Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson is joining GB News as a programme maker, presenter, and commentator.
Johnson joins in the new year and will ‘play a key role in the channel’s coverage of both the UK general election and the US elections next year’.
He will create and present a new series showcasing the power of Britain around the world, as well as hosting the occasional special in front of live audiences around the UK.
Announcing his first major broadcast role, Boris Jonson said: “GB News is an insurgent channel with a loyal and growing following. I am excited to say I will be joining shortly – and offering my frank opinions on world affairs.”
He said of the new series: “I will be talking about the immense opportunities for Global Britain – as well as the challenges – and why our best days are yet to come.”
In a video Boris also promised he would “be giving this remarkable new TV channel my unvarnished views on everything from Russia, China, the war in Ukraine, and how we meet all of those challenges, to the huge opportunities that lie ahead for us.”
Editorial Director Michael Booker said: “I’m delighted to say, GB News has got Boris ‘done’!
“We are tremendously proud to have him join the GB News family, particularly as we head into a seismic year for politics both here and across the Atlantic.
“Boris has been the most influential Prime Minister of our generation and his unique insight into domestic and world affairs will be a smash hit with our viewers and listeners.
“As well as his political skills, he’s an incredibly talented journalist and author, so we can’t wait to start working with him on what will be must-see TV.”
BBC Scotland is seeking nominations for ‘Scotland’s People 2023’ with Jackie Bird.
Do you know an incredible person who’s gone that extra mile to help others? Someone who has an inspirational story of kindness and caring? An unsung hero who deserves recognition and thanks for the amazing work they do?
Then please get in touch now to nominate them for Scotland’s People 2023.
The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships taking place in Glasgow and across Scotland is set to become the one of the most watched cycling events ever, with broadcast figures from the first four days of action showing record numbers of viewers are tuning in at home and abroad.
In the first four days, more than two million viewers in the UK alone watched the action unfold live on the BBC with more than one million watching Austrian Valentina Höll and Great Britain’s Charlie Hatton become the Women’s and Men’s Elite Mountain Bike Downhill UCI World Champions in the stunning surroundings of Fort William.
A further peak of 800,000 viewers tuned into the dramatic men’s road race on Sunday 6 August, as Mathieu Van der Poel clinched the rainbow jersey, in front of a further 300,000 people who lined the route between Edinburgh and Glasgow and during the 10 laps of Glasgow’s tough city circuit.
With an average of 600,000 viewers, it was the highest UK television audience for a UCI World Championship Men Elite road race in recent years: an average of 350,000 viewers in 2020 (in Imola, Italy), 220,000 viewers in 2021 (in Flanders, Belgium) and 188,000 last year (in Wollongong, Australia).
The Track and Para-cycling Track competitions, held jointly for the first time, had an average of 500,000 viewers tuning in to watch the competition at the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome.
The total number of spectators to watch the cycling in person now exceeds more than 500,000, whether it’s witnessing the action on Scottish roads, at the BMX Freestyle Park at Glasgow Green, the Mountain Bike Downhill in Fort William, the Mountain Bike Cross-country Marathon in Glentress or Track and Para-cycling Track at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, while millions more have tuned into the action from overseas.
The statistics on 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships official social media reflect the interest worldwide, with a reach of 4.6 million and more than 193,000 engagements with people liking, sharing and commenting on posts in the first four days of the event across the first four days. The 2023 UCI Cycling World Champs website has also had 400,000 unique users since the start of the event, with the schedule page being the most popular.
The numbers will no doubt be boosted by what is set to become a record-breaking women’s road race on Sunday, with thousands of fans expected to create a wall of noise around Glasgow once again, as the world’s leading female cyclists have the honour of closing the biggest event in the history of the sport.
Paul Bush OBE, 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships Chair, said: “After the many months and years of planning, it really has been special to see the number of fans making their way to the roadside, or into venues to watch the world’s best cyclists compete across all disciplines.
“The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships has provided a wonderful opportunity to showcase to a global audience the stunning landscape and iconic locations Scotland has on offer across the length and breadth of the country.
“I want to say thank you to all our host regions for their contribution to shaping the goodwill and positive atmosphere across all our venues, but I also want to pay tribute to the incredible number of local fans who are showing the world why Scotland is the perfect stage for major events.
“I hope the crowds keep coming along in person and tuning into the excellent coverage being provided by the BBC, especially as we head into a huge occasion on Sunday as the women road racers compete to give these UCI Cycling World Championships the finale they deserve.”
UCI President David Lappartientsaid: “I have been visiting different competition venues since the beginning of the UCI Cycling World Championships so have experienced first-hand the fervor of on-site spectators.
