September 4, 2024 — Radio 2 – the UK’s most listened to radio station, with a weekly audience of 13.3 million (RAJAR Q2, 2024) – has landed in Preston, and as the excitement builds to this weekend’s Radio 2 in the Park 2024 in Moor Park, presenters Tony Blackburn, Jo Whiley, Jeremy Vine, Sara Cox and Richie Anderson are getting out and about across the city.

On Tuesday morning (3 September) Richie Anderson hosted the 7.30-8.30am slot at Royal Preston Hospital Radio. Afterwards, he spoke to Scott Mills on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show and BBC Sounds, and revealed that the hospital was looking for someone to cover the radio show that afternoon. After calling round some of the station’s biggest names, legendary broadcaster (and host of Sounds of the 60s and The Golden Hour programmes on the station) Tony Blackburn OBE stepped in to save the day and from 2-4pm played song requests from patients at the hospital.

Today (4 September) on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, Scott challenged Richie to perform tonight at The Laughienda Comedy Club Night at The Continental in Preston. Although having never performed comedy before, Richie has agreed to do it and will make his stand-up comedy debut by opening the second half of the night, performing in front of an audience. In preparation, he’s been receiving tips, tricks and advice from fellow Radio 2 presenter, Romesh Ranganathan plus Mark Simmons who was the winner of the ‘2024 Funniest Joke at the Edinburgh Fringe’ to help him hone his routine.

Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, says: “I’m delighted to be bringing our family of presenters, along with some of world’s most loved music artists, to Preston for Radio 2 in the Park, and thanks to Tony, Richie, Jo, Sara and Jeremy for kicking off our festival in style across the city this week. I look forward to seeing over 70,000 listeners having the time of their life in Moor Park this weekend!”

Tony says: “I feel incredibly lucky to be able to do what I do and I know how important hospital radio is to the patients and their families, so it was my absolute pleasure to present a show on Royal Preston Hospital Radio. It was an honour to read out their messages and play the songs that will brighten their day ahead of Radio 2 in the Park this weekend.”

Richie says: “I’ve been in the city all week, meeting loads of the wonderfully friendly and welcoming locals. It was fantastic to be able to step in to entertain the listeners of Royal Preston Hospital Radio on Tuesday, but I’m just a little bit terrified about performing stand-up comedy alongside a line-up of properly talented comedians tonight – wish me luck!”

Silas Nicholls, Chief Executive of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, says: “The Hospital Radio volunteers at Royal Preston Hospital provide a fantastic service, lifting the spirits of patients, families and staff, and it was great to host Richie Anderson and the legendary Tony Blackburn. To have them step in and assist with our shows was a fantastic surprise for all, ahead of what is set to be an exciting weekend for BBC Radio 2 in Preston.”

On Thursday morning (5 September), Richie will be up early again joining a crew on a road sweeper and hearing about the work they do to keep the streets of Preston clean. He’ll also be meeting community groups, Let’s Grow Preston and The Friends of Moor Park, along the way chatting to them about the great work they do.

As previously announced, on Thursday evening, Jo Whiley will be presenting her Radio 2 show live (7-9pm, 5 September) from legendary local music venue, The Ferret, showcasing three local bands from BBC Introducing, with each of their sets including a cover from one of the artists performing in Moor Park this weekend. Co-presented by BBC Radio Lancashire’s William Wolstenholme, he and Jo will host the programme in front of a small audience of Radio 2 listeners and will reveal which one of the artists will be her first ever Spotlight BBC Introducing Act – which is a new segment on her show launching that night.

The artists performing are:

• Bryony Jarman-Pinto, a Lancashire-based singer songwriter who fuses jazz, soul, and folk elements. Bryony’s second album (released earlier this year) received acclaim from Lauren Laverne and Jamz Supernova on BBC Radio 6 Music, and Clash magazine. Her set will include a Gabrielle cover.

• Electronic-pop trio LOWES from Lancaster – and made up of Preston-born vocalist Evie Plumb, and multi-instrumentalists Luke Paget and Jamie Walker. The group previously won a Radio 1 Dance Vocalist Award. Their set will include a Police cover.

• Blackpool indie-boyband VALA, who previously headlined shows at Manchester’s Deaf Institute and YES Pink Room, and will begin their first UK tour this September. Their set will include a Sugababes cover.

Jo says: “I’m super excited to get the party started in Moor Park, ahead of the whole weekend of incredible live performances at Radio 2 in the Park as the city has a vibrant music scene, with outstanding local talent. I can’t wait for our listeners to hear our showcase of the region’s best new musicians – and to launch our brand new BBC Introducing segment on my show, as there’s nothing more satisfying than watching a new artist’s journey to success.”

