2010 in British radio

This is a list of events in British radio during 2010.

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Events

January

• 7 January – Jonathan Ross announces he will leave the BBC when his contract expires in July.[1]
• 11 January –
  • Chris Evans takes over as presenter of the Radio 2 breakfast show.[2] The programme's launch also sees the return of newsreader Moira Stuart to the BBC after two years.[3][4] Simon Mayo takes over the drivetime show.[5]
  • Gaby Roslin takes over as host of the breakfast show alongside Paul Ross on BBC London 94.9.[6]
• 13 January – The BBC admits that it gave undue prominence to the band U2 in February 2009 after it repeatedly broadcast a “U2 = BBC” graphic and allowed presenters to claim the corporation was “part of launching” the group's latest album.[7]
• 15 January – N-Dubz singer Dappy and the BBC are forced to apologise after the rapper sent abusive text messages, which included death threats, to a woman who complained about him during an appearance on Radio 1's Chris Moyles Show on 12 January.[8]
• 17 January – Lynn Parsons returns to Radio 2 as a regular presenter with an early Sunday morning breakfast show. The show aired until April when the Radio 2 schedule was overhauled.

February

• 12 February – Carrie Prideaux leaves BBC Radio 1 after hosting her last Newsbeat sports bulletins for The Chris Moyles Show.
• 14 February – Sir Terry Wogan begins his weekly Sunday morning show on Radio 2.[9] Weekend Wogan is hosted in front of a live audience in the Radio Theatre at Broadcasting House with an initial run of three months.
• 17 February – It is announced that the newspaper review show What the Papers Say, which was on television for many years, will be revived on BBC Radio 4, airing for 12 episodes in the run up to the 2010 general election and then returning on a permanent basis if it proves to be popular.[10]
• 27 February – The six stations in the Smooth Radio network stage a "Starlight Supper", en event aimed at raising money for a number of charities: Breast Cancer Care in London, Macmillan Cancer Support in the Northwest, North East and West Midlands, the Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People in the East Midlands and Marie Curie's Big Build in Glasgow.[11][12]

March

• 2 March – BBC Director General Mark Thompson confirms plans to close BBC 6 Music and the BBC Asian Network as part of a cost-cutting drive. The proposals will also see BBC Radio 7 rebranded as BBC Radio 4 Extra and cutbacks to the BBC website.[13]
• 11 March – BBC Radio 2 confirms plans to overhaul its schedule from April. This will include moving two of its longest-running shows, Big Band Special and The Organist Entertains to different timeslots, and switching its comedy hour from Thursday to Saturday evenings – the second time it has done this in 12 months.[14]
• 24 March – The five radio stations owned by YMC Ltd (3TR FM, Bath FM, Brunel FM, Quay West 102.4/100.8 and Quay West 107.4) are closed by administrators after multiple refusals on the part of regulator Ofcom to transfer the licenses, following a number of financial issues at the stations after TLRC's sale.[15]
• 26 March – Les Ross presents his final breakfast show for Birmingham's Big City Radio.

April

• 4 April – The timeslot for Bob Harris's Saturday evening/Sunday morning show on Radio 2 is moved forward an hour, meaning it airs from 12 am until 3 am instead of 11 pm – 2 am.
• 15 April – Under new guidelines from Ofcom, from May commercial radio rivals will be allowed to co-locate to cut costs, and to slash local programming. The guidelines are a result of the recently passed Digital Economy Act.[16]
• 19 April – Amanda Bowman becomes presenter of a late night show syndicated across BBC Local Radio in the Midlands.[17]
• 30 April –
  • It is reported that Emma Forbes has quit as co-host of BBC Radio 2's Saturday night show Going Out with Alan Carr.
  • It is reported that Smooth and Real Radio have become the official broadcasters of the switch-on ceremony for the Blackpool Illuminations, after securing the broadcast rights from BBC Radio 2 which had aired it since 1997.[18]

May

• 12 May – Jeremy Hunt is appointed as Culture Secretary by new Prime Minister David Cameron.[19][20]
• 13 May – The BBC confirms that comedian Graham Norton will take over Jonathan Ross's show on Radio 2 when Ross leaves the network later in the year.[21]
• 18 May – The BBC apologises after BBC WM presenter Danny Kelly joked on air the previous afternoon that The Queen had died.[22]
• 31 May – BBC Radio 1 teams up with forces broadcaster BFBS for a ten-hour takeover show from Camp Bastion.[23]

