GlitterBeam is extending its reach across Kent and South London on DAB while opening a new studio in Chatham.

The station will now be available on small scale DAB multiplexes across the region, increasing access in the South East.

Alongside the expansion, a new studio which has been named Auravine, has opened at the Dockside Outlet Centre in Chatham. The space is designed to support live broadcasting, interviews and podcast production in one location.

Auravine includes areas for guest interviews and content creation, alongside facilities for recording and streaming video.

Multiple cameras are installed throughout the studio to capture live sessions and performances for distribution across digital platforms.

The studio also features adaptable lighting designed to respond to different shows and events, creating a consistent visual identity for output. A custom neon installation forms a central visual element within the space and is intended to be recognisable across video content.

Eugenio Ceriello, co-founder of GlitterBeam, said: “Expanding on DAB across the whole of Kent and South London allows us to reach more listeners than ever before, while Auravine represents our vision for the future of GlitterBeam.”

Michael Walton-Dalzell, co-founder, added that the studio had been built to support radio, podcasts and video production from a single location, giving the station flexibility as it grows its output.

Richard Rees will present his final BBC Radio Cymru programme on 11th April after a 50-year career at the BBC.

He shared the news on his Saturday morning show, which he has hosted for more than 20 years.

Richard joined the BBC in 1976 and went on to work across BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales, covering music, news, sport and current affairs, and becoming a consistent voice across multiple formats.

Reflecting on his early days, he said: “I remember arriving by car at 7.30 in the morning… thinking, ‘What on earth am I doing here?’… the huge doubt – was I good enough? I almost drove home.”

He also described his time at the broadcaster as “a privilege and an honour”, highlighting the connection with audiences and colleagues built over five decades.

Dafydd Meredydd, Editor of BBC Radio Cymru, thanked him for his contribution, saying he had offered “warm companionship to generations” and helped shape the station’s sound from the beginning.

From mid-April, Huw Stephens will take over Saturday mornings from 5.30am to 7am with a new weekly music show.

Huw said: “I’m looking forward to starting a new weekly show on BBC Sounds and on Saturday mornings on BBC Radio Cymru. After 25 years of broadcasting in Welsh at night, this new programme will be a fun musical journey celebrating some of my all‑time favourite artists.

Other new shows on BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Cymru 2 include Ifan Davies from 7pm on Thursday evenings, Lisa Angharad on Friday afternoons from 2pm, on BBC Radio Cymru 2, DJ Molly Palmer with the Friday Breakfast Show at 7am and comedian Mel Owen taking over on Saturday mornings, with Mirain Iwerydd continuing on Sunday mornings.

A new book marking 50 years of Downtown Radio has been released, telling the station’s story from its earliest roots up until today.

It Brought a Smile to Your Ear, written by Ivan Martin and John Rosborough, charts broadcasting in Belfast from 1924 through to the launch of Independent Local Radio in 1976 and the decades that followed.

Both authors draw on direct experience. Ivan Martin presented the breakfast programme First Edition alongside Richard Young for more than 20 years, while John Rosborough was Head of Programming for 21 years until 2000.

The book includes recollections from former staff, reflecting on working in Newtownards during challenging periods, when the station combined reliable news coverage with entertainment to support listeners.

It also documents key developments in the station’s growth, including its expansion across the province in the mid-1980s, the launch of Cool FM in 1990 to target younger audiences, and the introduction of Downtown Country on DAB in 2015.

Chapters are structured like a playlist, with a second section featuring a series of one-to-one interviews offering personal and often light-hearted memories from contributors associated with the station.

The publication has been released to coincide with Downtown Radio’s 50th anniversary and is available in Belfast and online from colourpointbooks.com.

The sign marking the Scott Mills Bridge at Welcome Break’s Fleet services has been removed.

The bridge, which had carried Scott Mills’ name in recognition of his long-standing association with BBC Radio 1, no longer displays the signage that linked it to him.

Removal of the sign comes just days after confirmation that Scott is no longer contracted to the BBC, bringing an end to his time with the broadcaster.

It was only last month that Welcome Break celebrated the 10th anniversary of the plaque, which was proudly displayed in the northbound building.

The bridge was christened in 2016 when Scott and his co-host at BBC Radio 1, Chris Stark, talked about it on-air.

Welcome Break has not commented publicly on the situation, and RadioToday has contacted the company for a comment.

But with the Bank Holiday weekend upon us, we may need to wait till next week to find out if the removal was in reaction to Scott’s sacking, or merely a coincidence.

