Radio News

Amanda Holden to join Jamie Theakston for Heart UK Breakfast

Heart’s new national breakfast show will be presented by Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden when it starts on June 3rd. Details of Amanda’s appointment were published on Sunday by The Mirror but an official announcement is expected on Monday morning by Global to expand on the details. RadioToday understands current presenters of Heart’s local breakfast shows across England, Scotland and Wales were told the news on Sunday.

Greg James and James Purnell sign up for Radio Festival

The Radio Festival will include sessions from BBC Radio 1 breakfast show presenter Greg James, and the BBC’s Director of Radio and Education James Purnell. Other new sessions announced today are from Google News’ Brenda Salinas and Katy Leeson of Social Chain. James Purnell will be joining RadFest to share his thoughts on the importance of treasuring radio amidst significant change in the industry and in people’s listening habits.

BBC to create single role to Control Radio 1 and Radio 2

The BBC is to create a new single role of Controller of its pop music stations Radio 1, 1Xtra, Asian Network, Radio 2 and 6 Music. Heads of each station, plus BBC Music and the Music TV commissioning heads, will report to the new Controller. A source tells RadioToday that Ben Cooper, currently Controller of Radio 1, 1Xtra and BBC Asian Network is expected to be appointed to the new position across all five services.

BBC Radio 1 to tour the North East ahead of Big Weekend

BBC Radio 1 will host a number of outreach sessions in schools, colleges, universities and community centres across the North East in the run up to Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Middlesbrough. Comprising of a schools tour, a takeover of Middlesbrough College, and a skills showcase at Teesside University, the Inspire ME tour will give young people from Middlesbrough and the surrounding areas an introduction to working in the creative and sporting industries, providing them with the skills, know-how and motivation they need to take those all-important first steps.

BBC Radio 2 reveals the UK’s best selling ABBA studio album - Arrival

BBC Radio 2’s special programme, Let’s ABBA Party! with Nicki Chapman, revealed that ABBA’s 1976 album Arrival - which features hit songs such as Dancing Queen, Knowing Me Knowing You and Money, Money, Money - is the band’s best-selling studio album in the UK to date. The programme, which also featured brand new interviews with Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, revealed a specially commissioned chart, ranking the UK sales of ABBA’s eight studio albums, from Waterloo to The Visitors.

Capital’s Vick Hope signs up for Classic FM series

Vick Hope, co-host of the Capital breakfast show, is to present two programmes on Classic FM. The classical music station is launching its first-ever series for students to help them through their GCSEs, A-levels, Scottish Highers and university exams. Classic FM’s Revision Hour will be broadcast every Saturday night (9pm to 10pm) from 27th April to 15th June and will be hosted by Vick, Lewis Capaldi, Dan Smith and more yet to be announced presenters.

Andrew Ridgeley to host Bank Holiday special on BBC Radio 2

Andrew Ridgeley is hosting a special 80s music show on BBC Radio 2 next month. He’ll make his radio presenting with Andrew Ridgeley’s 80s’ Playlist on Monday 6th May from 5pm till 7pm. Andrew will be playing the tracks that mean the most to him from the decade and sharing his own memories and stories from the era in which he dominated the pop charts as one half of Wham!, alongside George Michael.

Zoe Ball & Margot James confirmed for Radio Festival 2019 line-up

BBC Radio 2 Breakfast host Zoe Ball and Digital Minister Margot James have been added to the line-up of this year’s Radio Festival, joining already-announced Simon Mayo. Zoe Ball will open the Radio Academy event this year talking to Paddy O’Connell about her old Radio 1 days, history repeating itself as she stepped into Chris Evans’s shoes and taking on Radio 2 breakfast, alongside her love of radio.

Jazz FM announces PRS For Music Gold Award winner

British multi-instrumentalist and composer Jacob Collier has won the PRS For Music Gold Award as part of the Jazz FM Awards 2019. He’ll be given the award at the event, which is taking place this year on 30th April at Shoreditch Town Hall. Helen Mayhew – Jazz FM Presenter and Awards Judge said: “Jacob’s talents are extraordinary, he possesses a unique ear for harmony as heard not only in his multi layered YouTube songs, but also in his"...

Radio professionals head to Student Radio event in Swansea

A number of radio presenters, producers and management are in sharing their experience and knowledge with students in Swansea this week. The annual Student Radio Conference is taking place over three days, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and has a line-up to rival most other industry events. Radio presenters giving up their time include Greg James, Adele Roberts, Aled Hayden Jones, Stephanie Hirst, Matt Edmondson, Mollie King, Tim Cocker, Will Manning, Vicki Blight, Trevor Nelson, Tom Swarbrick, Alex Mansuroglu and Sam Darlaston.