BBC Radio Manchester has released a new football song ahead of England’s World Cup quarter final against Norway this weekend.

“Where’s the World Cup At?” is a reworked version of the 1980 Salford Jets single “Who You Looking At?”, featuring updated lyrics and a newly recorded soundtrack.

The song is led by BBC Radio Manchester presenter Mike Sweeney, who was also the frontman of the Salford Jets. He is joined by Breakfast presenter Joe McGrath and listeners from across Greater Manchester.

A music video has also been produced and includes appearances from DJ Clint Boon of Inspiral Carpets, Bez from Happy Mondays and CBBC character Hacker T Dog.

Mike said: “Football and music bring people together and have been a huge part of my life since I can remember. They are my two biggest passions.”

He added: “BBC Radio Manchester has the best listeners, and I’ve loved that they’ve created something special. I can’t believe we have pulled this off so quickly and it will be ready for Saturday’s game.”

The video will be shown on BBC North West Tonight on Friday at 6.30pm and shared on BBC Radio Manchester’s social media channels.

The song is also available on BBC Sounds and will continue to be played across the station during England’s World Cup campaign.

BBC coverage of England’s quarter final against Norway will include live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds, with Mark Chapman presenting from Miami. Additional coverage and post match reaction will be available across BBC Sport platforms.

Radiocentre’s new Head of Advertising Clearance, Jo Verrill, writes about trust in advertising as she settles in to her new role.

This week marks a new chapter for me as I take up the role of Head of Advertising Clearance at Radiocentre. I am delighted to be taking on this job at such a key moment of growth and opportunity in the audio industry. In many ways it could not be more timely, following the recent publication of a new landmark global study showcasing audio’s ‘catalytic’ effect on advertising campaigns – including a mind-blowing 81% amplification of trust.

There is growing recognition of the essential role trust plays in effective advertising. An IPA report released earlier this year confirmed that trust-building ad campaigns improve business outcomes. More specifically, IPA Touchpoints data show trust in radio advertising is higher than for other media.

Radiocentre Clearance helps hundreds of brands deliver that promise of trust to listeners every single day. As the experts in audio clearance, we ensure that the adverts reaching audiences not only comply with the rules but also honour the values that make radio such a trusted medium. This is not about bureaucracy or ‘signing off’ scripts; it’s about actively contributing to the credibility and integrity that underpins the entire UK advertising industry.

As a long-time radio fan, joining the team responsible for helping to reinforce that trust through clearance is a privilege and a responsibility I take to heart. There is an ever-growing gap between the accuracy of advertising in some online spaces, where pre-clearance is not mandatory, and broadcast, where it is. This gap erodes trust across the entire industry, which is why I will be collaborating with regulators and industry partners to address this disparity and work towards bringing other platforms up to the same standards.

We don’t treat clearance as a box-ticking exercise. Legals aren’t just there to protect the brand; their primary function is to help the consumer make informed decisions, and for informed decisions to be made the information needs to be clear, concise and relevant. Our research has repeatedly demonstrated that lengthy terms and conditions lead to poorer understanding. 

Earlier this year we extended our partnership with the Financial Conduct Authority, enabling us to continue to provide regulator-endorsed guidance on consumer credit legals in car ads. This has helped to cut down on the terms and conditions attached to finance offers while also providing the much-needed reassurance to compliance teams. This impressive work has already made a difference to adverts in this category. I know we can go further on improving terms and conditions, and I’ll be making sure this is explored in other product categories.

While audio advertising is not necessarily facing any imminent regulatory threats, we can’t be complacent in a rapidly shifting political landscape. That’s why I will be continuing to ensure radio’s voice is strongly represented in regulatory forums, including the BCAP board and the ASA, so that the rules remain fit for purpose and are appropriate for the very specific needs of audio. 

I’m also excited to see how the advertising world will evolve and innovate in the coming years. I see Radiocentre Clearance as a key part of that journey and we will be working hard to be ready to slot in and facilitate these new technologies.

Finally, it goes without saying that I am taking on an incredible 30-year legacy from Yvonne Kintoff, who has overseen this work since its inception in 1996. The radio industry benefits every day from the depth of knowledge, judgement and commitment she has built within Radiocentre Clearance. The team’s speed and expertise is absolutely remarkable. The level of skill is outstanding, and I am honoured to be leading such an exceptional team.

Jo Verrill – Head of Advertising Clearance, Radiocentre.

BBC Radio Derby is launching a campaign to help listeners understand inherited cancer risks and encourage earlier action.