Scott was questioned by police in 2018 following allegations about an incident or incidents in 1997.

The case was dropped due to a lack of evidence.

Bob Harris has told listeners he is back in hospital and taking a short break from his BBC Radio 2 shows.

Posting on Instagram, he said he is receiving treatment for an issue that has developed over the past few weeks.

“As many of you know, I suffer from prostate cancer, and every now and again I experience setbacks that need attention. Now is one of these moments,” he wrote.

Bob confirmed this week’s Country Show is scheduled as planned, and his Sounds of the 70’s episode on 12th April will feature an 80th birthday celebration special he recorded before attending the C2C Festival with Zoe Ball.

During his absence, Darius Rucker will guest on Country, while Shaun Keaveny will cover Sounds of the 70’s for a few weeks.

Bob said he couldn’t provide a return date but reassured listeners: “I know that I will come back… and come back stronger. I hate missing programmes and I am keen to get back into the studio as soon as I can.”

He paid tribute to his family, friends, and manager Nick Canham for their support during this period. “Thank you with all my heart to them and to all my listeners whose words and messages here mean so much. Sending you all my fondest love,” he added.

He concluded by telling fans he will return to the station when he is ready.

 

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A new station will combine sports discussion with music when it launches next month.

Track Radio will begin broadcasting on 4th May, offering a mix of talk and music aimed at listeners who enjoy in-depth conversation about daily sporting stories.

The station will be available on London DAB and online from its studios in Notting Hill, with plans to expand further.

Each hour is expected to include several speech segments alongside a run of music tracks, with presenters covering a wide range of sports and speaking to expert guests.

Short hourly news bulletins will also feature, and the station says it will cover men’s and women’s sport together rather than separating them into different programmes.

Track Radio is owned by Track Record Corporation and led by Iain Macintosh, previously CEO of Muddy Knees Media. The station is advised by non-executive director Jonathan Arendt, who was launch director of XFM and CEO of Jazz FM.

A list of presenters is due to be confirmed, with long-time BBC sports broadcaster John Inverdale, advising on the launch of the station.

Iain Macintosh said: “It’s all sports, not just football, and it’s expert-led at all times. If we’re not telling you something you don’t know every day, we’re doing it wrong.”

John Inverdale added: “Sport is full of brilliant stories and fascinating people, and fans love getting under the skin of it all.

“Track Radio gives us the chance to bring these elements together in a way that feels relaxed, informed and genuinely welcoming for listeners.”

Spotwise is expanding its AI broadcast sales intelligence platform after securing new early-stage investment.

The Latvian startup has raised 450,000 US dollars in a pre-seed funding round led by Outlast Fund, with support from BADideas.fund and 500 Global, following its pitch at the TechChill 2026 Founders Battle.

Founded in late 2024, Spotwise has developed an AI platform designed to combine broadcast monitoring, analytics and sales automation into a single system for media organisations.

The company says it has already entered 13 countries within its first year, working on pilot programmes and deployments with major European broadcasting groups.

The funding will be used to support expansion into Western Europe and to develop additional capabilities focused on television and podcast intelligence.

Roberts Ernests Levics said: “The broadcast industry has historically been forced to choose between delayed market research or hours of manual tracking. Our agentic AI eliminates that compromise.”

He added that the platform aims to turn large volumes of broadcast data into usable analytics and sales leads within seconds, reducing the time teams spend compiling information.

Kristaps Prusis from Outlast Fund said the company had shown strong progress since launch and had already gained the trust of major broadcasters across Europe.

Ofcom has approved a change to Glow Radio’s Key Commitments, allowing it to broaden its audience beyond under-40s.

The community radio licence holder, Rush FM Ltd, had proposed updating its character of service to include “the people who live, work and study within its licensed area” rather than just younger listeners.

The station will also revise its social gain commitments. Previously focused on giving local young people a voice and opportunities for skills training, Glow Radio will now provide “some dedicated output to provide a voice to under-40s,” while supporting local people, businesses and volunteer and charitable organisations. The changes are to strengthen social cohesion across the area.

Ofcom said the proposed amendments would substantially alter the service’s character but determined that the new Key Commitments were appropriate. The consultation process received input from the community before the decision was finalised.

Commenting on the approval, Matt Vaughan, Director of Programming at Glow Radio said: “I would like to thank Jon, Ophelia, and the Ofcom team for their time to consider this.

