UK

After more than 26 years and over 1,000 episodes, Melvyn Bragg has stepped down from presenting BBC Radio 4’s In Our Time.

The broadcaster has hosted every edition of the long-running series since it launched in 1998, covering subjects ranging from the age of the Universe to Zenobia, Queen of the Palmyrene Empire. Over that time he has welcomed hundreds of leading academics and reached audiences worldwide.
In Our Time remains one of Radio 4’s most listened to programmes and is consistently popular on BBC Sounds, particularly with listeners under 35. While he will no longer front the series, Bragg will continue to contribute to Radio 4, with a new project already planned for 2026.
Talking about his decision, Bragg said: “For a programme with a wholly misleading title which started from scratch with a six-month contract, it’s been quite a ride! I much look forward to continuing to work for the BBC on Radio 4. Thank you for listening.”
BBC Director General Tim Davie praised his impact: “Through In Our Time on Radio 4 he has brought depth, insight, and humanity to our airwaves every single week for more than a quarter of a century.”
Radio 4 Controller Mohit Bakaya added: “His fierce intellect, coupled with a wonderful curiosity and extraordinary passion for knowledge, marks him out as one of the broadcasting greats. Though we will miss him on In Our Time, he leaves behind a unique legacy.”
Radio 4 will broadcast a curated selection of Bragg’s most favourite episodes later this year, available on air and BBC Sounds. A new presenter for In Our Time will be announced in due course.

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BBC Radio Scotland will launch a brand-new Saturday morning programme as Amy Irons and Steven Mill join forces for The Saturday Show.

The new programme will air weekly from 9am to 12noon following Good Morning Scotland. It will feature big-name guests, a round-up of the weekend’s sport, music, news and interaction with listeners.
Amy, who is well known to BBC audiences for her work on Reporting Scotland: News at Seven, Hogmanay coverage, and the Sacked in the Morning podcast with Craig Levein, said she was excited about the new role.
“Saturday mornings are a special time of the week, with lots going on for our audience and I can’t wait to keep them company,” she explained.
Steven, who currently presents across Bauer Scotland and has a passion for Scottish football, said working with Amy again would be a highlight.
“We’re both passionate about our sport, and when you throw the Scottish sense of humour into the mix along with listener chat and guests, I know it’s going to be lots of fun,” he added.
Victoria Easton Riley, Head of Audio and Events at BBC Scotland, commented: “We’re delighted to launch The Saturday Show with Amy and Steven at the helm. Their chemistry, humour, and infectious enthusiasm make them the perfect pair to bring the audience a boost of energy and entertainment at the start of the weekend.”
The new show will follow Good Morning Scotland which airs from 8am to 9am each Saturday. The first edition of The Saturday Show will be on BBC Radio Scotland from 9am on 20 September and on BBC Sounds.

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Barking Riverside’s Emerge East festival will see Capital XTRA Breakfast presenters Shayna Marie and Robert Bruce as headline guests.

Shayna Marie will close the event with a headline DJ set on the brand-new Barking Riverside Block Party stage, while her co-host Robert Bruce, who is from East London, will host the stage throughout the day.
Shayna Marie said: “I’m so excited to be the first headliner at Emerge East’s new Barking Riverside Block Party this year, and even more grateful to be joining my Capital XTRA co-host Robert on stage.
“Coming from West London, it’ll be amazing to feel the energy of this emerging, East London neighbourhood. Music is all about connection, and I can’t wait to share that feeling with the crowd.”
The free one-day festival takes place this Saturday, 6th September and combines live music with food, art, wellbeing and family activities. Each year it attracts thousands of visitors to celebrate creativity, community and nature in East London.
Sarah McCready, Director of Social Infrastructure at Barking Riverside Limited, said: “We’re pleased to announce the talented Shayna Marie and Robert Bruce as our headliners this year.
“It feels extra special to welcome Robert back to his East London roots, and to have Shayna bring her incredible festival experience to Barking Riverside.”

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Nation Radio Yorkshire and Hull Trains have partnered to celebrate Coldplay’s arrival in the city with the launch of the train operators new ‘Speed of Sound’ service.

The search for East Yorkshire’s biggest Coldplay fans was run on Alex Duffy’s Breakfast Show, where Sarah from Hull, who has seen the band three times, and Toni from Beverley, who missed out on tickets, were chosen.
Both winners officially launched the new ‘Speed of Sound’ train, which features a design inspired by the band. The event included a live performance from fifty singers of Hull’s All For One Choir, who performed some of Coldplay’s most popular songs to mark the occasion.
Alex Duffy said: “This is what I love about radio and why being local still has so much value. When the biggest band in the world turn up on your doorstep and the local train company want to team up to give a money-can’t-buy experience to two superfans I was super pleased we could help make it happen.”
Louise Mendham, Service Delivery Director at Hull Trains, added: “When we heard the news that Coldplay had decided to perform in our city, we knew this was something really worth celebrating. I’d like to thank our Coldplay mega-fans Sarah and Toni for helping us launch our new ‘Speed of Sound’ service in style, along with Nation Radio and the All For One Choir.”

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Your Media Group has confirmed the appointment of two new directors as part of a management restructure.

Following the recent majority shareholding acquisition, Adam Daniel has been named Managing Director, with Ben Groom appointed as Content Director and James Landes as Commercial Director. Both Ben and James have also acquired shares in the business and will join the board of directors.
Ben has been with Your Harrogate for five years, managing digital content and social media, and played a central role in launching Your Ilkley and Your Skipton after their acquisition in 2023. Before joining the group, he worked at Stray FM and became Content Manager at Your Harrogate in 2020.
He said: “We have an amazing team at Your Media Group, both on and off air, and I’m honoured to take on this new role to help keep us moving forward.”
Adam Daniel added: “Ben has been on this journey from the very beginning, and this is truly well deserved. He has been instrumental in driving the growth of our audience, not only on-air but also online.”
James has worked at Your Harrogate for nearly four years as Sales Manager and previously held sales roles at Stray FM and Bauer Media.
He said: “It’s incredible to work with a fantastic team, brilliant presenters and amazing local businesses. It’s also a really exciting time for the business and I can’t wait to get cracking on this new chapter.”
Adam said James’ appointment as Commercial Director followed three record revenue months for the group, describing it as a timely move to help drive future growth.

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The Community Media Association is running three free online sessions in to help stations apply for this year’s Community Radio Fund.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has increased the fund to £900,000 for 2025-26, but there will only be one round of applications instead of the usual two. With demand expected to be high, the CMA says it is vital that applications are as strong as possible.
Each session will feature Mark Jones, Chair of the Community Radio Fund Panel, who will share advice on what applicants should consider.
CMA Treasurer Richard Hilton, a former panel member, will guide participants through the application process and highlight common pitfalls, including areas where supporting documentation is often incomplete. A recently successful station is also expected to join, offering practical tips from experience.
The sessions are open to all, not just CMA members, and will run on Saturday 13th September at 10am, Wednesday 17th September at 7pm, and Monday 22nd September at 7pm. Each will cover the same material, so attendees only need to join once.
The events are free to attend thanks to support from PPL, and registration is available through the CMA Eventbrite page.

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