UK

An Election 2024 pop up stream on BBC Sounds has appeared bringing together all of the BBC’s journalism in one place for the first time.

The temporary stream offers uninterrupted coverage of live news and current affairs ahead of the UK’s general election, covering all the breaking stories as they unfold.
Election 2024 brings together BBC journalism across TV and Radio in one place for the first time, featuring programmes such as Newscast, Today, Question Time, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg and more.
Jonathan Wall, Director, BBC Sounds said: “We have created an easy to find, easy to access one stop shop for rolling election coverage from the BBC and the top on demand shows including Newscast and The Today Programme.
“It’s powered by the best of BBC News, Radio 4 and 5 live, and all just at the press of a button or an ask of your Smart speaker.”
Naja Nielsen, Digital Director, BBC News said: “BBC News’ top priority in the general election is to be an essential, impartial service for voters, allowing them to follow developments and access the information they need to make up their minds.
“I am delighted we are able to launch this innovative Election 2024 pop-up stream for audiences, now on BBC Sounds as well as BBC iPlayer.”
The Election 2024 collection runs from June 17th to July 8th and listeners can find the stream in the live dial at the top of the Sounds homepage (between 5 Sports Extra and 6Music). […]

Tim Smith is joining Jazz FM to present the station’s Summer Book Club.

The feature returns on June 22nd, and Tim comes from BBC Radio 2 where he was co-host of the Book Club on Steve Wright in the Afternoon, although he has more recently been presenting shows at Jazz.
Across the Summer, every Saturday from 9am, there’ll be interviews with a fiction and non-fiction author, plus, each week a different writer will share their essential jazz favourite to round off the show.
Of fronting the 10-week series Tim Smith said “I’m delighted to be hosting the Jazz FM Summer Book Club. I’m an avid reader, especially of contemporary literature, so I’m excited to be focusing on that and hearing from a wide variety of authors.
“Hopefully I’ll be able to provide some great suggestions for both the listeners and my own summer reading lists! It’s a sad moment to be taking over from Jamie under such sad circumstances, but hopefully I can do him proud.”
Jazz FM and Scala Radio Content Director Nick Pitts added: “It’s great to be able to bring back Jazz FM’s Summer Book Club, and with someone like Tim in charge.
“Through his time on the Radio 2 Book Club with the legendary Steve Wright he spoke to many of the authors of today gaining an insight into what appeals to those who love a good book.
“We know that as the Jazz FM listening audience go off on their summer holidays, not only do they take Jazz FM with them, but they also take a couple of good books and I’m hoping that we will be able to influence their reading list.” […]

The recently announced rebrand for Radio Tircoed to Swansea Live Radio has attracted the attention of rival broadcasters.

And following a complaint about the proposed name, the station will now launch as SA Radio Live instead.
The start date will continue as planned, on September 30th, when the community station will change and introduce a new schedule, new imaging and a new focus.
Writing on social media, Shaun Tilley, who will run the station and host the breakfast show, said: “The city’s only ‘truly’ local station will now be called ‘SA Radio Live’.
“Our shows will be hosted by 15 former Swansea Sound / Wave DJs alongside a number of talented newcomers. There will be specialist music programmes too, a weekly 3 hour showcase for the finest talent in our area, shows in Welsh, we will support local charities and be a mouthpiece for all the wonderful events coming to the city.
“Broadcasting LIVE (not pre-recorded) from studios here in Swansea (not elsewhere pretending to be Swansea) and not the same shows heard on stations in other towns at the very same time.
“We will be YOUR station, living and breathing Swansea so please continue to give us your overwhelming support and spread the word. We can’t wait to be with you from 7am on Monday 30th September as we launch SA Radio Live!!” […]

Colourful Radio is switching to DAB+ on Switch Digital’s London 2 multiplex.

Colourful founder and exec producer, Kofi Kusitor MBE says: “We’ve had great relationships with multiplex owners and transmission companies for over 20 years.
“And so, it is doubly exciting to agree on a deal that not only provides our legacy radio station a new home with London 2 but also offers the Colourful brand the opportunity to grow our unique and unmatched offering beyond a single service.”
For the last four years, London 3 was home to Colourful in traditional DAB.
Mr Kusitor adds: “I am thankful to Global and London 3 for their kindness and exceptional service and support over the years.” […]

Thornbury Radio has celebrated its third birthday by giving away free cash.
The community radio station ran a competition for one listener to win £105.10, to match its frequency.
The FM service is designed to cover Thornbury and surrounding villages – including Alveston, Olveston, Tytherington, Oldbury-on-Severn, Leyhill, Wickwar, Bagstone and Iron Acton.
In addition, Thornbury Radio will start broadcasting on DAB from September 2024.
Chris Criddle, weekday breakfast show host and Director said; “The station is going from strength to strength with such great positive feedback, more volunteers wanting to get involved and the station being recognised by more people than ever.
“We are attending more events this year and we are told that we are doing a great job by our community.
“With our plans for launching on DAB in September 2024 we hope to make it even easier to listen to Thornbury Radio.” […]

Radio presenter and podcaster Jon Holmes has opened up about his cancer diagnosis to try and demystify the disease and encourage conversation.
Jon Holmes was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2023, which he says came as a bit of a surprise because quite frankly he was far too busy for all of that nonsense. After a very odd, intense, unexpected, ridiculous year, Jon realised that men don’t tend to talk openly about the preposterous indignity of dealing with cancer. So he decided he would, with other men who have been through it.
In a new eight part series for BBC Radio 4, Jon Holmes Says The C-Word, Jon will be joined by comedians Stephen Fry, Mark Steel, Richard Herring, Matt Forde, and Eric Idle, actors Colin McFarlane and Ben Richards, rock star and The Alarm frontman Mike Peters, and journalists Jeremy Langmead, Nick Owen, and Jeremy Bowen as they share their own personal experiences of undergoing cancer treatment.
Jon Holmes says: “If there had been a podcast like this when I was diagnosed – one full of other people’s stories, advice and light moments to illuminate the darkness of the whole sorry process I’d have lapped it up. But there wasn’t, so I spoke to Radio 4, and now there is.”

Jon and his guests will demystify all things cancer in raw, honest, difficult, often absurd and – yes – funny detail, from fingers up the bum to blood tests via biopsies, surgery, catheters, stomas, feeding tubes, penis pumps (no, really) and incontinence pads.
Jon will seek to stop the stigma and embarrassment associated with these issues, to raise awareness and encourage listeners to ‘get checked’ as he aims to remove the fear from the whole diagnosis and treatment process in an accessible and entertaining way. Aiming to humanise what is often a completely de-humanising process paved with unexpected moments, Jon Holmes Says The C-Word maintains that retaining a sense of humour is all important.
Throughout the series, Jon will also be encouraging listeners to get involved and share their own experiences, whether it’s something they have been through themselves or if they are supporting someone with cancer.
Commissioning editor Rhian Roberts says: “Jon has been so generous in both sharing his own cancer story and also creating a new place for more men to open up and tell theirs. It’s down to earth, full of facts and with as much fun as Jon can muster, and that’s quite a lot. We hope it becomes a space where listeners know they’re in good company, no matter how difficult the subject can be.” […]