4 host John Humphrys presenting a weekly programme and the end of the Classic FM Chart. From 5th January, John Humphrys will be on-air each Sunday from 3pm to 5pm sharing his own stories and reflections on his favourite composers and their music. Charlotte Hawkins, who currently hosts that slot, will present a new Sunday night edition of Smooth Classics at Seven, keeping her Young Classical Star feature but in a new time slot...

Christmas specials planned at former Wireless stations

The stations formerly known as Wireless Local have created a number of special programmes to broadcast across their Christmas schedules. The group’s in-house team of producers & programmers have created shows with Chris Kamara, Robbie Williams, Tom Walker and Rick Astley that will feature on their schedules over the Christmas and New Year holiday. Robbie Williams, Rick Astley and ‘Christmas Kamara’ are on air on Christmas Day and Tom Walker presents his own one hour special on Boxing Day...

Martin and Su from Heart Essex join Radio Essex

Radio Essex has just announced former Heart Essex Breakfast presenters Martin Day & Su Harrison are joining the station for Breakfast. The pair left the local Heart station earlier this year when the breakfast show went networked with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden. Martin and Su will replace Chris and Abbie who move to Drive, replacing Paul Lovett who moves to weekends and cover. Chris and Abbie made the announcement just after the 8am news on Monday morning, followed by the song (Take Another Little) Piece of my Heart by Beverley Knight...

Former Radio City host Scott Hughes joins Virgin Radio Anthems

Former Radio City afternoon drive presenter Scott Hughes has joined Virgin Radio Anthems to host the weekday afternoon show. Scott took over the programme on November 25th and can be heard on the national digital station Monday to Friday from 2pm till 6pm slot and Saturday mornings from 10am. Talking about his new show, Scott Hughes told RadioToday: “I’m so happy to have joined such an amazing team of people, and to be on a station that plays such great music. I’m very excited about the future of the Virgin Radio UK stations in 2020.”...

Roman Kemp makes appearance at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball

Last night a video message from Roman Kemp was played out at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball with the crowd shouting out “TEAM ROMAN!”. Fans in the audience were surprised to see a message from Roman, who, at the time the video played out, was in the final 4 of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! Roman recorded a special message for Capital listeners before he went into the jungle on the off-chance he made it this far in the show. The message played out on the big screens of the O2 to the 16,000 crowd. Capital’s Will Manning asked the crowd: “Who wants Roman Kemp to win tomorrow night?” ...

BBC Radio 1 announces 35 lucky presenters getting a one-off show

BBC Radio 1 received over a thousand entries after asking for demos from anyone with any radio experience back in October. Among those taking a step away from their day jobs to host on Radio 1 are Jessica Maciel, a tattoo studio owner from Dublin, Dave Holt, a shop manager from Birkenhead, and Stuart Millar, a PhD student and research engineer from Belfast. Joining them is 21 year-old Gregor Davidson from Aberdeen, who will present on Radio 1 on Boxing Day, marking exactly one year to the day since he hosted his first ever radio...

Jordan & Perri get Saturday Breakfast on KISS

Bauer has revealed a number of changes to the weekend schedules on KISS, KISSTORY and KISS Fresh. On KISS, Diversity stars Jordan & Perri will front a brand new Saturday breakfast show from 9am, as they move from Sunday evening. A presenter known only as Alex will now present Jordan & Perri’s former Sunday evening 7pm till 1pm slot. Weekday drive presenter Tyler joins the weekend line-up with a brand new chart show, The KISS Hot 40, every Sunday from 5pm...

Winners announced for the 2019 Audio Production Awards

The winners have been revealed for the Audio Production Awards at a gala evening at the BFI Southbank, hosted by Tommy Sandhu. The special Gold Award went to the Mental Health Minute, coordinated by Radiocentre and produced by Somethin’ Else in 2018 and TBI Media in 2019. The Mental Health Minute was broadcast in May across hundreds of radio stations, including BBC Radio 1, Radio 2 and 5 Live, BBC Local Radio, as well as networks including Global, Bauer and Wireless and community stations. It reached a combined audience of over 40 million people, and featured His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge...

Downtown Radio goes 100% Christmas for Northern Ireland

All mainstream shows across Downtown Radio will play a 100% Christmas playlist from Monday 2nd December. It’s a first for radio in Northern Ireland but follows fellow Bauer station Magic which flipped to 100% Christmas music earlier this week. Breakfast presenters Gary and Glen will be ‘pressing play’ in the studio at 8.30am this Monday as the Breakfast Show kickstarts the station-wide activity. Stuart Robinson, Programme Controller for Bauer Media Group – Northern Ireland, said: “We are big fans of Christmas here at Bauer Media Group – Northern Ireland, so we thought what better way to celebrate the season than by creating the"...