UK

BBC Asian Network’s One More Laugh is returning to London this January with a night showcasing new comedy talent.

The live show takes place at the BBC Radio Theatre on Friday 30 January this year at 7:30pm.
The event will be hosted by comedian and content creator Dinesh Nathan, who previously appeared at the network’s comedy night last year. Dinesh said he is pleased to be returning, adding that he is “buzzing to host One More Laugh” and that he is delighted to be trusted with the role again.
The evening will feature Ajay Rose, Dane Buckley, NJ Patel and Samira Banks performing in alphabetical order. All four have received recognition on the UK comedy circuit, including finals and runner-up places in recent national competitions. DJ Kizzi from BBC Asian Network will also provide a live set during the event.
Ahmed Hussain, Head of Asian Network, said the show aims to highlight the range of British Asian comedy and continue welcoming a broad audience. He said the rebrand from Asian Network Comedy to One More Laugh gives the station a chance to present the humour and experiences that matter to listeners.
The 18 plus audience can apply for free tickets through the BBC Shows and Tours website until Monday 15 December at 8:30am. The programme will be available on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds after the live event, allowing more listeners to watch or hear the performances.
One More Laugh builds on the network’s long running support for new comedians and offers them a platform to reach audiences across the UK.

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Starpoint Radio is preparing to celebrate forty years on the airwaves with an anniversary party in South London.

The event takes place on Saturday 13 December this year at Soul Fez Nightclub in Putney, bringing together DJs, guests and supporters connected to the station’s long history.
The station began broadcasting in 1985 and grew from London’s black soul music movement, giving airtime to artists and genres that were not being widely heard on other outlets. Its early programmes reflected the rapid rise of jazz funk and soul during the eighties and helped shape the culture surrounding those scenes.
Starpoint was created by Carl Barrington-Webster, who wanted to offer a radio service centred on the music he loved. Carl later expanded the brand through themed events and trips, building a loyal community around the station’s output.
In the mid-eighties the station was heard across areas including Beckenham, Wimbledon, Croydon and Brixton, where it gained a reputation for championing black soul music. Supporters of the time recall how Starpoint’s programmes provided something different from the mainstream, both in sound and perspective.
The station now broadcasts online with a daily schedule covering soul, jazz, R and B, old skool, club classics, rare soul, groove and funk, presented by a team of experienced DJs. Its current plans include exploring opportunities to reach listeners across South London on DAB plus.
Anniversary organisers say they would like to hear from anyone involved with the station’s journey since 1985. A spokesperson added that the evening in Putney will feature “a top line-up of DJs, special guests and more” as part of the celebrations.

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A fire at the BBC’s headquarters in Scotland took BBC Radio Scotland’s breakfast show and other programmes off-air this morning.

The building was evacuated following an alarm at 6.30am, and the station went to back-up music mid-way through the news headlines.
The presenters didn’t have chance to announce the change in programming, instead switching to the back-up audio – consisting of Bronski Beat’s “Smalltown Boy”, conveniently starting with the lyrics “Run Away, Run Away”) before a pre-recorded message appeared saying the normal programme cannot be brought to use right now.
After non-stop music for 30 minutes, at 7am, the station switched to BBC Radio 5 Live.
BBC Radio Scotland continued to broadcast 5 Live till Martin, Laura and Phil returned at 8.35am.
The blaze was on the roof of the building in the Plant Room area and no injuries were reported.

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Brian Hayes, the broadcaster known for shaping early phone-in radio at LBC and later hosting shows on BBC Radio 2, has died.

His career in the UK spanned more than five decades and included some of the most influential speech radio output of its era. He became known for a direct interviewing style that helped define the sound of LBC’s formative years in the 1970s and 1980s.
Born in Perth, Western Australia in 1937, Hayes began working in newspapers and broadcasting before moving to Britain in the early 1970s.
He joined Capital Radio at launch in 1973 as a producer before moving on air, later being recruited by LBC to front its morning phone-in programme from 1976. The show became one of the station’s signature strands and made him one of the network’s most recognisable voices.
After leaving LBC in 1990, he moved to BBC Radio 2 where he presented the breakfast programme “Good Morning UK!” in 1992. Although his time on breakfast was short, he remained with the network and hosted the weekly phone-in Hayes over Britain, which won a Sony Radio Award for Best Phone-In.
His later work included presenting on BBC Radio 5 Live as well as returning to LBC in the 2000s.
Colleagues have often credited Hayes with helping establish the modern template for conversational and confrontational phone-in broadcasting.
Speaking previously about his approach, he once said he aimed to treat callers “as real people with something to say”, adding that the medium only worked “when it sounds like a conversation that matters”.
Hayes retired from full-time broadcasting after his final stints on LBC, though he remained a reference point for many in the industry who cited his influence on the development of UK talk radio.

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Aberdeenshire based Coast Radio has announced it will stop broadcasting at midnight on Sunday, 30th November.

The station cited ongoing operational and financial pressures that made it impossible to continue sustainably, despite every effort to keep the independent station on air.
In a statement, Coast Radio expressed heartfelt thanks to listeners, sponsors, and advertisers for their support, describing how their enthusiasm helped turn a small local idea into something the team is proud of.
The station also paid tribute to its presenters, praising their energy, personality, and commitment in bringing the station to life with warm and engaging programming.
“Coast Radio’s time may have been short, but it was genuinely special,” the statement read. “We’re grateful for every message, every request, every laugh, and every moment shared with us along the way.”

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BBC Radio Scotland has refreshed its weekend late-night schedule, with musician and broadcaster Roddy Hart joining the line up on Saturday and Sunday nights.

The station says the new programmes form part of its continued commitment to highlight Scotland’s music industry, including unsigned artists and emerging talent.
Roddy Hart’s Mixtape: Side A will air on Saturdays from 10pm to midnight, with a mix of classics and new discoveries, while Roddy Hart’s Mixtape: Side B on Sundays from 9pm to 11pm will focus on unsigned acts, rarities, and hidden gems.
Roddy will also continue to present BBC Radio Scotland’s live music format, Quay Sessions.
Victoria Easton-Riley, head of audio and events says: “I’m delighted Roddy is increasing his on-air presence with us here at BBC Radio Scotland.
“As a Scottish artist himself, Roddy brings a genuine love for the music he shares, and alongside Quay Sessions, this feels like a natural next step for him, and for our support of Scotland’s music scene.”
Commenting on the new programmes Roddy says: “It’s a real privilege to introduce this new show to Radio Scotland’s weekend schedule.
“Over two distinct shows I will be celebrating and championing music from emerging and established artists both within and outside Scotland. I can’t wait to get started and for listeners to join us on this new exciting chapter.”
This news follows an earlier announcement of the new weekday late-night schedule. From the New Year, Up Late with Lynne Hoggan will run Monday to Thursday from 10pm to midnight, while Up Late with Ashley Storrie will take over Fridays from 10pm to midnight.
The playlist will feature well-known classics from the 1970s to the present day with a strong Scottish influence.

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