Radio 2 announces schedule changes

• Michael Ball to take over ‘Weekend Wogan’ Sunday morning slot
• Claudia Winkleman to move from Radio 2 Arts Show to Sunday night slot
• Craig Charles to host Saturday night Funk Show
• Sounds Of The 80s moves to Friday nights

Bob Shennan, Controller of Radio 2, says:

“High-quality entertainment is at the core of public service broadcasting. Sir Terry was a master of it. Michael Ball is in that fine tradition. Along with Craig and Claudia we are adding some exciting new programmes for our audiences – programmes which are completely unique and totally distinctive.”

From Sunday 10 April, Michael Ball will move from Sunday evenings (7pm - 9pm) to Sunday mornings (11am – 1pm) to take over the Weekend Wogan slot with a new show entitled The Michael Ball Show. The show will be produced by Wise Buddah.

Michael says: “I feel so honoured to have been asked to return to Sunday mornings on BBC Radio 2. I learned so much from my great friend and mentor Sir Terry Wogan. He was simply the best.”

Richard Madeley, who has presented the programme since December, will present the show for 10 weeks each year.

Lewis Carnie, Head of Programmes for Radio 2 says: “Terry was such a huge part of our audience’s lives for so long that finding another presenter to fill that particular slot was always going to be difficult. Michael is already familiar to our audience and I’m delighted that he will take over the Sunday morning slot.”

From Sunday 24 April, Claudia Winkleman will move from the Friday night Radio 2 Arts Show (10pm - midnight) to Sunday evenings to present Sunday Night with Claudia Winkleman from 7pm tp 9pm. The show will be produced by Wise Buddah, and replaces Michael Ball’s Sunday evening show.

Claudia says: "I am completely over the moon about the new Radio 2 show. We'll play great music and will try to help the listeners get ready for the week. The first record I ever bought was The Lion Sleeps Tonight by Tight Fit so it might get an airing. Apologies in advance.”

American singer Cyndi Lauper will present two shows, on Sunday 10 and 17 April. Both shows will be produced by Wise Buddah.

The Arts Show will continue to be presented in the short-term by a number of guest presenters, who have recently included Nihal and Penny Smith. The Arts Show is currently presented by Jonathan Ross.

A new addition to the Saturday night schedule is The Craig Charles House Party from 10pm to midnight, which sees Craig pick the best soul and funk music for a Saturday night on Radio 2. The new show will be produced by BBC Radio Production, and broadcast from BBC Salford. Craig also presents the BBC Radio 6 Music Funk And Soul Show on Saturday evenings from 6pm to 9pm.

Craig says: “I’ve loved presenting various shows on Radio 2 in recent years, so to get my very own permanent Radio 2 home every Saturday night, where I can play my favourite funk and soul tracks, is a dream come true.”

Further schedule changes are as follows:

The Organist Entertains and Listen To The Band move from Thursday to Tuesday nights from 11pm and 11.30pm respectively, kicking off Tuesday 12 April.

Radio 2 Arts Show moves to Thursday evenings from Thursday 14 April from 10pm to midnight (previously Friday 10pm to midnight).

Sounds Of The 80s, presented by Sara Cox, will move to Fridays from 10pm to midnight (previously Saturday 10pm to midnight) from Friday 15 April.

AF2