Radio News

Radio minister Margot James resigns from government

The minister responsible for radio in the UK, Margot James, has resigned and voted against the government as part of efforts to stop parliament being suspended. She had been the Minister for Digital and Creative Industries since January 2018, taking over the job from Matt Hancock when he became Culture Secretary. Today’s vote in the House of Commons saw Margot James and 16 other Conservative MPs vote against their own party to ensure that parliament has a say on a No-Deal Brexit...

Young ARIAs to become Young Audio Awards in 2020

Radiocentre and the BBC have announced plans for next year’s radio industry awards for those aged 8 to 18, with a slight change of name for 2020. The Young Audio Awards will take place in March 2020, following the success of the first ‘Young ARIAs’ at the BBC Radio Theatre in May this year. The awards are aimed at children involved in radio, podcasts or audio projects, with ‘money can’t buy’ prizes on offer including industry mentorship, VIP studio tours and a show on a national radio station. Entries for the 2020 awards will open in November 2019.

Concerns expressed in Parliament over SSDAB ownership

Concerns have been raised in Parliament over the future ownership of Small-Scale DAB and funding options for Community Radio stations. In a session to consider the draft Small-scale Radio Multiplex and Community Digital Radio Order 201, Margot James MP explained the restrictions in place to prevent single companies owning multiple Small Scale multiplexes in the same or adjoining areas. Operators of the Small-Scale DAB multiplexes will be required by law to reserve space for Community DSP licence holders and publish information about...

Graham Liver named as Freeman of the City of Lancaster

BBC Radio Lancashire and North West Tonight presenter Graham Liver has been named as a Freeman of the City of Lancaster. He was surprised with the news on his Breakfast Show on Friday morning. Graham said: “Wow! Seriously, am I? Wow! I love this. This is amazing. Hopefully my love of the county, particularly Lancaster where my family are, where I was born, where I grew up, where I went to school… Hopefully that [love] comes across and anything I can do to promote Lancaster, Morecambe and all round there"...

Jennifer Reoch joins Heart Scotland for Drive

STV presenter Jennifer Reoch is joining Heart Scotland to co-host Drive with Des Clarke. The former Miss Scotland is best known for hosting STV shows such as Live at Five, Scots In Paradise, Edinburgh Festival 2018 and the Scottish Children’s Lottery, and will be joining Des every weekday from 4pm-7pm. Speaking ahead of her first show on Monday, Jennifer told RadioToday: “This is an absolute dream job for me and I could think of no one better to work with than the legendary Des Clarke.

BBC Radio 1 to air new chart programme on Sunday afternoons

A new show, The Official Chart: First Look, is being introduced to BBC Radio 1 in the historic Sunday afternoon chart countdown slot. The programme will be live from the BBC in Salford and produced by MediaCityUK-based indie Audio Always, each Sunday from 6pm till 7pm. The Official Chart: First Look will launch on July 14th hosted by Cel Spellman and Katie Thistleton, focussing on the Top 20 biggest tracks from data collected on Friday and Saturday, with the Top 10 played in full.

Ofcom throws out complaints about Heart’s format

Ofcom has decided not to investigate Heart staying within its format after a number of complaints were received. The seven complaints were assessed under the General Procedures for investigating breaches of broadcast licences at the regulator, but Ofcom decided not to pursue them. Because the reports were not investigated, we have no information on the details, only that they were all made between June 17th and June 30th 2019.

Heart’s Tom Evans returns to radio with BBC Sussex

Former Heart presenter Tom Evans, from the Tom, Nicola and Jack breakfast show on Heart Sussex, is joining BBC Sussex. Tom will cover a variety of programmes in the weeks ahead, including Breakfast and Afternoons.Mark Carter, Assistant Managing Editor at BBC Sussex told RadioToday about the signing: “Tom lives in Sussex and loves the county. He’s proved to be an extremely popular presenter with the local audience over the past few years, so I’m delighted to offer this opportunity of a return to the airwaves.”

Bauer gains approval to network breakfast shows

Ofcom has granted Bauer a number of Format changes to allow all of its stations to network all but three hours each weekday rather than the previous seven. UK commercial radio stations have been allowed to submit Format changes since the Localness Guidelines were amended last year, but Bauer has only just taken the steps required to allow this. Bauer can now share all programmes, with the exception of a three-hour show on weekdays (which doesn’t have to be breakfast), in the approved areas already suggested by Ofcom.

BBC Radio 1 announces The Lewis Capaldi Symphony

BBC Radio 1’s Clara Amfo announced that Lewis Capaldi is set to perform alongside the Manchester Camerata Orchestra as part of Radio 1 Presents: The Lewis Capaldi Symphony on Monday 5 August in Croxteth, Liverpool. The Scottish singer-songwriter is one of the biggest UK artists to emerge in the last year with his single Someone You Loved spending seven weeks at number one and recently being named biggest song of 2019 so far, whilst his debut album Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent sat at the top of the album charts for four weeks.