UK

Heart Xmas officially switched on today across the UK, joined by the return of Smooth Christmas on London DAB.

Heart Breakfast’s Amanda Holden, described as the station’s ultimate Christmas enthusiast, left co-host Jamie Theakston live on-air this morning to press the button next door in the Heart Xmas studio.
The station will now play Christmas hits around the clock, including songs by Mariah Carey, Wham! and Michael Bublé. Heart says it will broadcast non-stop festive music until Christmas Day on radio, smart speaker and via Global Player.
Smooth Christmas is also back, with the station promising listeners “always the best Christmas music” from artists such as Elton John, Whitney Houston and Slade.
Amanda said she goes “completely over the top” for Christmas and was delighted to launch Heart’s seasonal output. Sally Ardis, Senior Managing Editor of Heart and Smooth, said both stations were about giving listeners an early start to the season.
Heart Xmas and Smooth Christmas are both on air from today, Monday 29th September.
Last month, Bauer launched its own festive service, Magic Christmas, playing the best variety of Christmas favourites, also across the UK.

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The finalists for this year’s Community Radio Awards have been announced as the event marks its 10th ceremony.
The awards coincide with 20 years since community radio first launched in the UK.
This year has seen the highest number of entries in recent years, with stations from across the UK recognised for storytelling, journalism, creative programming and local engagement.
Rebecca Steers, Chair of the Community Radio Awards, said: “This year is not just about recognising the outstanding work across our sector over the past year it’s also a time to reflect on two decades of community radio in the UK.
“The quality and diversity of entries this year have been truly inspiring, and we’re thrilled to celebrate the dedication and creativity of our finalists.”
The ceremony takes place on Saturday 25 October in Bradford, following the National Community Radio Conference, organised by the UK Community Radio Network. Volunteers, presenters, producers and supporters will gather for what is set to be a major celebration of the sector.
The Community Radio Awards continue to be supported by headline sponsor Aiir, who are returning for their sixth year. Grab your ticket here.

The finalists for the 2025 Community Radio Awards are:

Elections & Political Coverage of the Year
Your Voice Matters: St Austell Speaks – CHAOS Radio
Gateway 97.8 Election Hustings – Gateway 97.8
Charles Fletcher – 60 Seconds Scotland – K107FM
Vote WNC – NLive Radio
Election 2024 – Oldham Community Radio

Celebrating & Championing Community Radio of the Year
K107FM Community Space – K107FM
Championing The 4Ps Radio Training School – Vectis Radio

Digital Content of the Year
@K107FM – Facebook – K107FM
Radio LaB’s New Digital Content Strategy – Radio LaB 97.1fm
Radio Tamworth on TikTok – Radio Tamworth
Riverside Broadcasting Digital Team – Riverside Radio
Accessibility and Community are at the Heart of What We Do – RNIB Connect Radio

Newcomer of the Year
Amy Boyd – Chelmsford Community Radio
Kirsty Corbett – Erewash Sound
Oli Mac – Maritime Radio
Rob Singleton – Riverside Radio
Seb Grant – Spark

Sage Person of the Year (Over 60)
Paul James – Academy fm Thanet
Terry Snowden – ALL FM
Pat Reading – Marlow FM
Steve Whitley – Radio Tyneside
Ian Barclay – Riverside Radio

Young Person or people of the Year (under 25)
Honor Mant – BFBS Salisbury Plain
Daisy Barker – Chelmsford Community Radio
Amy Boyd – Chelmsford Community Radio
Harrison RB – Express FM
Radio LaB Student Managers – Radio LaB 97.1FM

Volunteer of the Year
Richard Belle – Andover Radio
Ste Greenall – Black Cat Radio
Mike Butterworth – K107fm
David Neal – Mix 92.6
Nick Mundy – Radio Winchcombe

Sports Show of the Year
Women’s Sports Mix Show – Cambridge Radio
Daniel Baker – Cambridge Radio
Drive 105 Match Night Live – Drive 105
Rapha Report – Radio Skye
Switch Radio Sport – Switch Radio

