Radio 2 announces schedule changes

Lewis Carnie, Head of Radio 2 says: “The new Saturday Radio 2 schedule will give listeners a day of music entertainment from some of this country’s most popular and best loved presenters. Brian Matthew is irreplaceable at 8am on a Saturday morning with Sounds of the 60s so we’re moving to a new time of 6am, and I’m confident that Tony will delight listeners with his memories and favourite tunes from the decade.

"Dermot’s brand new Breakfast show from 8am will wake up the nation in style, and I’m delighted to welcome Zoe and Ana to regular shows on the network. I’d like to thank Anneka for hosting the Breakfast show and we’re looking forward to her new show The Happening with Anneka Rice.”

As recently announced, broadcasting legend Brian Matthew has stepped down from presenting the weekly edition of Sounds of the 60s due to ill health. Brian, 88, who has presented the show since April 1990, presented his last show on November 19, but will return on Saturday 25 February for his final show. Radio 2 will launch an occasional series of programmes to begin on Easter Sunday called The Brian Matthew Years. Brian will reflect on his life and times in the world of music, to be will be scheduled around Bank Holidays.

From Saturday 4 March, Tony Blackburn will present Sounds of the 60s, taking over from Brian, at a new time of 6-8am. The live and interactive programme will continue to be made by Unique Broadcasting and will feature music rarities and the biggest hits of the decade, as well as throwing in some of Tony's favourite soul tunes from the era. Tony will continue to present Tony Blackburn’s Golden Hour on Friday nights from 7-8pm.

Tony says: "It is an absolute honour to be following in Brian's footsteps; he is a broadcasting legend and Sounds of the 60s is an iconic show. I started my radio career in '64 and have amazing memories of playing so many of the great hits first time around. To take over this show, 50 years after joining the BBC, is a real privilege and I can't wait to get started."

Dermot O’Leary’s show will move from Saturday afternoons (3-6pm) to an earlier slot of 8-10am from Saturday 4 March, presenting a brand new music entertainment breakfast show to entertain the nation as they wake up to their weekend. Broadcasting live each week, he’ll have motivational pep talks for the nation’s children from sporting icons as well as experts (explorers, astronauts, spies) telling listeners what movies they should really be watching. He’ll also have some of the biggest names in music performing live in his Saturday Sessions. At 9.15am, each Saturday morning, Dermot will Pause for Thought, featuring different contributors from a variety of faiths. Pause For Thought will be produced by TBI Media. Dermot’s show will continue to be produced by Ora et Labora.

Dermot says: “It's a huge honour to be asked to host the Saturday Breakfast show on Radio 2. I'm really looking forward to waking our loyal listeners up, after Tony and the iconic Sounds of the Sixties, on which Brian Matthew did such an incredible job for so many years.

"We'll be having sessions from some brilliant artists, plus special guests, listeners on air and hand-picked music. It’s a real privilege to be on Radio 2. I can’t wait.”

Zoe Ball will host a live Saturday afternoon show from 3-6pm, jam-packed with hits of today, great feel-good tunes from the past and some selections from Zoe’s own record collection. Listeners will be able to test their knowledge of TV and movies in a weekly quiz and Zoe’s dad, TV legend Johnny Ball, will be posing a weekly brainteaser. Plus there’ll be the chance for listeners to get their freak on when Zoe opens the 5 O’Clock Freak Out Kitchen Disco. The show will be produced by Ora et Labora.

Zoe says: “I'm absolutely cockahoop to start my own show on Saturdays on Radio 2. I've dusted off my vast record collection - chosen some classic hits from across the decades and have come up with some exciting and equally daft features for the listeners to get involved with.

"I've been listening to Radio 2 since I was a lass, growing up with legends… Terry Wogan, Desmond Carrington and Stewpot to name but three of so many. To follow such broadcasting gods and join the Radio 2 family regularly is an absolute privilege and joy and I can't wait to get started.”

In other changes on the network, presenter Bob Harris has decided to finish broadcasting his weekly show Bob Harris Sunday to allow him to concentrate on other projects. His weekly show Bob Harris Country (Thursday, 7-8pm) – which showcases the very best in Country music to the Radio 2 audience - will continue.

Bob Harris says: “I’ve put my heart and soul into the programme and have been given the freedom by Radio 2 to express my musical passions. I feel incredibly proud to have championed new music with BBC Introducing to bring breakthrough artists on to the show. I’d especially like to thank my listeners who have supported the programme for the past 20 years. But I have some very exciting new projects coming up and making this decision will allow me to dedicate a little more time to them. And I’m really looking forward to still bringing the Radio 2 audience more of the very best in all things country in my weekly show - Bob Harris Country.”

Anneka Rice, who has presented the 6-8am show each Saturday morning since February 2012, takes up the reins of a brand new flagship show for Radio 2 called The Happening with Anneka Rice. She will bring her unique brand of wit and style to a programme that reflects the week that was, interviewing the movers and shakers from the world of arts and entertainment, as well as showcasing the best bits of Radio 2 over the previous seven days.

Anneka says: “I've loved presenting the Breakfast Show and especially the interaction with my listeners, sharing the arc of their lives and mine for five years. It has been fun, funny and often touching. But I'm looking forward to getting my teeth into this exciting new format and I hope my audience will join me on my new show on April 1.”

Starting on April 2, between midnight and 2am into Sunday morning, Scissor Sister Ana Matronic will broadcast two hours of the biggest disco music around in Ana Matronic’s Disco Devotion. The programme will be produced by BBC Radio Production.

Ana says: “Music has always been my life’s great joy. To be able to share and talk about my favourite music on Radio 2 is a dream come true. Disco is a genre with no end to its delights, and I am over the moon to be the new resident disco DJ at Radio 2. My show Disco Devotion joins the legendary Trevor Nelson’s Rhythm Nation and The Craig Charles House Party to make every Saturday night the soundtrack to your good time. Put your devotion in motion, and I'll see you in April!”

From April 1, Huey Morgan moves from his current 12midnight-3am Saturday slot to present two new shows – Huey on Saturday and Huey on Sunday. Both shows will air between 5-6am.

AF2

BBC Radio 2 Saturday schedule - from 4 March

6-8am - Tony Blackburn to host Sounds of the Sixties
8-10am - Dermot O’Leary to front new Saturday Breakfast show
10am-1pm - Graham Norton
1-3pm - Pick of the Pops with Paul Gambaccini
3-6pm - Zoe Ball
6-8pm - Liza Tarbuck
8-10pm - Trevor Nelson
10pm-12midnight - Craig Charles’ House Party

BBC Radio 2 Saturday morning schedule - from Friday 31 March into Saturday 1 April

12midnight-2am - The Happening with Anneka Rice
5-6am - Huey Morgan

BBC Radio 2 Sunday morning schedule - from Saturday 1 April into Sunday 2 April

12midnight-2am - Ana Matronic
5-6am - Huey Morgan