June

• 21 June – Global Radio announces plans to reduce the number of its local Heart stations from 33 to 15 so-called "super stations" in a reorganisation that will lead to the loss of up to 200 full-time and freelance posts. The stations will have their own breakfast and drivetime shows, and local news bulletins, but all other output will come from London. A further two stations owned by Global will also be subsumed into the Heart network.[24]
• 25 June – BBC Radio 1 is criticised by the commercial radio trade body RadioCentre following a Harry Potter Day in which the station gave what it called “undue prominence” to the release of the film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.[25]
• 29 June – Smooth Radio announces plans to merge its five stations based in England, creating a national network. The new station will be based in Manchester and will see the loss of 60 jobs at Smooth's other bases. A phased launch will begin on 4 October.[26]
• 30 June – Heart Solent replaces Heart Hampshire and Heart Dorset & New Forest.

July

• 2 July –
  • Heart Cambridgeshire replaces Heart Peterborough and Heart Cambridge.
  • Heart North Wales and West replaces Heart North Wales Coast, Heart Cheshire and North East Wales and Heart Wirral.
• 5 July – The BBC Trust rejects BBC plans to close the digital station 6 Music saying there is not a strong enough case for closure. However, plans to axe the Asian Network, reduce the BBC online services by 25% and close the teenage service Blast! are given the go-ahead.[27]
• 9 July – Heart Thames Valley replaces Heart Oxfordshire and Heart Berkshire.
• 15 July – Senior BBC World Service executive Gwyneth Williams is appointed the next Controller of BBC Radio 4. She will succeed Mark Damazer in the autumn.[28]
• 16 July –
  • Heart Four Counties replaces Heart Northants, Heart Milton Keynes, Heart Dunstable and Heart Bedford || Dunstable, later Milton Keynes.
  • Heart West Country replaces Heart Bristol, Heart Bath and Heart Somerset.
• 18 July – After 64 years of Woman's Hour, the BBC begins broadcasting a full series called Men's Hour on BBC Radio 5 Live, presented by Tim Samuels.
• 26 July –
  • Hertfordshire station Mercury 96.6 becomes part of the Heart network and is relaunched as Heart Hertfordshire.
  • Heart Essex replaces Heart Essex (Chelmsford & Southend) , Heart Colchester and Ten 17.
  • Heart Sussex and Surrey replaces Heart Sussex and Mercury FM.

August

• 17 August – It is announced that Simon Bates will leave Classic FM after 13 years to join Smooth Radio as its new national breakfast presenter from January 2011.[29]
• 20 August – BBC Hereford & Worcester announces that former TV-am weather girl Wincey Willis will join the station to present a Saturday morning show titled The Big Day Out that will give listeners ideas for days out in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire area.[30]
• 27 August – Heart Devon replaces Heart Exeter and Heart Torbay, Heart Plymouth, Heart North Devon and Heart South Devon.

September

• 3 September –
  • BBC Radio 2 announces that Dawn Patrol presenter Sarah Kennedy is leaving the network after 17 years. By then she had been absent from the show for several weeks, and would not return to the programme before the schedules were reorganised in October. Lynn Parsons acts as the show's stand-in presenter for its remaining time on air.[31]
  • Heart East Anglia replaces Heart Norwich and Heart Ipswich.
• 13 September – Global announce plans to scrap the Galaxy Network in order to create a nationwide Capital FM. The plans will also include the closure of four further stations, with the new network going live in early 2011.[32]

October

• 2 October – Comedian Graham Norton takes over the Saturday morning show on Radio 2 (10 am – 1 pm) formerly hosted by Jonathan Ross.[33]
• 4 October – Smooth Radio launches its new national station.
• 31 October – Tony Blackburn presents his final Weekend Breakfast Show for Smooth Radio.

November

• 5 November – Members of the National Union of Journalists at the BBC begin a 48-hour strike in a dispute over proposed changes to the corporation's pension scheme. Programmes affected include the Today programme on Radio 4.[34]
• 6 November – Tony Blackburn joins Radio 2 replacing Dale Winton as the regular host of Pick of the Pops.[35]
• 23 November – It is announced that Vanessa Feltz will join Radio 2 from 17 January 2011, taking over Sarah Kennedy's old early morning show.[36]

