UK

Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox set off this morning from Kielder Forest on the station’s longest-ever BBC Children in Need challenge.
Her Great Northern Marathon Challenge will see her cover 135 miles on foot over five days, carrying Pudsey Bear from Northumberland to Pudsey in Leeds.
Locals gathered early to cheer Sara on as she began the journey, with Morpeth Pipe Band’s Stuart Todd playing the bagpipes and Andrea Foote from Morpeth Riding for the Disabled sounding the start horn. Even a group of alpacas turned up to see her off.
Speaking live on BBC Breakfast from the start line, Sara said she felt “more relaxed than I have been for weeks” but admitted her “toes are already soggy” from heavy drizzle.
The Radio 2 Teatime Show host will travel through Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, walking and jogging without any vehicles or assistance. The challenge symbolically takes Pudsey from the border to the heart of his namesake town, all in aid of BBC Children in Need.
Sara told Scott Mills on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show: “There are loads of people here. There are kids with flags. Everyone has got their Pudsey ears on. People have got signs. It’s absolutely gorgeous actually. Pudsey is here obviously. And a man with bagpipes!”
Listeners can follow her route on the live tracker at bbc.co.uk/sara and hear regular updates across Radio 2, BBC Sounds, and the station’s social channels throughout the week.
A BBC television crew is accompanying Sara for a behind-the-scenes documentary, Sara Cox: Every Step of the Way for Children in Need, which airs on BBC One on 19 November at 8pm.

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BBC Director-General Tim Davie has announced he will leave the Corporation after 20 years, including five as its chief executive.

His departure was confirmed today, alongside the resignation of Deborah Turness, CEO of BBC News.
The former Head of Radio said the decision was his own and that he would remain for a transition period while a successor is appointed.
In a message to staff, he described the job as “very intense personally and professionally” and said he wanted to give his successor time to shape plans for the next Royal Charter.
He added that although the BBC “is delivering well,” he accepted “ultimate responsibility” for recent challenges around BBC News.
Davie wrote: “In these increasingly polarised times, the BBC is of unique value and speaks to the very best of us. It helps make the UK a special place; overwhelmingly kind, tolerant and curious.”
He also reflected on the broadcaster’s transformation during his leadership, highlighting progress towards digital growth and its reputation as “the most trusted news brand globally.”
BBC Chairman Samir Shah paid tribute to Davie’s leadership, describing him as “an outstanding Director-General” who has “propelled the BBC forward with determination, single-mindedness and foresight.” He confirmed that the Board would begin the process of appointing a successor immediately.
Davie first joined the BBC in 2005 and previously served as Director of Audio and Music, Acting Director-General, and Chief Executive of BBC Studios before being appointed Director-General in 2020.
He said he would “always be a passionate cheerleader for civilised society, a strong BBC and a thriving UK.”

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Lake District Radio is marking Our Earth Week with a 24-hour live broadcast focused on songs that never quite made it to number one.

From 8am on Friday 14 November, presenter Lee Durrant will take listeners through a marathon playlist of chart “Number 2s” while raising awareness of sewage pollution in the UK’s lakes, rivers and seas.
Each hour will celebrate a different decade or genre, from 1950s classics to Britpop and beyond, while also exploring one of the country’s most persistent environmental challenges.
Throughout the 24 hours, Lee will be joined by campaigners from Save Windermere, environmental experts and representatives from United Utilities to discuss the scale of water pollution and what can be done to protect local waterways.
Lee said it would be a tough but worthwhile challenge. “If it gets people talking about what’s happening to our lakes, rivers and seas, it will be worth every minute.”
The show forms part of Our Earth Week, a national community radio initiative dedicated to nature and climate action. This year’s theme is Water, with stations across the UK producing special programmes that highlight local and national environmental issues.
Listeners are encouraged to tune in, take part in discussions, and share their own stories through Lake District Radio’s social media channels during the broadcast.