Arts & Creative Radio of the Year
Treasure Island – Chelmsford Community Radio
Radio LaB’s Halloween Murder Mystery – Radio LaB 97.1FM
Choices: Deluxe Edition – Radio LaB 97.1FM
ArtyParti – Spark
Murder on the Mersey: Ghost in the Post – Wythenshawe FM

News, Journalism & Factual Storytelling of the Year
Natasha Reneaux – BFBS Aldershot
Jason Herbert – BFBS Blandford
The Saxonvale Saga – Frome FM
Adam Gordon – Radio Skye
Riverside Reports Team – Riverside Radio

Specialist Content Show of the Year
Historic Bedford: VE Day 80 – Bedford Radio
Month of the Military Child – BFBS Aldershot
Bro Radio Juniors – Bro Radio
The Voice of Business with Nell Op de Beeck – Radio Woking
The Mid Morning Show – Vectis Radio

Specialist Music Show of the Year
Dance Anthems with Matt Price – Radio Woking
The Jazz Club – Jake Hart – RNIB Connect Radio
The Indie Club – Spark
The Midweek Mosh – Switch Radio
Priya Matharu’s Desi Beats – Switch Radio

Entertainment Show of the Year
Wednesday Drivetime – Academy fm Thanet
The Full English Breakfast Show – Black Cat Radio
Bro Radio Juniors – Bro Radio
House of Fun – PCRFM
Riverside Breakfast with Jason Rosam – Riverside Radio

Live Event or Outside Broadcast of the Year
Cambridge Folk Festival 2024 – Cambridge Radio
Eisteddfod in Rhondda Cynon Taf – GTFM
Live from Gŵyl Cefni 2025 – MônFM
The Northern Pride Festival – Pride Radio
RNIB Connect Radio at the Paralympics 2024 – RNIB Connect Radio

Presenter of the Year: Man
Neil Kefford – Academy fm Thanet
Patrick Foster – Academy fm Thanet
Chris Kaye – BFBS Catterick
Gavin Richards – Cambridge Radio
Dan Draper – Riverside Radio

Presenter of the Year: Woman
Dishali Asrani – Awaz FM
Amy Gray – Cambridge Radio
Lizzie Sentance – Marlow FM
Daryl Jenkins – Spark
Priya Matharu – Switch Radio

Voices of the Community Award
Mark McKenzie & Major Karen Tate – BFBS Scotland
The Coeliac Shack – Radio LaB 97.1FM
Older Voices – Radio Tyneside
The Ukraine Hour – Somer Valley FM
In Her Element, supporting women and girls in the North East – Spark

Voices for all Award
Me Time Podcast on the Joy Ethic Show – ALL FM
Rainbow Mums – Chelmsford Community Radio
Alex Airnes – K107FM Community Space – K107FM
The Ukraine Hour – Somer Valley FM
Glocal – Ujima Radio

Community Impact Project of the Year
Finding Your Voice – Colne Radio
Work Experience For ALL – Sheppey FM 92.2
Music in Mind – Sheppey FM 92.2
Hear Our Voices – Ujima Radio
The 4Ps Radio Training School – Vectis Radio

Station of the Year
Academy fm Thanet
Radio Skye
Riverside Radio
RNIB Connect Radio
Vectis Radio

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Audio advertising has been proven to deliver stronger returns than the all-media average, according to new research launched by Radiocentre today.

