Category : Radio
2
Date : 05.03.2004
Printable version
Lesley Douglas,
Controller BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music, unveiled BBC Radio 2’s new
look spring and summer schedule today (Friday 5 March 2004).
Mark Radcliffe is to join Radio 2 to present
a new evening show starting on 7 June (Monday to Thursday, 10.30pm-midnight).
Marc Riley (aka Lard) is joining 6 Music on 3
April to present a new weekend show - see 6
Music Spring and Summer highlights.
Radio 2 is extending its arts coverage with a new two
hour programme on Friday nights.
Mariella Frostrup is to present the new show
from Friday 16 April, 10.00pm-midnight.
Lesley also confirmed that Dermot O'Leary is
to present a new regular music show in the autumn.
Lesley says: "I'm delighted that Mark Radcliffe,
Dermot O'Leary and Mariella Frostrop are to join what is already a brilliant
line-up of presenters on Radio 2.
"We also have an exceptional spring and summer
schedule of documentaries, live music and features which I am sure our
listeners will enjoy."
Mark Radcliffe says: "I'm thrilled, honoured and
humbled to be asked to join Radio 2's veritable panoply of mercurial
visionaries where I plan to revolutionise late night radio listening
by playing records and talking in between."
Dermot O'Leary says: "It feels like being signed
to Arsenal! I'm very flattered that such an established and massively
successful station and brand want me to be part of it."
Richard Allinson continues to present his Saturday
afternoon show and moves from his evening slot to become the new presenter
of Radio 2’s live performance strand, Live and Exclusive.
Richard is also to front Radio 2’s major initiative
on songwriting, Sold on Song, which includes the country's biggest
ever poll to discover the UK's top song of all time, Sold on Song
Top 100, which launches today, 5 March.
Richard presents a full run down of the results over
the Spring Bank Holiday weekend - 29, 30 and 31 May.
Immediately following the Bank Holiday weekend Radio
2 launches a search for the best of Britain's undiscovered songwriters.
In July, August and September Radio 2 will reflect the
best submitted songs. The search culminates in a live showcase as part
of Radio 2's week in Liverpool in October.
George Michael talks to Radio 2 about his life and career
in a three-part series, Older and Wiser: The George Michael Story
starting on Tuesday 9 March at 8.30pm.
Zoe Ball returns to the BBC airwaves with a two
part series on rave culture and Neneh Cherry puts the spotlight
on world music.
Steve Lamacq marks the 10th anniversary of the
death of Kurt Cobain and also charts the story of the Creation
record label.
Radio 2 is to broadcast a series of special music events
over the coming months featuring some of the world's top artists.
Norah Jones and Diana Krall are to perform
live and exclusively for Radio 2.
Will Young and Lionel Richie are just
two of the star performers who will appear on Friday nights with the
BBC Concert Orchestra.
Lionel can be heard on 19 March from 7.30 to 9.15pm
and Will can be heard on 9 April from 7.30 to 9.15pm.
And to re-enforce the network’s commitment to supporting new music
acts, Radio 2 broadcasts live from the internationally renowned South
By South West music festival in Austin, Texas which showcases the
work of more than 1,100 artists from 17 to 21 March.
Radio 2 is also to host two further debates on the
British music industry.
Following last year’s The Great British Music Debate,
in June the station will bring together key players and performers to
look at just how British the British music industry is and will address
the impact of digital technology in a special debate in November.
To mark the 10th anniversary of South Africa's first
free elections and the subsequent inauguration of President Mandela,
Radio 2 broadcasts a special season on South Africa with Jeremy
Vine and Hugh Masekela presenting documentaries on
the country's politics, music and cultural development.
Anna Ford, Max Hastings and John Simpson
present documentaries on The Thatcher Years, The D-Day Landings
and attitudes to war and peace, respectively.
