UK

Religious station Radio Maria increased coverage to Stockport and Tameside.

As the station grows to cover more parts of the country, a public blessing of the new antenna has been held at the Hyde Cricket and Squash Club in Stockport.
Radio Maria already broadcasts to London, Cambridge, South Birmingham and Bristol, and these new areas will add another potential 500,000 listeners from towns including Davenport, Cheadle and areas of Cheshire.
The blessing ceremony was led by Father Sean Davidson, parish priest of St Joseph’s Church, Stockport, who also led the Rosary prayer and blessed the antenna.
Also present, was Canon Mark Gannon, Vicar General and parish priest of Our Lady and St Christopher’s Church, who blessed all those who were there.
President of Radio Maria, Dr Charles Wilson said: “We’re delighted to bring our unique flavour of radio to Stockport, Greater Manchester, Tameside and surrounding towns.
“It was a privilege to be at the public blessing. Just as we say grace before we eat, it seemed fitting to bless the antenna that is sending the word that will now feed the Stockport and South Manchester population.” […]

John ‘Gilly’ Gillmore is to host the Parched Pea Podcast for the Lancashire Post and Blog Preston.

John will speak to some of the characters who make up the city of Preston, supported by producers Ellie Browning and Sasha Wiltshire.
Episodes of the podcast, which is named after the Preston delicacy Parched Peas, include conversations about art, identity, sense of place, nostalgia, history, the future and the challenges the city faces.
Gilly said: “It’s great to be back doing what I do best, getting out and about meeting and chatting to people and unearthing some great stories. It’s an amazing project to have been involved with.”
Assisting Gilly with the podcast are University of Central Lancashire journalism students Ellie and Sasha.
Ellie said: “The podcast has been an incredible experience. I’ve loved learning from Gilly and everyone involved and hearing the stories of so many amazing people in Preston.”
Sasha added: “Working on this podcast has been such an amazing experience. I feel like we’ve really captured the beauty of Preston.”
The Parched Pea Podcast is a joint venture by Blog Preston and the Post, aimed at bringing Preston’s stories to an audio audience.
Founder and co-editor of Blog Preston, Ed Walker, said: “Bringing together Gilly’s experience, plus our knowledge and passion for the city means we’ve got a podcast which captures all things Preston.
“And it’s been great to see Ellie and Sasha working with a broadcasting legend and the podcast will give a voice, which is timeless, to some of the stories behind people and places in the city.”
National World’s editor-in-chief (North) and former Post editor, Nicola Adam, said: “I’m delighted to get this off the ground in Preston alongside Ed.  I’ve been very impressed by Ellie and Sasha’s work – and of course the lovely Gilly.
“It’s been really satisfying to truly collaborate across news organisations with something positive for Proud Preston. Many thanks to our sponsors.”
The six episode series of the Parched Pea Podcast will be available on all podcast platforms. […]

Iain Dale has had to take time off from his LBC evening show after being rushed to A&E on Monday suffering with severe pains.

He posted on X late last night: “Three and a half hours in A&E and it looks like a gall bladder issue. They’re running tests. Might have to come back tomorrow.”
Earlier this morning, still in hospital, he posted his thanks for all the good wishes he’d received and an update on the test results: “Firstly, thanks for all the good wishes. I went to A&E last night at 9pm with acute pain on the right-hand side of my chest.
“I am now in intensive care awaiting an operation to remove my gall bladder. Not ideal. In fact, it’s a nightmare. NHS care at Tunbridge Wells hospital is so far outstanding.”
It’s not known how long Iain will be off-air from LBC, but a Global spokesperson told RadioToday: “Simon Marks is presenting 7pm-10pm from tonight to Thursday.” […]

Indiyah Polack is joining Capital XTRA Breakfast to guest co-host with Robert Bruce.

The former Love Island contestant and podcaster will be on-air from tomorrow, Wednesday 31st July, while regular co-host Shayna Marie is on holiday.
Indiyah now co-hosts the Love Island: The Morning After podcast and the PrettyLittleThing YouTube series The Pink Courtroom with Nella Rose.
Over the last couple of days, she has been reporting live into Capital XTRA Breakfast from Mallorca with the latest from the Love Island final.
On joining Capital XTRA, Indiyah said: “I’ve had a blast joining Robert over the last few days, dishing up all the hot gossip from the Love Island villa, and I am so excited and humbled to be asked to present Capital XTRA breakfast with him. I’m such a fan of the station, and I can’t wait to be in front of the mic. Bring it on!”
Matt Deverson, Managing Editor for Capital XTRA, added: “Fresh from reporting from the Love Island villa, we’re delighted to bring Indiyah into the fold at Capital XTRA, stepping into Shayna Marie’s shoes whilst Shayna is on holiday.
“We’ve seen Indiyah and Robert develop a really fun energy on air over the last two days, and we’re thrilled that she will be joining Robert for the start of the summer holidays!” […]

BBC Radio 4 has announced new audio drama commissions including Central Intelligence, showcasing world-renowned talent.

Produced by Goldhawk Productions, Thoroughbred Studios and Rainfall Creations, Central Intelligence is part of Radio 4’s Limelight strand of drama serials. It tells the true insider story of the CIA from the perspective of Eloise Page (Kim Cattrall), who joined on the agency’s first day in 1947 and became one of its most powerful women.
Central Intelligence, starring Kim Cattrall, Ed Harris and Johnny Flynn begins on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds on 13th September.
Other new commissions include King Lear, starring Richard Wilson and produced by Brill Productions, with more Shakespeare commissions to follow. New original dramas on Radio 4 include Breaking the Rules season, a series of one-off dramas exploring the theme of rule-breaking.
This autumn will see new adaptations of Charles Dickens’ Hard Times, Little Dorrit, and Our Mutual Friend.
Alison Hindell, Radio 4’s Commissioning Editor for Drama and Fiction says: “Radio 4’s commitment to audio drama is unrivalled, with more than 250 hours of world class productions brought to audiences each year, broadcast daily on Radio 4, reaching nearly five million listeners every week and even more on BBC Sounds.
“With Central Intelligence, Radio 4 and Limelight listeners are in for a treat: it’s so exciting to have world-class casting of this calibre to complement the bold ambition of this powerful drama serial.
“Audio drama is unique in the way it transports us to different places and times, and this ambitious series will give an intimate insider’s view of some of the most remarkable events of the last century.” […]

AudioUK has launched a short, anonymised survey to gather data as it steps up its work to secure Government measures to grow the UK podcast and audiobook sector.

Tax relief for podcasting and audiobook production was one of the policies in AudioUK’s manifesto, which it produced earlier this year.
This would be similar to other creative tax reliefs, in such areas as TV and film, in attracting a significant amount of additional international investment.
AudioUK produced a report in 2021 stating the case for the tax relief and, as the new Government looks to put together its first Budget, is updating that report to have an audio production tax relief proposal included, to show the subsequent growth in the industry and future potential.
Chloe Straw, Managing Director of AudioUK, said: “With an incoming Government in the UK, we are renewing our case for a podcast and audiobook tax relief to ensure we don’t lose out in terms of investment from interrnational brands, broadcasters, media companies, and platforms.
“We are therefore gathering a small amount of data, anonymised at the point of input, to help update our 2021 report and make the strongest case possible.
“We urge podcast and audiobook producers of all shapes and sizes to take a few minutes to complete this survey, which will be crucial in helping us to grow our industry and secure its place alongside other creative industries in terms of tax policy.”
AudioUK’s survey on tax relief can be found here. […]