Tag: Hits Radio Network

Forth 1 broadcasts first live show from new home in St James Quarter

Forth 1 & 2 has officially moved into its new home, with the station broadcasting its first show live, from St James Quarter in the centre of Edinburgh.

The Boogie In The Morning team began broadcasting from Forth Street for the final time yesterday, before, live on air, making the walk up the street to their brand new studio inside St James Quarter.

The team were stopping traffic as they transported the Forth 1 cow to its new home and were supported by the Watsonians men and women’s rugby teams, St James Quarter staff and Forth 1 colleagues.

At 8am, Boogie and Arlene hit the big switch as the crossover was confirmed with the team presenting from their new location for the first time.

Forth 1 & 2 will now be broadcast live from Edinburgh’s popular retail led mixed use destination each day with access to St James Quarter’s events spaces as part of their newly designed offices.  

Boogie from Forth 1’s Boogie In The Morning said: “Forth House had been our home for so long so there is a bitter-sweet feeling today. But there can be no doubt that our world class new studios and offices in St James Quarter is a huge step forward for the station.  

“When we walked in this morning for the big reveal I was blown away by the studio. The spectacular view is the first thing that hit me especially compared to the old studio which was in the basement at Forth House. Now every morning I get this amazing view of our city!”

Arlene Stuart, co-presenter on Boogie In The Morning, said: “There is no better place to broadcast than right in the heart of our beautiful city and the views of our capital and the surrounding areas from our new studios are incredible.

“I can’t wait to bring our shows from there every morning.”

Victoria Easton-Riley, Content Director for the Hits Radio Network across Scotland: “Our new location opens up a huge range of opportunities. Not just our amazing new studios and offices where we will continue to broadcast our award winning shows from every day, but also working alongside our friends at St James Quarter and their fantastic range of tenants in this new and unique partnership.

“It is a significant investment for the company and is a clear demonstration of our commitment and pride in Forth 1 & 2. It is an honour to have such a loyal listener base and with the continued support from them across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk we will strive to continue to delivering top quality entertainment, news, sport and of course the biggest hits”.

Ed Webb, Director of Development Management at Nuveen Real Estate, said: “Part of our ambition for St James Quarter was to create a new art, culture and fashion hub that merges seamlessly with the city’s cultural offering and events calendar.

“By welcoming Bauer Media UK Group’s Radio Forth stations as our media partner, and having shows broadcast straight from St James Quarter, the development is integrating further into the cultural heart of the city.”

Nick Peel, Managing Director at St James Quarter, said: “We’re honoured to be welcoming Forth 1 and 2 to St James Quarter. Forth 1’s ‘Boogie in the Morning’ show is iconic in Edinburgh so to have it broadcast from The Quarter every day is a big deal for us.

“This move is testament to our commitment to provide world-class facilities that will continuously offer unique and new experiences for our guests.”

Hits Radio Network’s Ewen & Cat set for Sunday Morning Snooze!

After six years presenting on Sunday morning breakfast together, Ewen and Cat will be handing over their early Sunday mornings to their mate Greigsy in trade for a well-deserved lie-in.

The popular duo announced today that their last weekend show together will take place on the 7th November before handing over the reins of the Clyde 1 and Forth 1 (and across Scotland on the Hits Radio Network) Sunday breakfast show to Greigsy who currently hosts the weekday 10am to 1pm show.

Ewen and Cat will continue to entertain the nation across the Greatest Hits Network on weekdays 6-10am on ‘Ewen & Cat At Breakfast’.

The award-winning pair were reunited on weekday breakfast earlier this year, and although they have loved the past six years on Sunday breakfast together, are looking forward to hitting the snooze button and enjoying a leisurely weekend while still getting up to their usual mischief during the week.

On top of his weekday 10am to 1pm show, Greigsy will be tackling the early rises on Sundays from 14th November, taking calls from listeners, sharing some of their best weekend stories and of course playing the biggest hits and biggest throwbacks to soundtrack our Sunday mornings.

Ewen said: “Cat and I loved spending a Sunday morning together with our listeners, we had such a laugh every week.

“I’ve got be honest though, it’s going to be great getting a bit of a lie in on Sunday for the first time in six years!”

Cat, who recently became an Amazon Books bestseller with her ‘Cat’s Out The Bag’ biography, added: “After a cracking six years hosting ‘Ewen & Cat at Breakfast’ every Sunday, I’m really looking forward to sitting in my PJ’s on a Sunday morning listening to Greigsy.

“I will miss our legendary ‘Sunday Buffets’ though!”