The station’s new initiative, called It Starts With You, is being led by Breakfast presenter Becky Measures, whose own family experience has shaped the project.

Twenty years ago, Becky became the youngest person in the UK to choose preventative double mastectomy surgery after discovering she carried the BRCA1 gene mutation, which significantly increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Her decision followed similar surgery undertaken by her mother after nine of 12 family members were diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer. Neither Becky nor her mother had cancer when they underwent their operations.

Speaking about the campaign, Becky said: “This campaign is incredibly personal to me. My family’s experience changed my life, and I know how frightening and confusing it can be to face decisions like these.”

She added: “We are three generations of women alive because of what we did. If sharing my story encourages even one person to find out more about their risk or seek advice earlier, then it’s worth it.”

As part of the campaign, BBC Radio Derby will introduce “Feel Yourself Fridays” to encourage regular self checks, alongside roadshows across the region aimed at raising awareness of hereditary cancers and the importance of understanding family medical history.

BBC Radio Derby Executive Producer Rachael Gilchrist said many people remain unaware they may carry an inherited cancer risk, adding that greater awareness can help cancers be identified earlier.

The campaign launches on BBC Radio Derby Breakfast with Becky Measures from 6am on Friday 10 July.

BBC Radio 2 presenter Paul Gambaccini has revealed he is living with Alzheimer’s disease but plans to continue broadcasting.

The broadcaster said he was diagnosed in early 2025 and has decided to share the news publicly while continuing with his programmes on BBC Radio 2 and Greatest Hits Radio.

In a statement, Paul referenced Queen’s song These Are The Days Of Our Lives, saying: “As Freddie Mercury once sang, you can’t turn back the clock, you can’t turn back the tide.”

He added: “I’m grateful for the kindness and support I’ve already received. I will be as open as I can as things progress.”

Paul also asked for privacy as he continues his work on air, saying he wished to be given “the space to keep on broadcasting the music I love to the listeners I love even more”.

The BBC Radio 2 presenter currently hosts The Paul Gambaccini Collection on Sunday evenings from 8pm to 10pm. He will also continue presenting his programmes on Greatest Hits Radio.

A statement issued alongside the announcement said support had been provided to Paul and his husband, Christopher Sherwood, since the diagnosis. It added that there was pleasure that he would continue broadcasting to his audiences on both networks.

Both BBC Radio 2 and Greatest Hits Radio have posted social media messages wishing Paul love and best wishes.

Audio Academy is holding summer socials in London and Newcastle for people working across radio and audio.

The London event takes place at Bauer’s The Lantern on Thursday 16 July and will include the launch of this year’s 30 Under 30 activity.

The evening will also celebrate the graduation of the Audio Academy Mentoring programme, with drinks and networking from 7pm to 9pm.

A panel of recent 30 Under 30 alumni will talk about how being included on the list has helped their careers, as well as sharing advice for people planning to apply.

Registration is essential and those attending will need photo ID.

The Newcastle Summer Social follows on Tuesday 4 August at the Cinema Room at The Town Wall, running from 7:30pm to 9:30pm.

It is aimed at people working in, studying or interested in podcasting, radio, sound design, voiceover, audiobooks and live audio.

North East Branch Lead Hunter Charlton has been bringing audio people together in Newcastle since spring 2025 and will be joined by sound engineer John Scott to share recent work.

Attendees are also invited to bring along finished projects, work in progress or early ideas for feedback from others in the room.

Duncan Campbell, former ARN chief content officer who spent 15 years with the Australian network, has launched a new radio business.

CD Media Consultancy says it will work with broadcasters, media groups and investors across radio and audio, offering strategy, programming support, planning and involvement through delivery rather than handing over a report and leaving clients to act alone.

Duncan will be supported by a team of associates including Buzz Knight, Phil Dowse and Mike Sheppard.

For selected clients, CD Media Consultancy is offering a no win no fee guarantee, with the company saying the model shifts more risk away from the client.

It has also announced an exclusive partnership with Max Dragon Technology in Singapore to use MoodiSonic AI, described in the launch material as a large language model built for radio and broadcast media.

The company says MoodiSonic can analyse areas including station sound, shows, talent, imaging, audience, competitive position and content strategy.

Duncan said: “We offer something that is unique with the combination of human expertise and the AI insights of MoodiSonic. This is designed for the future and built to give clients a winning advantage.”

CD Media Consultancy says Duncan will be personally involved in every client engagement, with the company focusing on stations and networks seeking external insight on ratings, breakfast shows, restructuring or market entry.

Duncan previously worked in UK radio as Regional Programme Director for Bauer Media’s stations in Scotland, based at Radio Forth in Edinburgh, before joining ARN in Australia.

