Year: 2024

BBC Radio 2 has lined up Mariah Carey to host a special radio show on Christmas Day.

The singer makes her radio presenting debut, hosting an hour-long festive show to mark the 30th anniversary of the most-streamed Christmas song of all-time, Mariah’s All I Want For Christmas Is You.
The programme will air from 7pm till 8pm and features Mariah’s personally curated playlist and includes Christmas classics old and new from the artists who have inspired her, including Aretha Franklin, Patti Labelle, Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Nat King Cole, Whitney Houston, The Jackson Five and Destiny’s Child.
The station says: “This is an hour of the most soulful festive music, perfect for getting you into the spirit of the season and brought to you by the Queen of Christmas herself, Mariah Carey.”
Mariah also takes the opportunity to thank her fans for continuing to make new memories to her Christmas smash-hit.
She tells listeners: “I can’t wait to spend Christmas with you on BBC Radio 2.
“I hope you are feeling warm and cosy and having your own Holly Jolly Christmas. I would like to thank all of my fans in the UK and around the world for continuing to make special memories with All I Want For Christmas Is You, it really means the world to me.”

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The National Union of Journalists has reiterated its concern over the BBC’s proposals to launch two new digital radio stations including an extension to BBC Radio 2.

In July, the union welcomed Ofcom’s delay of the spin-off station, recognising it could have an adverse impact on competition.
However, revised plans have been referred again to Ofcom, following approval by the broadcaster’s board. The BBC states it has redeveloped plans considering consultation responses but alarmingly, denies cuts to local services have taken place.
The NUJ strongly refutes this claim, noting a third of the BBC’s uniquely local output has been curtailed.
The NUJ’s ‘Keep BBC Local Radio Local’ campaign attracted cross-parliamentary support and wide-ranging audiences stressed the importance of relevant and accessible news and entertainment through local radio.
The union believes funding by licence-fee payers should be focused on producing creative, unique content that cannot be easily replicated by commercial outlets. New music based services proposed follow a decimation of BBC local radio stations, resulting in job losses and limited resources for remaining journalists.
The union is therefore unclear how the BBC will implement plans to work in partnership with local radio stations when teams have been so heavily reduced in brutal cuts.
The BBC aims to attract an older audience in the radio station spin-off, with a commitment to playing a range of music from the 50s to 70s, but the union believes the target audience can be found among listeners of local radio, where attention must be redirected.
Laura Davison, NUJ National Organiser, said: “Journalists are still feeling the effects of drastic cuts to local radio made by the BBC, and the pursuit of new stations despite concerns raised on their value for money will come as a surprise to our members. In its revised plans the BBC says the changes to its English Local Radio services were not cuts but a rebalancing of resource from radio to online. Digital content cannot replicate the unique relationship radio has with local audiences and we urge a reversal of proposals and an end to obfuscation about the clear cuts to local radio that have taken place.
“We have not been engaged in consultation on the creation of any jobs under these new proposals and have unanswered questions about why the BBC is seeking to pursue this plan in the face of opposition. The company should instead focus its attention on investment in local radio stations valued by communities.”

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer has backed Mission Christmas saying that families and children will have a ‘better Christmas because of it.’

Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio reporter Olivia Davies on a recent visit to North Wales, the Labour leader when asked about Mission Christmas said: ‘Campaigns such as Mission Christmas are so important – and I’d like to thank everyone involved in it not just this year but every year.
“There will be lots of families and children in particular who will have a better Christmas, a brilliant Christmas, because of it.’
Mission Christmas is supported by Bauer radio stations including Hits Radio, Greatest Hits Radio, Magic Radio and Absolute Radio.
In 2023 Mission Christmas collected over £17.4 million (£17,414,065) in gifts and cash donations, which were used to make sure that 290,604 children and young people had presents to open on Christmas Day.
Cash for Kids works with thousands of grass-root organisations across the UK who support disadvantaged children. Throughout the Mission Christmas campaign, these organisations along with social workers, head teachers and the emergency services nominate families in crisis to be supported by the appeal, highlighting their age, gender and any special needs.
See more at cashforkids.org.uk.

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