“Since my original application for a community radio licence in May 2017, the radio landscape and the habits of younger radio listeners have changed considerably.

“The approved consultation isn’t about Glow Radio ignoring its roots, it gives Glow more scope to serve the people of the newly appointed council area of North Hampshire and Surrey Heath, it also gives more local people of all ages an opportunity to volunteer at the station.”

Gaydio has opened new studios in Manchester, placing the station at the heart of the city’s LGBTQ+ community.

The facility overlooks Manchester’s Gay Village and features three fully visualised studios, allowing the station to expand video content and deepen engagement across digital platforms.

The move is the largest single investment in Gaydio’s history, funded through The Big Issue Investment Fund, Warner Music Group, OVO Energy and internal resources.

A central part of the new HQ is the Gaydio Academy, providing training, mentoring and hands-on experience to support emerging LGBTQ+ broadcasters and creatives. The academy’s aim, is to help people build careers in media using industry-standard equipment.

Kriss Herbert-Noble, Gaydio’s Network Content Director, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be opening these new studios in such an iconic location for our community, especially as we celebrate 20 years of Gaydio.

“This investment is about the future, giving our audiences more ways to connect with us through fully visual content.”

The station says the move reflects its commitment to innovation, representation and community impact, while also supporting a new management team and full-time roles across content and commercial teams.

Jo Lloyd will host Dune Radio’s Breakfast Show from mid-April.

She steps into the weekday slot after joining the station last November to present a weekend show.

The former Smooth Radio and Century Radio presenter will front the refreshed Breakfast Show as the station marks a decade on air this year. Her appointment forms part of a wider update to the station’s output as it reaches its tenth anniversary.

Content Director Andy Hilbert said: “We’re delighted to have Jo launch a brand-new offering at Breakfast time, what better way to celebrate this, our 10th year on-air.”

The Southport based station began broadcasting as Sandgrounder Radio in June 2016 before rebranding as Dune Radio three years ago.

Jo’s first programme in the new slot will be on Monday 13 April from 7am.

A new Friday night show led by Izzy Bossy will headline a wider schedule update on BBC Radio 1Xtra.

The station is introducing a late night show from 11pm to 1am every Friday, starting on 24 April, with Izzy hosting Friday Night Party with Izzy Bossy.

The change forms part of a revised Friday evening line-up, with Kash and Pharxoh taking on a new 7pm to 9pm slot and Kenny Allstar’s Rap Show moving later to 9pm to 11pm under a simplified name.

Further changes begin from 20 April, including Fee Mak becoming the permanent host of the Saturday 10am to 1pm programme.

Jeremiah Asiamah’s Rave Show moves to Thursday nights, while Keke’s Throwback Party shifts to Wednesday. Joelah Noble will step back from that show but remains on Saturdays from 1pm to 4pm.

Additional changes take place in September, with Snoochie Shy moving her Monday show earlier to 9pm and joining Manga Saint Hilare on Saturdays. Sian Anderson will take over weekday afternoons between 1pm and 4pm.

Izzy said: “I’ve been listening to 1Xtra for years, so stepping into the family now feels unreal! I’m beyond excited and seriously grateful for the opportunity.”

Head of 1Xtra Dari Samuels added: “I’m delighted to welcome Izzy to the Radio 1Xtra family. She’s a brilliant DJ who I know will bring incredible energy and charisma to our Friday nights, setting the tone for the weekend.”

Rebecca Keating will become the new Editor of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, starting in the coming weeks.

She moves into the role from her current position as assistant editor across several Radio 4 news programmes, including The World at One, PM, Broadcasting House and The World This Weekend.

John McAndrew, Director of Live and Daily News, said Rebecca has “an exciting and ambitious vision for Today’s future” and will help the programme reach new audiences while maintaining its established role.

Rebecca has worked at the BBC for nearly 20 years, editing major news output including Today, the News at Six and News at Ten, and Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. Her experience also includes covering major stories such as the death of Queen Elizabeth II, elections, and international conflicts.

BBC Radio 4 Controller, Mohit Bakaya described her as “an outstanding journalist” committed to keeping the programme relevant while maintaining its editorial standards.

Rebecca said she looks forward to leading the programme and working with its presenters and production team.

She added that Today’s role in holding power to account remains vital as audiences navigate an increasingly complex information landscape.

Rebecca began her career at the BBC as a broadcast journalist before moving into political newsgathering, covering the coalition government and Brexit, and presenting The Week in Parliament. Prior to this, she worked at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Scott Mills has confirmed a past police investigation linked to him did not result in any charges.