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BBC Radio 5 Live is launching a new weekday politics podcast hosted by broadcaster and political journalist Matt Chorley.
Matt Chorley’s Urgent Questions starts on 10 November and will feature 25 minutes of sharp political insight and analysis drawn from Matt’s weekday 5 Live show, which airs from 2pm to 4pm.
Launching ahead of the Autumn Budget, the podcast will deliver highlights, big interviews and commentary designed to help listeners make sense of the fast-moving political landscape.
Since joining 5 Live last year, Matt has interviewed key political figures including Keir Starmer, Boris Johnson and Kemi Badenoch. His new podcast aims to bring those conversations, along with his trademark humour, to a wider audience on demand.
Matt said: “Taking politics seriously doesn’t mean doing it boringly. The podcast will be packed with the best bits, the smartest bits, the funniest bits, and the bits that make you think ‘oh, so that’s why they do that’.”
Matt Chorley’s Urgent Questions will be available every weekday on BBC Sounds.

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BCfm and Ujima Radio have unveiled a new national guide to help community stations respond safely and responsibly during times of civil unrest.

The Civil Unrest Broadcast and Response Protocol for Local and Community Radio offers practical advice for stations on how to report accurately, protect staff and volunteers, and maintain trust during moments of public tension.
Developed with support from Bristol City Council’s Community Recovery Fund, the framework draws on lessons from Bristol’s own experience of unrest last year, when misinformation spread rapidly across social media. Local stations including BCfm and Ujima played a key role in providing calm, reliable information.
The document sets out steps for broadcasters to follow when covering sensitive situations. These include how to work transparently with local authorities and the police while staying editorially independent, how to keep teams safe, and how to support dialogue that promotes calm and community cohesion.
Marcus Smith from BCfm said the new resource would help local radio respond effectively in difficult circumstances. “This protocol ensures that when communities are under pressure, local media can act swiftly and responsibly. It is about keeping people safe, tackling misinformation, and giving voice to those who promote understanding and unity.”
Ujima’s Miranda Rae added that the guide recognises the vital role trusted local voices play when tensions rise. “Community radio is often the first and most trusted source of information. This resource gives stations across the country a blueprint for how to respond effectively and compassionately.”
The new protocol is freely available to download and is being shared nationally through community media networks. It was inspired by the recent audio documentary We Do Not Do That Here, which explores how Bristol’s broadcasters helped maintain calm during the 2024 disturbances.

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BBC Radio 4 and 4Extra will mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth this December with a major season of special programmes and new dramas celebrating her life and legacy.

From 6th December, listeners can enjoy a complete audio collection of Austen’s six major novels, including Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Mansfield Park, Persuasion, and Northanger Abbey, all available on BBC Sounds. A special day of broadcasts will take place on Radio 4 on 16th December to honour Austen’s birthday.
The season begins and ends with two new Radio 4 dramas – Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility – narrated by Tamsin Greig as Jane Austen herself. Written by Rachel Joyce and Claudine Toutoungi, the new adaptations revisit themes of love, heartbreak and sisterhood through a modern lens.
A new ten-part factual series, When I Met Jane Austen, hosted by biographer Dr Paula Byrne, will feature contributions from well-known admirers including David Baddiel, Val McDermid, Katherine Rundell, Kate Atkinson, Andrew Davies, Gurinder Chadha, and Marlon James, exploring how Austen’s writing has inspired their work.
Radio 4’s Bookclub will feature Emma Thompson, reflecting on her adaptation of Sense and Sensibility and why Austen’s stories continue to connect with audiences today. The station’s continuity announcers will also join in the birthday celebrations on 16th December.
Radio 4Extra will air classic Austen-themed programmes from the past forty years, while BBC iPlayer will showcase TV adaptations and documentaries including Jane Austen: Rise of a Genius. Actor Monica Dolan will also read Persuasion for The Read on BBC Four and iPlayer.
Matthew Dodd, Commissioning Editor for Arts, said the season “brings together a rich and varied collection showcasing the many ways Austen’s voice still resonates today.”

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