Latest news about Virgin Radio UK

All the new radio shows starting in January 2019

Radio was alive and well in 2018 with numerous announcements on major changes to schedules, breakfast shows and more. Most of the news towards the end of the year revealed changes from January, so in case you’ve lost track, here’s the RadioToday guide to what’s new in 2019. January 2nd: Tom and Daisy start the new KISS FM UK Breakfast Show, whilst Neev returns to KISS mid-mornings, replacing Pandora...

Chris Evans Show to be advert free on Virgin Radio

The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio will be free of commercials when it launches on January 21st 2019. Instead, a sponsorship deal has been agreed in principle between Virgin Radio UK and Sky to promote the television services on the radio. Listeners moving with Chris from commercial-free BBC Radio 2 will no doubt welcome the news. Virgin Radio says Sky’s sponsorship will provide investment to create branded content, competitions and events which will take the Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio to a whole new level.

Zoe Ball to replace Chris Evans on BBC Radio 2 Breakfast

Zoe Ball will take over as the new permanent presenter on the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show from 2019, Chris Evans has announced on-air. Chris announced a month ago that he was leaving the show and then revealed he was joining Virgin Radio UK from the New Year. A newspaper report two weeks ago suggested that Zoe had been offered the Radio 2 gig – to present Europe’s biggest radio show.

Will the BBC be on the Ball replacing Chris Evans?

Opinion: Howard Kosky, CEO & founder of broadcast specialists markettiers4DC, shares his thoughts on Chris Evans moving to Virgin Radio. It’s no surprise BBC Radio 2 is lining Zoe Ball up to fill the shoes of Chris Evans on the breakfast show. And what shoes they are to fill. Rumours Chris himself wanted a woman to replace him have been rife. More importantly, this is a perfect opportunity for the BBC to rack up some brownie points following...

Final agenda confirmed for Drive to Digital event

Digital Radio UK has confirmed the final conference agenda for Drive to Digital 2018: The Future of Radio. Drive to Digital 2018 will be chaired by Gethin Jones, co-presenter of the new Hits Radio Breakfast Show, and has a line up of senior speakers from broadcasters, supply chain, the automotive sector, the audio market and podcasters, who will be sharing their views on the future of radio.

After Chris Evans ... why women are leading the race for the breakfast slot

As the longtime presenter vacates his breakfast slot, five of the six favourites to take over his popular show are women. So what has prompted this cultural shift in a schedule that has been dominated by men for years? On Monday morning, on his Radio 2 breakfast show, Chris Evans surprised many by announcing that he would be leaving at Christmas. “Some of us are mountain climbers,” he said. “But if you get to the top of your favourite mountain and stay there, you become an observer.”

Chris Evans is returning to Virgin Radio for Breakfast

Chris Evans is returning to the Virgin Radio brand after announcing he’s leaving BBC Radio 2 before the end of the year. Speaking about his new appointment, Chris said: “In many ways Virgin Radio is my spiritual home. I see nothing but exciting and groundbreaking opportunities ahead. In a medium that is changing so quickly on a daily basis, the potential for growth is unprecedented. Our plan is: to give it all we’ve got, see where we can...

RAJAR Q2 2018: London and national brands update

Kiss has taken over from Capital as the biggest commercial radio station in London in the latest Q2/2018 RAJAR listening figures. Capital’s audience in the capital is down 10.8% year on year to 2.063m, while Kiss has had a great quarter, hitting 2.087m weekly listeners – 24,000 more than its rival. In third place is Magic (1.667m), which leapfrogs rival Heart this quarter (1.404m). LBC is in fifth on reach with 1.280m listeners in the capital (down 9.3% year on year).

Radio helps mark release of Now 100 album

Radio stations including Absolute 80s, Virgin and BBC Radio 2 are among those airing special programmes as the 100th Now That’s What I Call Music album is released. Bauer digital station Absolute 80s is broadcasting a celebration at 8pm tonight (Thursday), presented by Mark Goodier, called “That Was Then, This is Now 100”. It will look back over 35 years of the compilation album.

Pete Mitchell to return with new Virgin Radio shows

Former Virgin 1215 breakfast presenter Pete Mitchell is returning to the brand, with a new history of music documentary series for Wireless Group’s Virgin Radio. Pete’s monthly show ‘Revolutions in Music’ starts this weekend, and will explore how popular music has reflected changing youth culture and politics over the decades.