In a statement issued following his departure from the BBC, Scott addressed speculation surrounding the decision to terminate his contract, confirming that a Metropolitan Police statement relates to him.

He said an allegation of a historic sexual offence was made in 2016 and investigated, with him cooperating fully and responding in 2018. A file was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service, which concluded the evidential threshold for charges had not been met.

Scott said the allegation dates back nearly 30 years and the investigation was closed seven years ago, adding that he would not be making any further public comment and asking for privacy to be respected.

He also acknowledged support from colleagues and listeners, saying he “greatly miss[es]” his audience and thanked those who had reached out.

The BBC confirmed last week that it had terminated Scott’s contract following new information coming to light, but has not disclosed further details, citing legal and privacy considerations.

Scott’s statement is the first direct response from him since the BBC announced his departure.

BHBN Radio has been named Station of the Year at the 2026 National Hospital Radio Awards.

The awards, held in Bolton on 21 March and hosted by Sean Dunderdale, recognised work from hospital broadcasting volunteers across the UK during the Hospital Broadcasting Association’s annual conference weekend, which also marked 100 years of hospital radio.

BHBN Radio took the top honour, with judges praising its patient interviews, storytelling and range of programmes, alongside strong football coverage. Grampian Hospital Radio and Durham Hospitals Radio were awarded silver and bronze respectively in the same category.

A new award for Moment of the Year went to Grampian Hospital Radio, highlighting the story of Ken McEwen following his MND diagnosis. His voice was recreated using archived recordings, demonstrating how technology can support communication and awareness.

Andy Holmes from Hospital Radio Chelmsford and Kay Drummond from Grampian Hospital Radio won Male and Female Presenter of the Year. HWD’s Rock Show received gold for Best Specialist Music Programme.

Nigel Dallard from Winchester Radio was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Alan Dedicoat. Radio Wey received recognition for innovation for its smartphone app.

The ceremony celebrated the contribution of volunteers working across hospital, health and wellbeing radio services.

See all the winners here.

An almost 97-year-old presenter at Hospital Radio Glamorgan has been awarded honorary life membership after nearly three decades of service.

John Webber continues to host his Sunday night programme and remains an active volunteer, sharing music with listeners despite approaching his 97th birthday in May.

He joined the station in 1998 and has played a consistent role in its development over 28 years. During that time, John has also supported and encouraged new volunteers, including his son Ian, who followed him into the station.

Chairman Jamie Pritchard said: “John’s dedication to Hospital Radio Glamorgan is truly remarkable. For nearly three decades he has given his time, experience and passion to the station, while also supporting generations of volunteers and that includes me!”

Jamie added that John remains a valued member of the team, and said the award reflects the contribution he has made over many years.

The presentation took place at the station’s AGM, where John also joked: “I want that card from King Charles.”

He becomes the 11th volunteer in the station’s history to receive honorary life membership, recognising a long-standing contribution to the charity and its output.

A further internal update has been shared with BBC staff following the departure of Scott Mills.

Rhodri Talfan Davies told colleagues a new statement had been issued, acknowledging the impact on teams who worked with Scott over many years and thanking them for their professionalism during a difficult period.

Rhodri said there had been significant speculation since the news emerged, but stressed there were limits to what could be shared publicly due to the rights of those involved.

In the statement, the BBC confirmed it had received new information in recent weeks and spoke directly with Scott before deciding to terminate his contracts on Friday 27 March.

The organisation said it acted in line with its culture and values, and pointed to work already underway to strengthen standards following an independent review last year.

It also confirmed it had been made aware in 2017 of an ongoing police investigation, which later concluded in 2019 without arrest or charge.

Rhodri added that further work is now taking place to understand what was known internally at that time, as the BBC continues to review its processes and handling of such matters.

Nation Broadcasting has expanded its South West presence by acquiring Devon-based station Radio Exe.

The deal strengthens Nation’s position in the regional market, adding an established local service to its portfolio just days after launching Nation Radio Devon on DAB across the county.

Radio Exe began broadcasting in 2012 to Exeter and surrounding areas, later extending across much of Devon on DAB around 2020, including Torbay, Plymouth and North Devon. The station will continue with its existing format of music, local news and information under the new ownership.

The acquisition creates two local stations under Nation Broadcasting in the same region, described as complementary services targeting audiences across Devon.

