Radio News

Gem to take Hits Radio strapline and night programmes

Gem in the East Midlands is now identifying itself as playing The Biggest Hits, The Biggest Throwbacks, in line with Free Radio in the West Midlands and the Hits Radio network. Former Gem Radio presenter Jennie Longdon will return to the station, as she currently hosts Hits Chilled on the Hits Radio network of stations, which starts on Gem tonight (Monday). Hits Chilled on Gem will replace the local automated Wind Down Show from 10pm to 1am, Sunday to Thursday evenings...

Geoff Lloyd interviews Ed Miliband for Union JACK

Geoff Lloyd is putting his Reasons to be Cheerful podcast partner Ed Miliband in the hot seat for the season finale of his Union JACK series. Ed will be Geoff’s guest for the last Hometown Glory episode of the current run. The show will be broadcast on Union JACK radio at 11am on Saturday 13 July, and will then be available as a podcast immediately after. Giles Gear, Programme Manager at Union JACK radio, said: “Hometown Glory has seen some of the country’s finest comedians and quirkier famous faces interviewed on Union JACK with"...

Kirsty Young steps down from Desert Island Discs

Kirsty Young is leaving BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs after 12 years as host. Since 2006, Kirsty has presented 496 episodes of the programme as well as fronting the programme’s 70th and 75th anniversary celebrations. Lauren Laverne, who has been hosting the show in recent months, will continue to host Desert Island Discs for the foreseeable future as planned. Kirsty Young said: “After 12 incredibly happy and fulfilling years on Desert Island Discs I’ve decided to step down permanently.

Love Island winner Dani Dyer joins Capital

Dani Dyer is joining Capital to co-host weekend breakfast this summer. Starting this Sunday July 7th, the Love Island 2018 winner will join Capital’s Rob Howard every Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 12pm. Dani has covered a few times before with previous guest presenting stints. Dani said: “I’m super excited to be joining the Capital team for the summer! I always have so much fun when I’m on Capital and it’s going to be such a laugh presenting with Rob.

Mark Wright returns to weekends on Heart

Mark Wright is back in the UK and is returning to Global to host a weekend show on Heart from July 6th. He’ll be on-air across the network each Saturday afternoon from 4pm till 7pm. Mark left Heart in December 2017 and has been working in LA for the last 18 months. He originally joined in December 2012 to host Club Classics every Friday and Saturday night. James Rea, Managing Editor of Heart told RadioToday: “Mark is the perfect host for Saturday evenings on Heart"...

Meg McHugh to Chill on Hits Radio Scotland Network

Northsound Radio presenter Meg McHugh is to host the Hits Chilled show across the Hits Radio Network in Scotland. From Sunday 4th August, Meg will take over the Hits Chilled segment every Sunday to Thursday from 10pm to 1am across Clyde 1, Forth 1, Tay FM, Northsound 1, MFR, West FM and Radio Borders, replacing Ryan Borthwick. Joining the station in 2017, Meg began her career as a travel reporter on Northsound before covering a variety of shows across the station.

Zoe Ball joins top earners list at the BBC

New BBC Radio 2 breakfast show host Zoe Ball has joined the BBC big earners top 10 list whilst Jeremy Vine took at £110k pay cut. Vanessa Feltz also makes it inside the top 10 list, which this year includes three women for the first time, along with Claudia Winkleman. Chris Evans is still in the list, as it covers the period from April 2018 to March 2019, so will only represent nine months of work. He got £1.25m for 150 editions of the Breakfast Show (or £8.3k per programme).

Nation Radio promotes local angle in Scotland

As Capital Scotland and Heart Scotland promote national breakfast shows, Nation Radio is going big on its local show. A giant billboard has been put in place advertising that Nation Radio is local from Scotland 24/7. The huge site – said to be the biggest advertising billboard in Scotland – measures 26m x 19m and overlooks the busiest motorway junction in Scotland at the M8/M77 merge, where more than 150,000 vehicles a day travel.

Original 106 opens new studios with a Royal visit

It’s been a busy week at Original 106 this week with new studios, the start of DAB broadcasts and a Royal visit. The Aberdeen station, which was recently bought by publishers DC Thomson, commenced broadcasting from its brand new studios and Marischal Square Aberdeen on Tuesday with Camilla, the Duchess Of Rothesay paying a visit to the new studios. Original 106 went live at 1.06pm, having relocated moving from its previous building in the south of Aberdeen city.

Fleur East, Greg Burns and James Barr for Hits Radio Breakfast

TV personality and singer Fleur East, former Capital and Heart presenter Greg Burns, and heat DJ James Barr are the new hosts of the Hits Radio breakfast show. Fleur, Greg and James will start the programme from Manchester, for Manchester, on July 12th – replacing Gethin, Gemma and Dave. Paul Gerrard, Programme Director Hits Radio said: “Fleur has a perfect radio personality with an infectious energy and naturally chatty style that we know our listeners will love.