“The television viewing figures from the first four days of competition demonstrate that the same passion and excitement are shared by cycling fans who cannot be present but are able to witness the action thanks to the event’s record television coverage. It is far from over, and I am convinced that the remaining competitions will be every bit as popular.”
Forth 1, combined with sister station Greatest Hits Radio (Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk), has enjoyed further record-breaking listener numbers – its best in over two decades.
The latest impressive RAJAR figures for Q2 2023 show a record number of listeners now listen to Forth 1 and sister station Greatest Hits Radio (Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk).
An incredible 427,000* tune in across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk every week, which is an increase of 7,000 weekly listeners from the previous quarter and the highest total in 22 years.
That’s the equivalent of Easter Road and Tynecastle both at capacity – 10 times each!
Alongside Ewen and Cat’s award-winning breakfast show, the Ken Bruce effect has helped the Greatest Hits Network grow substantially across Scotland too, adding 51,000 weekly listeners to 553,000 (Q1 2023: 502,000).
Ken’s first show on Greatest Hits Radio across the UK – which features his popular music trivia quiz PopMaster – first aired on Monday 3rd of April 2023.
Clyde 1 and Forth 1 combined remain over the 1 million mark with 1,008,000 listeners.
There were some other great results across its stations in Scotland, with across in the West, combined Clyde 1 & Greatest Hits Radio Glasgow & The West also having record breaking results with 773,000 weekly listeners – the highest in 19 years!
Sister stations MFR, Northsound 1 and Tay FM are all up in reach too since the last set of results.
And when you combine all of the Scottish Hits Network and Greatest Hits stations, they now have a weekly total of 1,791,000 listeners – also the highest total in nearly 20 years.
Victoria Easton-Riley, Content Director for the Hits & Greatest Hits Networks across Scotland, said:“After record breaking numbers in our last set of RAJAR figures, it really is quite remarkable that Boogie, Arlene, Marty and the rest of the team have managed to break that record again by adding another 7,000 weekly listeners.
“These record breaking listener numbers are a testament to the talent and hard work of our whole team broadcasting live from our wonderful studios in St James Quarter each and every day and across the rest of Scotland.
“A huge thank you to the whole team on and off air who make this happen and the brilliant support from our listeners, clients, partners and sponsors.”
Edinburgh Radio legend, Jay Crawford, strengthens the team at Edge Radio, Scotland’s Hit Music Station, with DJ’s Micky Gavin and Yasmin Zemmoura (Yazz).
Forth 1’s Throwback favourite and veteran DJ, Micky Gavin, has announced that he will be joining rival Edinburgh station Edge to present Afternoon Drive.
Micky said; “I can’t wait to get going on Edinburgh’s newest radio station. Joining such a brilliant team, playing the hottest hits and chatting chatting about everything Edinburgh each weekday.”
Having worked with Jay Crawford at both Forth 1 and Real Radio, Micky is excited to help build on Edge Radio’s summer success following a bumper year for listeners in 2022.
Jay Crawford said, “We’ve had a brilliant year so it seems a perfect time to strengthen our Edge Radio team. Micky and I have worked together off and on for 25 years and he’s a fantastic presenter. Yazz has such a lovely radio voice and personality to match. I’m delighted they’ve agreed to join us.”
Yazz, whose dulcet tones will be making a welcome return to the Edinburgh airwaves, has spent the last 10 years in Belfast presenting on Q Radio.
Edinburgh super-fan Yazz will take on the weekend playing the biggest hits in the Afternoon.
Yazz said; ”I love Edinburgh and love the localness of Edge Radio. To be back working with Jay, Matt, Mark and Micky again excites me for the summer ahead.”
Edge Radio is available on DAB, online and mobile and will shortly be moving to studios in Edinburgh’s Stockbridge.
21 year record high for FORTH 1 & year record high for FORTH 1 & GREATEST HITS RADIO (FORTH 2) combined!
The latest RAJAR figures have been announced and reveal that Forth 1 remains the number one radio station across Edinburgh, The Lothians, Fife and Falkirk, by a long way, with 364,000 weekly listeners (up 63,000 on the same period last year – Q1 2022).
Together with sister station Greatest Hits Radio (previously Forth 2), they reach an amazing 420,000 listeners every single week across the region – the highest figure in nearly 22 years! (Q2 2001). That number would fill a sold-out BT Murrayfield over 6 times!
Boogie in the Morning also had a fantastic set of results posting a record-breaking figure with their highest ever share of the weekday breakfast audience – an incredible 25.6%! That means one in four of all weekday radio listeners across the region wake-up with Boogie and Arlene. The translates into a total of 221,00 weekly listeners.