Founder Jason Bryant said: “Radio Exe has always been a popular and highly regarded local radio station. Radio Exe will continue to broadcast its successful mix of Devon’s Best Music alongside local news and information.”

Jason added the company was pleased to welcome the existing team as it develops its regional operations.

Outgoing managing director Paul Nero confirmed he will step away following the sale, marking a change after more than a decade with the station.

He said: “Radio Exe is enjoying a period of high listening figures and revenues and has built a great reputation with businesses and audiences.”

The licence for speech station Devoncast Radio remains with Paul’s company, Exe Communicate.

Forty independent production companies will receive BBC funding and mentoring support across the UK this year.

The investment combines the Small Indie Fund and the Radio and Music Indie Development Fund, offering a total of £1.3m alongside mentoring and access to BBC commissioning teams to help businesses grow and develop new ideas.

A further four companies will also join a new Digital Accelerator programme, delivered with North East Screen Industries. Backed by £600,000, the scheme is focused on developing digital-first content producers in the North East, with ongoing editorial and business support.

The Small Indie Fund will support 29 companies, including 23 working in television and six in digital. Most are based outside London, with 83% located in the Nations and Regions, while 79% have at least two leaders from under-represented groups.

The Radio and Music Indie Development Fund will support 11 companies, all based outside London, with tailored mentoring from BBC commissioners over 12 months.

David Pembrey, Chief Operating Officer at BBC Content, said: “Partnering with a wide range of UK independent production companies is essential in delivering a distinctive, authentic content offer for our audiences.”

The BBC says further opportunities are being developed for unscripted production companies in Northern Ireland, building on previous initiatives.

A ten-day radio relay has encouraged tradespeople to talk openly about mental health across the UK.

Fix Radio’s Grand Builders’ Tea-Lay travelled more than 450 miles from Glasgow to Chichester, using a shared mug of tea to prompt conversations between workers on sites and on air.

The campaign was created in response to ongoing concerns about mental health in the trades, with two workers lost to suicide every working day. By turning a routine tea break into a reason to check in, the initiative aimed to make conversations easier to start.

The mug was passed through locations including Gretna Green, Manchester, Morecambe, Wrexham, Birmingham and Oxford.

Each participant held it for 24 hours before handing it on, with every exchange marked by a discussion about pressures such as workload, finances and isolation.

These moments were broadcast on the Bald Builders Breakfast Show, where listeners heard the conversations between tradespeople. The station also distributed more than 300 Brew and Banter Packs, encouraging teams beyond the route to take part.

Bald Builders Breakfast Show host Brad Hanson said: “It wasn’t forced, it wasn’t scripted, it was just real people having a proper check-in over a brew. That’s exactly what we hoped for.”

The station says that feedback from participants suggested the format helped people open up, with some saying it gave them a reason to ask direct questions and continue conversations after the handover.

Scott Mills was questioned by police under caution in 2018 as part of an investigation into allegations of serious sexual offences involving a teenage boy, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed.

In a statement, the Met said the investigation began in December 2016 following a referral from another police force and related to alleged offences reported to have taken place between 1997 and 2000.

A man in his 40s at the time was interviewed under caution in July 2018.

Police confirmed a full file of evidence was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service, which determined the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges.

Following that decision, the investigation was closed in May 2019.

The force has also confirmed the complainant was under the age of 16.

The statement has emerged following the BBC’s decision to terminate Scott’s contract with immediate effect, citing issues related to personal conduct.

A wide range of international audio productions has been shortlisted for the 2026 New York Festivals Radio Awards.

Entries from broadcasters, publishers and independent producers across more than 30 countries have progressed to the next stage, covering podcasts, audiobooks, documentaries, music programming and news output.

Among those named are productions linked to major global names, including Pure Energy featuring Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney: Beatles And Beyond and Céline Dion: l’amour à D’eux, alongside podcast entries such as 48 Hours: Post Mortem, Sea of Lies and Alternate Realities.

UK-linked content also features, with BBC World Service podcast The Global Jigsaw shortlisted, along with The Poppy Day Bomb from The Times and Sunday Times and productions from Bloomsbury Publishing Plc and Penguin Random House UK in the audiobook categories.

Sports, entertainment and documentary categories reflect a mix of large network productions and smaller independent work, including entries from ESPN, NPR, CBC, Radio-Canada and Irish Independent.

The shortlist was selected by a Grand Jury of more than 100 audio professionals from 20 countries, with entries assessed on production values, creativity, writing and overall impact.