Absolute Radio listeners have taken part in a human table football match built for a Wickes brand partnership.

The Bauer Media Audio UK activation turned a Wickes car park into a life-sized pitch for listeners of The Dave Berry Breakfast Show.

Dave Berry and Matt Dyson selected two teams of 20 listeners on air before inviting them to compete in a bespoke game using a set built from Wickes products.

The event was hosted by Absolute Radio presenters Jay Lawrence, Andrea Fox, Matt Dyson and Ben Burrell, with the campaign also using social content and on-air storytelling.

Listeners taking part competed for Wickes gift cards, while people listening at home were able to enter by predicting the winning team online.

The activation was created around interest in football during the World Cup and continued Bauer Media’s partnership work with Wickes.

Shelley Allison, Head of Retail Marketing at Wickes, said: “Our partnership with Bauer Media has always been built on creating authentic moments.”

She added that the activity “taps into the excitement surrounding football in a way that feels natural for the audience”.

David Prever is joining Magic Classical to host afternoons, replacing Hannah Cox.

David will host Calming Classics Weekend every Saturday and Sunday from 2pm to 6pm on the station previously known as Scala.

He has previously presented on Magic Radio and Jazz FM, as well as Heart, LBC, Smooth Radio and BBC Local Radio.

Most recently, David presented BBC Oxford Breakfast.

Magic Classical and Jazz FM Content Director Nick Pitts said David would have “an instant connection with our audience” through the music and the wider topics that interest listeners.

David said: “I’m delighted to be joining Magic Classical. Playing the music that I love, on a weekend afternoon, for an audience who feels the same way, is about as good as it gets.”

He joins a refreshed Calming Classics Weekend schedule, with Jack Pepper on Weekend Breakfast, Ayanna Witter Johnson on Saturday daytime and Sonali Shah on Sunday daytime, immediately after her Magic Radio show.

Darren Redick and Fran Godfrey host Saturday and Sunday evenings respectively.

Hannah Cox, who previously hosted Weekend Afternoon, has stepped back from the station for personal reasons after being part of Magic Classical since its launch in 2019.

Greg James will get an extra half hour on BBC Radio 1 Breakfast this summer to make up for his time off at Taylor Swift’s wedding(!).

The station says its summer 2026 schedule will begin on Monday 20 July, with Greg staying on air until 11am from Monday to Thursday.

The change means Radio 1 Breakfast will run for four hours during the summer, before the usual schedule returns on Monday 7 September, when Greg is back on from 7am to 10:30am.

Rickie Haywood-Williams, Melvin Odoom and Charlie Hedges will move to an 11am start during the same period, continuing with entertainment, music and Live Lounge performances.

On Fridays, Nat O’Leary and Vicky Hawkesworth will present Radio 1 Anthems from 10am to 11am, with songs from the 2000s, 10s and 20s.

Greg said: “I took some last minute days off for a destination wedding I had to go to and I need to make the time up to be honest so it feels like 30 mins a day over the summer is a good plan.”

Aled Haydn Jones, Head of BBC Radio 1, said the station was adjusting to changes in younger listeners’ routines over the summer.

Radio 1 will also broadcast live festival coverage from Ibiza, Malta and Reading and Leeds this summer, following earlier weekends at Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Download, TRNSMT and Parklife.

BBC Radio 6 Music’s new BBC Sounds extension will be called Indie Forever, and will see Steve Lamacq and Felix White host weekday morning.

The 24-hour stream will launch on Wednesday 22 July, playing indie music from the 1980s to the 2010s and beyond, with UK artists making up 70% of the playlist.

The Morning Session with Steve and Felix will open the schedule, taking inspiration from Radio 1’s Evening Session and exploring the moments, movements, artists, scenes and labels that shaped UK indie music.

Other launch programmes include Indie Forever Disco with Beth Ditto, City Soundtracks with Emily Pilbeam, classic Jarvis Cocker shows, artist archive collections and repeats of The Rise and Fall of The Smiths and The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of Oasis.

Samantha Moy, Head of BBC Radio 6 Music, said: “If you want a version of 6 Music that’s pure, unadulterated indie, then this 24hr stream is for you.”

Steve says he is looking forward to reliving memories with Felix each weekday morning and “telling the stories that shaped British independent music.”

City Soundtracks will be produced with Music Venue Trust and BBC Introducing from independent venues around the UK, while Sophie Willan will voice programme introductions across the stream.

6 Music will mark the launch with a simulcast of the first Morning Session, followed by an Indie Forever playlist.