Radio News

Heart 90s to launch on national DAB digital radio

Global is transforming its Heart 90s playlist service into a full national radio station on DAB, with Kevin Hughes hosting breakfast. It’s the first of five new services all going national on DAB in the next week – as teased by Global over the last few days. Heart 90s will officially launch tomorrow at 6am – Thursday 29th August – with non-stop music from the 90s and joins Heart, Heart Dance and Heart 80s which all have live national breakfast shows from Leicester Square. Kevin Hughes currently hosts Saturday afternoons on Heart, and previously presented Drive on Heart South Wales...

David Lloyd releases new Radio Secrets book

A new insider’s guide to presenting and producing powerful content for broadcast and podcast has been written by David Lloyd. David has spent 35 years in radio, mostly in management, from LBC to Virgin, Century to Galaxy, Trent to Lincs FM, Free Radio to Gem 106 and BBC. He is now offering consultancy services and producing a weekly Radio Moments podcast and regular hour-long Conversations series with radio people who have made a difference. David tells RadioToday: “I wanted to write a new book which really fitted today’s"...

Bob Harris returns to BBC Radio 2 Country Show

Bob Harris will be back on BBC Radio 2 to host his country show from September 19th 2019. He announced in June that he’d be taking a few weeks off to recover from an aortic dissection, and a number of people have been covering the show ever since. In his first show back, he will be joined in session by guitarist and singer Molly Tuttle, who Bob hails as “one of the greatest performers in the world at this moment.” Bob Harris said: “I am so happy to be returning to Radio 2. Following my aortic dissection at the beginning of the summer the past few months have been amongst the toughest of my life, but I am now fit again and raring to go.

Claire Lawson joins kmfm weekend schedule

Former Heart Kent weekend presenter Claire Lawson is joining kmfm to host two weekend shows. Claire was on Heart for over a decade but recently left due to the introduction of weekend and breakfast networking. He new show will air Saturday 3pm – 7pm and Sunday 12pm – 4pm. Claire said “Ridiculously excited to be joining the presenter line up at kmfm on the 31st August!! Literally can’t wait to chat to Kent again! So missed being on the radio and I really hope you’ll all make the switch to Kent’s Radio Station!”

Yinka and Shayna Marie to take over Capital XTRA Breakfast

Capital XTRA is putting Yinka Bokinni and Shayna Marie Birch-Campbell on weekday breakfast. Yinka and Shayna Marie will replace Jez Welham, who RadioToday revealed will be leaving the show last week, from September 9th. Yinka joined Capital XTRA in 2016 as the host of the Capital XTRA Evening Show, whilst Shayna Marie started at Capital XTRA in January 2019 to host her own Friday night show well as a Saturday morning show with Yinka. Other changes are also coming to the schedule...

Jacqui Blay appointed Content Controller at Pulse 1 & 2

Pulse in West Yorkshire has appointed Jacqui Blay as Content Controller, succeeding Tony McKenzie. Jacqui is being promoted from her current role as Head of Presentation and host of Mid Mornings on Pulse 2, and has been at the two stations for almost 20 years. Station Director, Roger Cutsforth said “it’s a bittersweet moment as we bid a fond farewell to Tony Mac, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed our time working together and I’m incredibly grateful for the legacy Tony has left us, but I’m also really looking forward to...

The Sound Odyssey with Gemma Cairney returns to BBC Radio 4

Loyle Carner, Kate Stables of This is the Kit, Nubya Garcia and Roxanne Tataei feature in the second series of BBC Radio 4’s The Sound Odyssey. TV and radio presenter, Gemma Cairney, will once again accompany four contemporary musicians to locations across the world as they collaborate with local artists; creating a new piece of music especially for the programme. Gemma Cairney says: “Making The Sound Odyssey, I’m left ever inspired by the beautiful human connection created through music...

Sister Bliss signs up for series on Scala Radio

Sister Bliss, one of the founding members of electronica band Faithless, has signed up for a new five-part series on Scala Radio, launching on 1st September. In the new series, Sister Bliss will be bringing the eclectic spirit of Ibiza to the airwaves, playing classical music alongside flamenco, ambient and house. Broadcast every Sunday between 1-3pm, the show’s hand-picked playlists will reveal Sister Bliss’ long-held love of classical music and how it’s inspired her own successful career...

Viking FM is moving out of Hull to join Hallam FM

Viking FM is moving its broadcast teams out of Hull to co-locate with Hallam FM in Sheffield. The station’s only remaining local show (once Drive goes networked in September), Breakfast with Alex Duffy and Ellie Brennan, will be broadcast from Sheffield starting on 2nd October. Bauer says: “The broadcast teams will move into our Sheffield studios, ensuring that they have access to the very best technology and resource and more vibrant creative environment.”

Garry Spence to leave Capital Scotland for Clyde 1

Capital Scotland drivetime presenter Garry Spence is leaving the station after more than a decade to join commercial rival Clyde 1. Garry has been on drive on the Capital Scotland frequencies since the station rebranded from Xfm to Galaxy in November 2008. He’d previously been on Xfm Scotland’s weekend schedule, and had 3 years at Vibe in East Anglia after starting his career at MFR in his hometown of Inverness. Bauer says Garry will take over Clyde 1’s 4-6pm Home Run show from early 2020. He’s currently the only...