By Stephen Dowling BBC News Online entertainment news

Douglas was Head of Programmes under Jim Moir

BBC Radio 2 has a new controller, Lesley Douglas, who has already been instrumental in the changes brought by outgoing controller Jim Moir. She has already promised to stick to the station's evolution.

A decade ago, BBC Radio 2 stuck to a safe, middle-of-the-road line.

Its staples were DJs like the respected Jimmy Young and its musical diet based on hits from the 1950s and 1960s.

But, in keeping with the changes that were looming for its sister station, the pop network Radio 1, there was about to be a major rethink of Radio 2.

It had already started the decade in stereo - the first national station to be broadcast that way - but its sound and style, some argued, was in need of modernisation.

Jim Moir, the controller who took over in 1996, ushered in a sound that leaned more toward contemporary music than the hits of yesterday.

RADIO 2'S NEW VOICES Jeremy Vine (above) Jonathan Ross Steve Wright Stuart Maconie Suzi Quatro Dale Winton

A look at its playlist today shows that alongside MOR staples such as Texas, The Beautiful South and Sheryl Crow, it also boasts some more surprising additions.

Teen acts Amy Studt and the Sugababes are also listed, alongside REM's latest single, Turin Brakes, Aqualung and NME favourites The Sleepy Jackson.

Alongside the change in music has been the hiring of some fresher faces. These changes have not just had a cosmetic effect on the station's ratings. Radio 2 can now boast 13 million listeners.

According to Mark Banham, the radio correspondent of Media Week, Radio 2's changes have been "a huge shift", and said part of it was that "another generation are growing up and they have a much more rounded view of music".

Now you are more likely to hear REM on Radio 2 than Radio 1

"While Radio 1 seems to have lost its rudder, Radio 2 is making some really astute presenter choices," he said.

"Jonathan Ross is incredibly popular with their listeners, and he was being touted for the Capital FM breakfast job that Johnny Vaughan got."

Some of Radio 2's recent features have included a look back at the Madchester years of the Stone Roses and Happy Mondays, and a great British Music Debate charting the decline in the sale of music.

ENDURING FAVOURITES Listen To The Band Big Band Special The Organist Entertains Friday Night Is Music Night Melodies For You

Recently, the station said it was turning its back on the traditional rule of playing singles and playing tracks from albums that it thinks its audience will want to hear.

Tom Leonard, media editor of the Daily Telegraph, said it is clear the station is no longer "a granny's favourite playing all the golden oldies".

He thought Ms Douglas's position as one of Moir's lieutenants during the big changes would mean that Radio 2's drift into more contemporary, broad-based pastures would continue.

Mark Lamarr is one of Radio 2's most popular DJs

"Lesley Douglas has said that her favourite artists are Bruce Springsteen and Paul Weller," Mr Leonard said.

"But she says she also likes Frank Sinatra - and The Thrills and Elbow."

But he fears Radio 2 is in danger of alienating older listeners by chasing a younger audience.

The days of big band music wafting over the airwaves on the network once known as The Light Programme may not exactly be numbered - but they will definitely be in the minority.