Winners will be announced during the New York Festivals Storytellers Gala, taking place virtually on 21 May.

A range of BBC radio programmes will mark 125 years of black music in the UK.

The output forms part of a wider season also across TV, BBC Sounds and iPlayer, inspired by a new exhibition at V&A East Museum.

Highlights include The Music is Black on BBC Radio 2 at Hackney Empire, featuring Chineke! Orchestra and the LJ Singers, directed by Chris Cameron, with a mix of genres including funk, soul and UK garage alongside guest appearances.

BBC Radio 6 Music will run Rave Forever specials every Friday in August, focusing on black music scenes and dancefloor culture, while presenters Jamz Supernova and SHERELLE will host guests to reflect on black British music from the 1980s to today.

Radio 1Xtra will feature a DJ mixtape curated by Shortee Blitz and Beat A Maxx, celebrating a century of black music in the UK, alongside additional content on BBC iPlayer.

BBC Radio 4 will broadcast a gospel performance by the London Community Gospel Choir for Daily Service, recorded at V&A East Storehouse for Black History Month.

Radio 3 will also contribute with a new commission and a three-part Music Matters series focusing on black British composers and performers.

Lorna Clarke said: “BBC Music is committed to showcasing and supporting the widest possible breadth of British music.  We are pleased to be collaborating with V&A East Museum on this significant project.”

BBC Local Radio will broadcast a series of Make a Difference programmes across the Easter weekend, featuring community stories and a guest appearance from Blue.

The programmes centre on people recognised through the Make a Difference Awards, highlighting acts of kindness and local support across England.

Gaby Roslin hosts the Easter specials, with members of Blue meeting award winners from last year and hearing their experiences.

Among them is Gill Punt from Bromsgrove, who raised around two million pounds for cancer charities by running marathons in costume.

Duncan James responded to her story, saying: “It’s lovely listening to what you’re saying and what you’re doing is incredible. The fact that you’ve dedicated 30 years of your life and raised all this amount of money. Honestly, it’s a round of applause to you!”

Lee Ryan also spoke with Cassandra White from The Wren Bakery in Leeds, which supports women facing multiple disadvantages. He said: “I’m a massive supporter of this. That’s quite touching. For me personally, that’s amazing.”

The initiative began in 2020 as a way to connect communities during the Covid pandemic and has since expanded across the UK, with thousands nominated each year.

Hour long programmes presented by Gabby Roslin include a Good Friday awards special at 9am, a Sunday morning faith programme at 6am, and an Easter Monday highlights show at 9am featuring past contributors and celebrity guests.

Tributes are being paid to Manchester broadcaster James Stannage.

His son Darren Stannage confirmed he died on Monday morning following a year-long battle with cancer, describing him as “someone who meant so much to so many people in Manchester”.

James became a well-known figure across the North West through his late-night phone-in shows, first on Piccadilly Radio and later on Key 103, where his outspoken style built a loyal audience and strong local profile.

Starting his radio career in the 1970s, James hosted programmes where callers could debate topics ranging from politics to sport, often leading to heated exchanges that became a defining feature of his shows.

Darren said: “He died peacefully this morning at MRI after battling cancer for over a year,” adding that his father was listening to music and “surrounded by people that loved him”.

He also noted the significance of the time of his passing, saying it was “a remarkable time” that reflected the station which “made him a legend in Manchester”.

James’ career also included periods working at other stations and later online radio, maintaining a connection with audiences beyond his mainstream broadcasting years.

His long-running presence on local radio made him a recognisable voice across Greater Manchester, with listeners sharing memories of his programmes and distinctive approach to talk radio.

BBC Radio 2 will share plans for its Breakfast Show when it is able, says acting the DG.

An internal message from Rhodri Talfan Davies says the station team will provide more information following Scott Mills’ departure, but only once details can be confirmed.

Rhodri told staff that “the Radio 2 team will update everyone with more information on plans for the show when they are able to,” signalling that decisions about the programme’s future are still to be finalised.

He said the situation would come as a shock to many, citing Scott Mills’ profile and the sudden nature of the announcement, and added that the impact would also be felt by loyal listeners to the Breakfast Show.

The message also recognises the immediate pressure on the Radio 2 team, many of whom have worked with Scott for a number of years, as they manage the programme during a period of uncertainty.

Rhodri said no further details can be shared at this stage, leaving the timing and nature of any changes to the schedule still unclear.