Greigsy said: “Ewen and Cat are legends of radio, and they have left some big shoes to fill, but I’m really looking forward to Sunday morning’s with our brilliant listeners and having a laugh along the way.” 

Victoria Easton-Riley, Content Director for Scotland, said: “Ewen and Cat have done a brilliant job of keeping us all tuned in and laughing six days a week, for a while now. I’m glad to see them finally pass on their Sunday morning microphones to Greigsy, so they can get a well-earned weekend rest.

“I’m really looking forward to hearing Greigsy bring his fantastic energy, content and music from his weekday show to Sunday mornings.”

Full Sunday line-up on the Hits Radio Network, Scotland, from Sunday the 14th of November:

6am-9am                                 Gavin Pearson

9am-12noon                           Greigsy

12noon-4pm                            Gregor & Lynsey (Cassi Clyde 1 only)

4pm-7pm                                 UK Chart Show

7pm-10pm                               The Throwback with Micky Gavin

10pm-1am                               Hits Chilled with Meg McHugh

Listeners can tune in to Ewen & Cat At Breakfast every weekday across the Greatest Hits Network between 6-10am on AM**, on DAB, online, via the station App or on a Smart Speaker.

Listen to Greigsy on the Hits Radio Network between 9am-12noon every Sunday (& weekdays 10am-1pm) on FM, DAB, online, via the App or on a Smart Speaker.

The Amazon Books bestseller, ‘Cat’s Out The Bag’ by Cat Harvey, gives readers a glimpse into the life of times of the popular radio presenter and journalist and is currently available at Waterstones (Amazon have sold out!).

Find out more: https://planetradio.co.uk/clyde/entertainment/books/cat-out-the-bag-the-book/

*Hits Radio Network includes Clyde 1, Forth 1, MFR, Northsound 1, Tay FM & West FM.

**Northsound 2 is a digital only station, West Sound Dumfries is on FM not AM, West Sound Dumfries is not available on DAB.

Greatest Hits Radio network includes Clyde 2, Forth 2, MFR 2, Northsound 2, Tay 2, West Sound Ayrshire and West Sound Dumfries.

Forth 1 announces Pride events

Pride Throwback Weekend from Friday 28th August to Sunday 30th August

Pride events may have been cancelled across the country this year but Clyde 1 and Forth 1 are ensuring that the celebrations can still go on with a Pride Throwback Weekend across Scotland.

The event – sponsored by global law firm, CMS Scotland – will be held from Friday 28th August to Sunday 30th August 2020 on Clyde 1 and Forth 1 and right across the Hits Radio Network in Scotland.

The event will also include Sunday Pride which will see Micky Gavin and Grant Thomson hosting a show on Sunday 30th Aug across the whole of the Hits Radio network in Scotland* from 12 noon to 4pm.

The show will feature iconic Pride artists including the likes of Lady Gaga, Years & Years, Kylie and Dua Lipa

Scottish listeners will also be asked to share their own Pride stories via WhatsApp on 07557 887113.

The popular presenters will also launch ‘Pride: Scotland’s March for Equality’, a series of three podcasts where they talk about their experiences growing up gay in Scotland, talk to some amazing people from the LGBT+ community, and learn about the history, and future, of Pride in Scotland.

A new LGBTQ+ dedicated station, Hits Radio Pride, is also launching on Friday 28th August 2020. The pop-up station will play a vibrant playlist of some of the biggest hits and throwbacks.

In partnership with The Co-operative Bank and working with LGBT+ helpline Switchboard, the new station will be a fresh and unique destination where the LGBTQ+ community, advocates and allies can feel connected, safe and empowered to be themselves

The station will initially be available in Scotland online, on mobile apps and on smart speakers.

Victoria Easton-Riley, Content Director, Hits Radio Network in Scotland, said: “We have been a proud supporter of Pride for many years and remain committed to promoting diversity and inclusion.

“COVID-19 has obviously impacted on many of the planned events and we thought it was more important than ever that our listeners could celebrate Pride.

“We are planning Scotland’s biggest Pride party with our Throwback Weekend as well as the launch of Micky and Grant’s brilliant new podcast series.”

The Pride Throwback Weekend will be broadcast across Clyde 1, Forth 1 and the Hits Radio Network in Scotland from Friday 28th August to Sunday 30th August 2020.

You can listen on FM, DAB, online, via the station Apps or on your Smart Speaker.

*The Hits Radio Network in Scotland includes Clyde 1, Forth 1, MFR, Northsound 1, TAY FM, Radio Borders & West FM.