Not to be out done, Greatest Hits Radio Edinburgh (previously Forth 2), also had its highest reach in 13 years. It now reaches 103,000 listeners! (up 62,000 from the previous year).
Together with the sister stations in the Greatest Hits Radio network, they now reach over half a million listeners across Scotland – 502,000!
Sister station Clyde 1 remains the largest radio station across in the West, by a long way, with weekly listeners of 656,000 (up 56,000 on the same period last year – Q1 2022).
Victoria Easton-Riley, Content Director for the Hits & Greatest Hits Networks across Scotland, said:“An absolutely incredible set of figures this quarter. A seven year high for Forth 1, a 13 year high for Greatest Hits Radio (previously Forth 2), a 21 year high for both stations combined, and a very special mention to the Boogie In The Morning team for a share of the audience of an amazing 25.6%!
“As they broadcast live from the heart of Edinburgh within the stunning St James Quarter, the team have never sounded better.
“It is all down to the incredible hard work and dedication from all our on-air and off-air teams as well as our clients, partners, and fantastic listeners.”
And the best bit is, there are so many more exciting things yet to come, with the likes of the legendary Ken Bruce & PopMaster of course, joining us only last month.”
It’s a battle for breakfast as TWO new shows launch onHeart Scotland and Capital Scotland.
Des Clarke is Back on Breakfast, and Tallia cooks up a storm for Capital!
Next month listeners to Heart Scotland and Capital Scotland will be waking up to a brand new schedule and exciting new voices – live from Scotland – seven days a week.
Heart Scotland and Capital Scotland yesterday (11 April) revealed all-star line-ups and fresh new shows. Both Heart Scotland and Capital Scotland will broadcast live from Global’s Glasgow Broadcast Centre on West Regent Street in the heart of the city from next month (May).
On Heart Scotland there will be a brand-new breakfast show, Heart Breakfast with Des Clarke & Jennifer Reoch, which will broadcast live weekday mornings, 6.30am to 10am. The move sees Des Clarke return to breakfast radio in Scotland, having most recently been entertaining audiences on Heart Drive. Des is no stranger to the early alarm clock, having previously hosted Breakfast for 13 years on Capital, Galaxy and Beat 106.
Meanwhile going head-to-head with Heart Breakfast is Capital Scotland’s brand-new breakfast show hosted by Fat Brestovci & Tallia Storm, 6am to 10am. Singer and social media star Tallia Storm has signed her first radio presenting gig, and joins broadcaster Fat to wake up Scotland every morning.
Heart Scotland’s New Schedule – Live from Glasgow!
In addition to the breakfast show there is a fresh new schedule across the whole day for Heart Scotland which also sees broadcaster Amy Irons joining to present a new mid-morning programme, live from Glasgow 10am to 1pm. Cat Cubie also joins to present a new afternoon show.
The new Heart Scotland Drive programme – 4pm to 7pm – will be presented by leading Scottish broadcaster David Farrell, who joins from BBC Scotland. At the weekend, Grace Nicoll will present a new afternoon show 12 noon to 4pm.
Capital Scotland’s Brand New Schedule – Live From Glasgow!
Alongside the fresh new sound of Capital Breakfast with Fat Brestovci & TalliaStorm, Robyn Richford joins to host mid-mornings 10am to 1pm, Ryan Borthwick presents the new afternoon show 1pm through to 4pm and Katy J stays at the helm of Capital Scotland Drive, 4pm to 7pm. At the weekend, exciting new talent Jonny Campbell completes the Capital Scotland line-up 9am to 12 noon.
This is part of a major investment in Scotland, with an expansion of Global’s broadcast centre in Glasgow including a new creative hub that will produce live radio, visualised content and podcasts for Global Player, as well as housing Global’s Scotland Tech Hub.
Ashley Tabor-King OBE, Founder & Executive President of Global, said: “I’m delighted that we are bringing listeners more choice with shows coming live from Glasgow, hosted by a combination of our much-loved presenters and exciting new talent.
“What’s more, the broadcast centre will be significantly upgraded to become a creative hub in Scotland, with fully visualised studios and a production centre for creating podcast, social and digital content.”
James Rea, Director of Broadcasting & Content at Global, said: “This is an amazing team of presenters with brilliant personalities and these changes will make what we do even more relevant to the lives of audiences in Scotland.
“It’s great to see Des Clarke return to breakfast radio alongside Jennifer Reoch on Heart and I’m certain Fat and Tallia Storm will bring great energy to the Capital team.”