December

• 6 December – While presenting the Radio 4 Today programme, James Naughtie makes a slip of the tongue while referring to the British Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt that turns his surname into what the BBC later describes as "an offensive four-letter word". A little later in the day Andrew Marr uses the same word on Start the Week while talking about the incident and after declaring "we won't repeat the mistake".[37]
• 11 December – It is reported that David "Kid" Jensen is leaving his mid morning show at Gold to join Smooth Radio as an afternoon presenter. He will make his debut on the network in 2011.[38]
• 24 December – A Christmas message by Pope Benedict XVI is broadcast by BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day programme, the first time the Pontiff has addressed a Christmas message to one of the countries he has visited during the year.[39]

Station debuts

• 28 February – Radio Plymouth
• 5 April – Academy FM (Thanet)
• 15 August – Sanjhi Awaz Radio (2010–2012)
• May – Rossendale Radio
• 21 June – Absolute Radio 90s
• 16 July – Absolute Radio Extra
• July – InverRadio
• 4 October – Smooth Radio (national)
• 4 December – Absolute 80s
• 10 December – Absolute Radio 00s

Closing this year

Date	Station	Debut
24 March	3TR FM	2001
	Bath FM	1999
	Brunel FM	2006
	Quay West 102.4/100.8	1998
	Quay West 107.4	2001
5 April	Pennine FM	2001
6 April	Sunshine 1530	2007
29 April	L107	2005
31 December	Heart 106	2005

Programme debuts

• 11 January –
  • The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2 (2010–2018)
  • Simon Mayo Drivetime on BBC Radio 2 (2010–2018)
• 14 February – Weekend Wogan on BBC Radio 2 (2010–2015)
• 2 October – Graham Norton on BBC Radio 2 (2010–2020)

Continuing radio programmes

1940s

• Sunday Half Hour (1940–2018)
• Desert Island Discs (1942–Present)
• Woman's Hour (1946–Present)
• A Book at Bedtime (1949–Present)

1950s

• The Archers (1950–Present)
• The Today Programme (1957–Present)

1960s

• Farming Today (1960–Present)
• The World at One (1965–Present)
• The Official Chart (1967–Present)
• Just a Minute (1967–Present)
• The Living World (1968–Present)
• The Organist Entertains (1969–2018)

1970s

• PM (1970–Present)
• Start the Week (1970–Present)
• You and Yours (1970–Present)
• I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (1972–Present)
• Good Morning Scotland (1973–Present)
• Newsbeat (1973–Present)
• File on 4 (1977–Present)
• Money Box (1977–Present)
• The News Quiz (1977–Present)
• Feedback (1979–Present)
• The Food Programme (1979–Present)
• Science in Action (1979–Present)

1980s

• Steve Wright in the Afternoon (1981–1993, 1999–Present)
• In Business (1983–Present)
• Sounds of the 60s (1983–Present)
• Loose Ends (1986–Present)

1990s

• The Moral Maze (1990–Present)
• Essential Selection (1991–Present)
• Essential Mix (1993–Present)
• Up All Night (1994–Present)
• Wake Up to Money (1994–Present)
• Private Passions (1995–Present)
• The David Jacobs Collection (1996–2013)
• Sunday Night at 10 (1998–2013)
• In Our Time (1998–Present)
• Material World (1998–Present)
• Scott Mills (1998–Present)
• The Now Show (1998–Present)

2000s

• BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (2000–Present)
• Big John @ Breakfast (2000–Present)
• Sounds of the 70s (2000–2008, 2009–Present)
• Kermode and Mayo's Film Review (2001–Present)
• The Big Toe Radio Show (2002–2011)
• A Kist o Wurds (2002–Present)
• Fighting Talk (2003–Present)
• Jeremy Vine (2003–Present)
• The Chris Moyles Show (2004–2012)
• Fearne Cotton (2009-2015)
• Annie Mac (2004–Present)
• The Jo Whiley Show (2001–2011)
• Elaine Paige on Sunday (2004–Present)
• The Bottom Line (2006–Present)
• The Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show (2006–Present)
• The Unbelievable Truth (2006–Present)
• The Radcliffe and Maconie Show (2007–Present)
• Geoff Lloyd's Hometime Show (2008–2017)
• The Strand (2008–2013)
• The Media Show (2008–Present)
• Americana (2009–2011)
• Newsjack (2009–Present)
• Paul O'Grady on the Wireless (2009–Present)
• Alan and Mel's Summer Escape (2009–Present)

Ending this year

• 23 February – Act Your Age (2008–2010)
• 17 July – Jonathan Ross (1999–2010)
• Unknown – Electric Ink (2009–2010)

Deaths

• 17 March – Charlie Gillett, 68, writer, broadcaster and musicologist[40]

