Radio News

Bauer’s Paul Keenan announces Absolute Radio 20s

Speaking at Radio Days Ireland today (Thursday 20th February), Bauer Media President of Audio, Paul Keenan announced launch plans for another new decade station, Absolute Radio 20s. Paul was talking about the future of radio being digital and calling for the industry to prioritise innovation and product development, when he announced the new decade station which is due to launch online next week. Commenting on radio’s digital future, Paul said: “We must continue to reinvent how we work with a clear focus on innovation. With the growth of digital radio, and the migration of...

Radio 1 pulls another listener stunt with Greg James being ‘kidnapped’

On the 1st anniversary of Radio 1’s prank of putting Greg James into an escape room and asking listeners to help find him, they’ve pulled another one with Who’s Got Greg. There was a lot of media interest when Greg didn’t turn up for his breakfast show this morning (Wednesday 19 February) after a late night out at the BRITs, but as the day went on there was speculation that this could be another prank to hook listeners in. This was confirmed when Greg appeared on Scott Mills’ lunchtime show to reveal that after the awards he’d been blindfolded, bundled into a car, then taken to a secret location and was in a white room with only a single bed in it...

Bauer plans big night of radio coverage at BRITs

Bauer’s Hits Radio and KISS are broadcasting live from The BRIT Awards tonight as the event marks its 40th anniversary. Gemma Atkinson and Wes Butters’ drivetime show across the Hits Radio Network stations comes from backstage at the event, with breakfast presenter Fleur East chatting to nominees on the red carpet as they arrive. The networked evening show in England with Jordan Lee will then keep listeners up to date with the awards as they happen, while Callum Gallacher presents a BRITs special on the group’s stations in Scotland...

talkRADIO fined £75,000 for George Galloway comments

National digital station talkRADIO has been fined £75,000 after three complaints about former presenter George Galloway were upheld by Ofcom. The station will also have to broadcast a summary of the regulator’s findings, relating to comments made on air between March and August 2018. The first complaint related to a discussion on the poisoning of Yulia and Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, while the second and third concerned allegations of anti-Semitism in the Labour Party.Ofcom ruled last year that each of the three programmes failed to maintain due impartiality and had breached Rules 5.11 and 5.12 of the Broadcasting Code...

Oliver Dowden takes over as Culture Secretary

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has a new minister in charge, as Oliver Dowden replaces Nicky Morgan in the cabinet reshuffle. Mr Dowden is the MP for Hertsmere in Hertfordshire – home to the BBC’s Elstree studios – and was previously Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General. Nicky Morgan had served as Culture Secretary since last July, becoming Baroness Morgan following December’s general election so that she could continue in the role by taking up a seat in the House of Lords after she didn’t stand for re-election as an MP...

5 Live names Julie Cullen as new Managing Editor

BBC Radio 5 Live has appointed Julie Cullen from 6 Music as its new Managing Editor. She replaces Heidi Dawson, who was recently promoted to Controller of 5 Live, and will assist Heidi in shaping the editorial direction of the station. Julie is currently in the BBC 6 Music management team having worked at the station since 2002. At 6 Music, Julie has been a journalist, presenter, executive producer, editor and, most recently commissioning executive. Prior to joining 6 Music, she worked at BBC London as a journalist – and orignally joined the BBC on the Regional News Training Scheme...

Annie Mac signs up as Reform Radio ambassador

Manchester online radio station Reform Radio has appointed BBC Radio 1 presenter Annie Mac as its first ambassador. Annie’s role as an ambassador for Reform Radio will see her supporting and strengthening the work of the social enterprise, which uses the engagement of radio and music to work with young people looking for employment. On the appointment, Annie Mac says: “I’m really honoured to take on the role of ambassador for such a brilliant organisation as Reform Radio. The work it does is vital in charging up young people with the confidence they need to go out there in the world and...

Nominations for the 2020 IRN Awards revealed

The nominations for the 2020 IRN Awards have been announced by Sky News presenter Kay Burley. There are 12 categories including the Student Journalist of the Year prize which is supported by the Broadcast Journalism Training Council. The awards event itself will take place at Sky Cinema in west London on Thursday 26th March 2020, also hosted by Kay. IRN Editor and Chair of Judges, Dave Terris said: This is a stellar list of nominations representing the gold standard in commercial radio news and sport...

BBC Radio 3 announces star-studded dramas including a never before produced Anthony Burgess script starring Christopher Eccleston

The new audio dramas will feature leading voices in British theatre and television including David Suchet, Maxine Peake, Christopher Eccleston and Toby Jones, and award-winning 20th century writers, thinkers and playwrights including Roy Williams OBE. The forthcoming commissions tackle bold issues ranging from a women’s journey joining an all-female militia in Northern Syria, to Shakespeare’s play Othello staged in a contemporary world and a drama following the social history of a Notting Hill neighbourhood and location of the Grenfell Tower fire, Notting Dale, told through the eyes of one family...

Capital’s Summertime Ball moves to Tottenham

Capital’s Summertime Ball is moving from its previous home at the Wembley Arena to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2020. The date has also been announced today by Global, as Saturday 6th June. The largest football club stadium in London has been created as a home for both sport and entertainment, and is also one of the most technologically advanced in existence, with fully cashless payment systems, high-density Wi-Fi and 100% mobile coverage...