Capital Scotland is owned and operated under a brand licence by Communicorp UK. Mark Lee, Communicorp UK’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our new Scottish talent will bring new and exciting content within an already fantastic station.
“Combined with the best hit music from the Capital brand, our place as the Official Radio Partner of the OVO Hydro, and our existing relationships within live music, it will further cement our position as Scotland’s Number 1 Hit Music Station.”
The new line-ups for Heart Scotland and Capital Scotland* will be available on FM and DAB, across the central belt alongside Heart UK and Capital UK on DAB. Listeners will also be able to tune-in from anywhere on Global’s entertainment app, Global Player, via smart phone or smart speaker.
The Today programme is inviting its listeners to edit editions of Today to mark 20 years of its guest editors
BBC Radio 4’s Today is looking for communities of listeners from across the UK to get together in teams and submit their ideas for special editions of the programme, set to be broadcast in the summer.
Those wanting to take part are being invited to submit as a group an idea for their programme, along with an outline as to why they would make good guest editors.
Owenna Griffiths, editor of the Today programme, says: “For 20 years the guest editors have brought original ideas and a wide range of perspectives to the Today programme.
“This summer, we are asking listeners to take control. You might be part of a book club, a local sports team or decide to form a group with the people you work with or live nearby. Whatever forms the basis of your community, we want to hear how you would edit Today.”
The successful guest editors will be chosen by the Today editorial team, who will also seek the advice of a selection of former guest editors, as part of the process.
Each of the chosen teams will have the support of Today producers, who will commission radio pieces and interviews, to bring their ideas to air and make sure they adhere to the BBC’s editorial guidelines.
Every year the BBC Radio 4’s Today invites a series of high profile guest editors to design a show around what they’re most interested in. Over the last 20 years the guest editors have included Prince Harry, Angelina Jolie, Raheem Sterling, Jarvis Cocker and many others.
Dame Prue Leith who guest edited Today in 2020 says: “My advice to anyone wanting to guest edit the Today programme is to tell them one thing you would really love to do and have never done.”
Dame Prue asked the Today team to arrange a singing lesson, which was then broadcast, and says she found the experience “terrific”.
It’s not the first time Today has been guest edited by its listeners. In 2007 a group from Dyfed Powys Police took the editorial reins.
Guest editors usually provide ideas and inspiration and are responsible for between a third and a half of their programme’s output.
The listener guest edited programmes will be broadcast in August and will be in addition to Today’s usual Christmas guest editors, which will be announced later this year.
PRESENTERS AND COMMENTATORS SHOW SUPPORT FOR GARY LINEKER
BBC’s flagship football show Match of the Day will air tonight without a studio presenter, pundits, or its regular commentators, after the BBC told Gary Lineker to step back in a row over impartiality.
The BBC said it it had asked Lineker to step back from presenting after “extensive discussions” with him following the presnter’s criticism of government asylum policy on Twitter, where he compared the language used by the government to unveil its new plans as “not dissimilar to” 1930s Germany.
A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC has been in extensive discussions with Gary and his team in recent days. We have said that we consider his recent social media activity to be a breach of our guidelines.
“The BBC has decided that he will step back from presenting Match of the Day until we’ve got an agreed and clear position on his use of social media.
“When it comes to leading our football and sports coverage, Gary is second to none. We have never said that Gary should be an opinion free zone, or that he can’t have a view on issues that matter to him, but we have said that he should keep well away from taking sides on party political issues or political controversies.”
BFBS is a military charity and media organisation that entertains, informs, connects and champions the UK Armed Forces.
BFBS Scotland is now available on DAB in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Glencorse, adding to the existing FM services across the regions.
BFBS Scotland presenters Jim Gellatly and Mark McKenzie host the live breakfast and afternoon shows weekdays from 6.30-10am and 1-4pm, bringing listeners local news, chat, music, and the latest global military stories in hourly news bulletins.
The DAB service also broadcasts BFBS’s worldwide network programmes, connecting audiences in Scotland with news and stories from the forces community across the UK and overseas.
Simon Monk, Deputy Director Radio & Live Events, said: “The expansion of our services in Scotland gives our listeners the chance to stay connected with the forces world when they’re moving around the country, giving audiences more flexibility in ways to listen to our music, features and defence news, whether they’re out and about, at work, or at home.”
BFBS Scotland is also available online, on the BFBS Radio app for iPhone and Android, and on smart speakers. Connect @BFBSScotland, scotland@bfbs.com or on 0131 310 2898.
FM frequencies: Edinburgh, 98.5, Fort George and Inverness 87.7, and Glencorse 94.0