The study, called High Gain Audio and carried out by WPP Media, was unveiled at Radiocentre’s Tuning In conference. It shows that both broadcast radio and digital audio outperform other media channels in generating profit ROI, whether for short-term campaigns or long-term brand building.
Digital audio delivers a full-term profit return of £5.20 for every pound spent, while broadcast radio delivers £5. The all-media average sits lower at £4.11. In the short term, digital audio generates £2.70 and broadcast radio £2.30 per pound spent, both above the average of £1.87.
The report also highlights how shifting existing budgets to give audio a larger share can amplify results. Campaigns that included audio saw short-term ROI uplift by 8% compared to those without audio in the mix.
Mark Barber, Planning Director at Radiocentre, said: “High Gain Audio’s key takeaway is clear: multiplatform audio advertising is underinvested, with both broadcast radio and digital audio individually exceeding the all-media profit ROI average. These findings build on previous Radiocentre research to strengthen the case for advertisers to be more ambitious with their multiplatform audio budget allocation.”
Based on the analysis, Radiocentre is recommending advertisers consider allocating 20% of their overall media spend to audio. The suggestion recognises that individual campaigns will vary but positions audio as a driver of higher returns across different objectives.
The study uses data from Thinkbox’s award-winning Profit Ability 2 research and further analysis by WPP Media. It also responds to industry calls for more detailed insight into audio’s performance, particularly as commercial audio audiences have grown by 23% over the past five years.
Full details of the High Gain Audio findings are available at radiocentre.org.

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Ann Marie Miller has retired from Central FM after a career in Scottish radio spanning nearly 24 years.

Ann Marie first joined the Stirling-based station in January 2002 and went on to serve as Station Manager, leading the team through some of its biggest achievements.
Central FM won the Radio Academy Nations and Regions Station of the Year four times under her direction, alongside national recognition for sales and creative campaigns.
Her work included overseeing the 2009 Winter Safe Driving Campaign, which later received the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award. Even after stepping down in December 2010, her influence was felt when Central FM won the Sony UK Station of the Year the following year, based on her final year’s performance.
From 2011, Ann Marie worked as Regional Manager for Scotland at Bauer Radio’s Cash for Kids, helping fundraising efforts grow from £1 million to nearly £5 million annually. She returned to Central FM in 2018, helping re-establish the broadcaster as the leading commercial station in the Forth Valley.

Two other well-known voices are also leaving the station. Alan Edwards, who has been Head of Content and Breakfast Host since 2022, is moving on to become a full-time celebrant. Alan is credited with bringing creativity and energy to the station’s programming.
Daytime presenter Tony McQue, who first joined Central FM as a weekend host before taking over the daytime slot in 2018, is leaving to focus on his own business. His programme consistently attracted the highest audience numbers since the station launched in 1990.
The station has thanked Ann Marie, Alan and Tony for their contribution and wished them well for the future.

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BBC Asian Network’s flagship club night, Asian Network Certified, is heading back to Birmingham this year.

The event takes place at XOYO Birmingham on Saturday 15 November from 7pm to midnight, with headline sets from Birmingham’s own DJ and producer Dr Zeus.
The line-up will also feature AJD, Dipps Bhamrah, DJ Limelight, Junglebandi, Kizzi, Manara, MR.O and DJ Kades, Nav Mischief and Ramnik. The night will be hosted by Asian Network presenters Nikita Kanda and Haroon Rashid.
Dr Zeus said: “I’m gassed to be headlining Asian Network Certified in my hometown Birmingham, it’s going to be a massive night! I’m really looking forward to dropping all my bangers from way back when to now and bringing along some surprises on the night.”
Head of Asian Network, Ahmed Hussain, added: “Asian Network Certified has always been about celebrating British Asian identity, culture, and music – and I’m thrilled to bring that energy to Birmingham with another unforgettable event. This year feels especially significant as we settle back into Birmingham with the whole station now broadcasting from here.”
The show will bring a mix of British Asian sounds, UK Garage, Punjabi Hip-Hop, RnB and Bollywood beats. For those unable to attend in person, highlights will be broadcast on BBC Asian Network and BBC Sounds from 6pm on Friday 21 November.
Full details are on the BBC website.

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BBC 5 Live’s Matt Chorley has interviewed Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey while riding the zip line from Bournemouth Pier during his party’s conference in the town.
The conversation is being described as the first, and possibly only, interview to be conducted mid-air above the seafront.
It came as the party’s annual conference brought delegates from across the country to Bournemouth, with debates and speeches taking place at the Bournemouth International Centre.
Ed Davey was seen chatting while gliding along the line, and was asked what he thinks of Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer. His reply? “He’s having a tough time. He needs to help disabled people..”
It follows last year’s interview between the two which took place on a rollercoaster in Brighton.

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