Lewis Carnie, Head of Radio 2 explains the thinking behind the forthcoming Radio 2 schedule changes.
As we get underway with 2018 at Radio 2 I am delighted that we are announcing a raft of new and exciting programme changes to our schedule. This is the latest stage of Radio 2’s evolution and we’ve enhanced our schedule with new programmes and series, including a return to late night live programming, as well as introducing new voices to the Radio 2 audience.
Weekday daytimes see an all new extended early evening show with an exciting double headed presentation of Simon Mayo and Jo Whiley. Both Simon and Jo have a wealth of experience, having each presented radio programmes for over 25 years, and this show, between 5pm–8pm, will bring new ideas and pace to keep you informed, amused and highly entertained wherever you are.
Sara Cox
Sara Cox, our regular Breakfast Show dep and current Sounds Of The 80s host, takes the reins of a brand new late night live show from Monday to Thursday 10 pm–midnight. This is a welcome return for us to late night live programming with a show that will be full of content from the world of arts and entertainment with guests straight from the stage and a great mix of music. Sara will of course retain her occasional day job of covering for Chris Evans on Breakfast.
It doesn’t stop there either as O J Borg carries on the live broadcasting banner with another new show midnight–3am, Monday to Friday from Salford. Again there will be a brilliant mix of music for everyone who is around at this time of night and is looking for the best company and chat on the airwaves. We’re responding to listener feedback with the return to live overnight programming five nights a week, and savings elsewhere on the network have allowed us to do this.
O J Borg
Gary Davies, who returned to radio as a part of Sara Cox’s Danceathon for Comic Relief joins Radio 2 to present this weekly Friday night show. Gary needs no introduction to our listeners and this is his first full time return to radio broadcasting since he left Radio 1 several decades ago. Welcome back Gary!
Gary Davies
Cerys Matthews joins the Radio 2 fold when she takes over the Blues Show from Paul Jones who is leaving the network after many years as the regular host. I’d like to wish Paul the very best and thank him for igniting and then keeping the Blues flame alive on Radio 2 for many years. Cerys is an expert music curator, with a genuine and deep passion for Blues music (not to mention a vinyl collection that runs into the thousands), and I’m sure she’ll bring a new twist to our Blues programming, with a few surprises thrown in. We look forward very much to welcoming her to this programme, which will be presented live in its new slot of 8pm–9pm on Monday evenings.
Cerys Matthews
Our specialist programming is also expanding into new areas and I am thrilled to be able to announce that Johnnie Walker will be hosting a new long-running rock series later this year, whilst Ana Matronic’s Disco Devotion will broaden its remit to include a more diverse dance mix in a new show: ‘Ana Matronic’s Dance Devotion’. These are two areas our listeners have constantly asked us to expand on and cover more from their respective arenas. There can hardly be a better way to look at these genres than under the expert guidance of these two presenters who have a wealth of knowledge in these areas.
Obviously to deliver this much increased commitment to live broadcasting and to refresh our specialist genres, we have to make many changes to create the space and so we are resting the 30 minute The Organist Entertains and Listen To The Band programmes for the time being. They have been long serving programmes on Radio 2 but as the audience evolves we have to reflect what best serves their needs and where there is scope to broaden our offering. Keyboard music will remain on the network with Rick Wakeman’s Key To Keys as an occasional series and Brass music features heavily in Clare Teal’s Sunday night big band show as well as in Friday Night Is Music Night, which will feature the Young Brass Soloist award. We have also commissioned a series on Brass music to run later this year. In the meantime, however we thank Nigel Ogden and Frank Renton for all their incredible dedication and commitment over the years.
We are very excited to be bringing you this new schedule and hope that you will see our changes are designed to keep Radio 2 moving forward and giving our millions of listeners the programming that they want.
Lewis Carnie is Head of BBC Radio 2.
- Read the press release 'BBC Radio 2 announces schedule changes for Spring 2018' on the BBC Media Centre