References

1. "Jonathan Ross is Leaving the BBC". BBC News. 2010-01-07. Retrieved 2010-01-15.
2. "Sir Terry to leave breakfast show". BBC News. 7 September 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
3. Khan, Urmee (7 January 2010). "Moira Stuart returns to the BBC on Chris Evans' radio show". Telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 January 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
4. Savage, Mark (11 January 2010). "What the critics say: Chris Evans' Radio 2 breakfast show debut". BBC News. Archived from the original on 14 January 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
5. Laughlin, Andrew (11 January 2010). "Mayo: 'BBC is marginalising religion'". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 14 January 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
6. "Gaby Roslin's big breakfast radio clash with Chris Evans". This is London. 4 January 2010. Archived from the original on 23 April 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
7. Foster, Patrick (14 January 2010). "BBC admits it went too far with U2 support". Times Online. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
8. Swash, Rosie (15 January 2010). "N-Dubz's Dappy sent death threats to BBC Radio 1 listener". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 January 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
9. "Wake Up to Wogan: Programme copy". BBC Press Office. 17 December 2009. Retrieved 31 December 2009.
10. "What The Papers say set for radio revival". BBC News. 17 February 2010. Archived from the original on 18 February 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
11. "Smooth does Starlight Supper". Radio Today. 11 January 2010. Archived from the original on 2013-03-27. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
12. "Gino supports Smooth Supper". Radio Today. 2 February 2010. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
13. Plunkett, John (2 March 2010). "BBC confirms plans to axe 6 Music and Asian Network". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 April 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
14. Plunkett, John (11 March 2010). "Long-running shows move in Radio 2 reshuffle". The Guardian. guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
15. Plunkett, John (25 March 2010). "Bath FM and Brunel FM among five radio stations to close". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 3 April 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
16. Sweney, Mark (15 April 2010). "Ofcom: commercial radio can slash local programming". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
17. "BBC Radio Stoke programmes". BBC News. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
18. "GMG Radio kicks BBC Radio 2 out of Blackpool for switch on". The Drum. 30 April 2010. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
19. "David Cameron and Nick Clegg pledge 'united' coalition". BBC News. BBC. 12 May 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
20. Elgot, Jessica (12 May 2010). "Cameron's Cabinet: Who are they?". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
21. "Graham Norton to replace Jonathan Ross on BBC Radio 2". BBC News. BBC. 13 May 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
22. "BBC 'sorry' for WM presenter Queen death joke". BBC News. BBC. 18 May 2010. Archived from the original on 21 May 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
23. Laughlin, Andrew (14 May 2010). "Radio 1, BFBS partner for Afghanistan day". Digital Spy. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
24. Plunkett, John (21 June 2010). "Global Radio to halve number of local Heart stations". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
25. "BBC in hot water over Potter coverage". Yahoo News. 25 June 2010. Archived from the original on 28 June 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
26. Plunkett, John (29 June 2010). "Smooth Radio to merge regional stations, with loss of up to 60 jobs". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
27. "BBC Trust rejects 6 Music closure plan". BBC News. BBC. 5 July 2010. Archived from the original on 6 July 2010. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
28. Plunkett, John; Martinson, Jane (15 July 2010). "Gwyneth Williams appointed BBC Radio 4 controller". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
29. Sweney, Mark (17 August 2010). "Simon Bates to leave Classic FM for Smooth Radio". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 26 October 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
30. "New radio show for Wincey Willis". BBC News. BBC. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
31. Robinson, James (3 September 2010). "Sarah Kennedy to leave BBC Radio 2". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 5 September 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
32. McCabe, Maisie (13 September 2010). "Global Radio takes Capital national". Campaign Live. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
33. "Graham Norton show to replace Friday Night with Ross". BBC News. BBC. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
34. "BBC News staff strike over pensions". BBC News. BBC. 5 November 2010. Archived from the original on 12 November 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
35. Plunkett, John (24 September 2010). "Tony Blackburn to present Pick of the Pops". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 26 October 2010. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
36. "Vanessa Feltz to take over Sarah Kennedy Radio 2 show". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. 23 November 2010. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
37. "Today presenter James Naughtie slips up on air". BBC News. BBC. 6 December 2010. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
38. "Jensen leaves Gold for Smooth". Radio Today. 11 December 2010. Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
39. "God often surprises us, says Pope in BBC broadcast". BBC News. BBC. 24 December 2010. Archived from the original on 28 December 2010. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
40. "BBC Radio 3 and World Service DJ Charlie Gillett dies". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 18 March 2010. Archived from the original on 25 March 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2010.