Jeff Smith, Head of Music for Radio 2, says: “Radio 2 is proud to play an incredibly wide range of music, including over 15,000 different songs each year, whether that’s in our daytime schedule or on our brilliant specialist shows, such as The Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe or The Jazz Show with Jamie Cullum. With Radio 2 in the Park coming to Preston, we want to shine a spotlight on some of the best local musicians (and hopefully superstars of the future) from BBC Introducing, and are really excited to showcase them in Jo’s show.”

On Friday, Jeremy Vine will be broadcasting his show (12-2pm) from a pub in the heart of the city, with his topical programme including discussion with guests and callers about the issues that matter to Prestonians. He’ll be discussing Preston’s important role in women’s football, whether Lancashire needs a mayor and he’s joined by the viral sensations spudbros!

Jeremy says: “I can’t wait to broadcast my Radio 2 show from a venue in the heart of Preston this Friday and hear from listeners from the Lancashire area and beyond with their views on all the national and regional issues we’ll be discussing.”

On Friday afternoon, Sara Cox is broadcasting her All Request Friday show live from Moor Park from 4-7pm, getting ready for Radio 2 in the Park which kicks off that night with the DJ Pre-Party. And Michelle Visage broadcasts her Friday night show from Moor Park from 7-9pm too! Sara is back in the park on Saturday morning, broadcasting from the on-site studio alongside Romesh Ranganathan from 10am to 1pm.

Sara says: “I’m so excited to be broadcasting the first show from Radio 2’s home for the weekend, Moor Park, this Friday from 4pm and I’ll be back again bright and early with Romesh on Saturday from 10am. I’ll be the radio big sister he never knew he needed. Or wanted. Make sure you join us as we get the party started!”

Radio 2 in the Park at Moor Park in Preston kicks off on Friday 6 September with a Pre-Party (5-11pm), with presenters taking to the DJ stage to spin their favourite tunes to 5000 revellers. Sting headlines the festival on Saturday night and the Pet Shop Boys top the bill on Sunday night. Each of their headline sets will also be broadcast on BBC Two with Sting at 10.15pm on Saturday and Pet Shop Boys at 10pm on Sunday.

As well as introducing artists on the main stage and playing sets in the DJ tent, Radio 2 presenters will be broadcasting live from an on-site studio at Moor Park – which looks out onto thousands of revellers across the weekend. Shows and sets will be available live and on demand on BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer across the weekend and for 30 days afterwards.

Tickets for Radio 2 in the Park are still available for the Friday night (6 September) and Sunday (8 September).

Full line-up

Saturday 7 September • Sting • Sugababes • Snow Patrol • Craig David • Kim Wilde • Pixie Lott • Shaznay Lewis • Travis •

Sunday 8 September • Pet Shop Boys • Manic Street Preachers • Sister Sledge feat. Kathy Sledge • Paul Heaton • Gabrielle• Shed Seven • Delta Goodrem • Haircut 100 •

DJ Stage

Friday 6 September • DJ Spoony’s Good Groove • Rylan’s Rybiza Anthems • Sara Cox’s Wower Hour • Scott Mills’ Wonder Years • Vernon Kay’s Dance Sounds of the 90s •

Saturday 7 September • Dermot O’Leary’s Alternative Sounds of the 90s • Jo Whiley’s Shiny Happy Playlist • Michelle Visage’s Handbag Hits • Romesh Ranganathan’s For The Love of Hip Hop • Rylan’s Rybiza Anthems • Scott Mills’ Wonder Years • Tony Blackburn’s Golden Years •

Sunday 8 September • DJ Spoony’s Good Groove • Gary Davies’ Sounds of the 80s • Michael Ball’s Broadway Bangers • Paddy McGuinness’ Sunday School Disco • Sara Cox’s Wower Hour • Trevor Nelson’s Rhythm Nation • Vernon Kay’s Dance Sounds of the 90s •

BBC Radio 2 is the UK’s most listened to radio station, with a weekly audience of 13.3 million (RAJAR Q2, 2024) and The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show the most listened to Breakfast show in the UK with 6.4 million listeners (RAJAR Q2, 2024). Vernon Kay (Monday-Friday, 9.30am-12pm) hosts the biggest radio show in the UK. The network’s presenters include Michael Ball, Zoe Ball, Rob Beckett, Tony Blackburn, OJ Borg, Revd. Kate Bottley, Rylan, Fearne Cotton, Sara Cox, Jamie Cullum, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Gary Davies, Paul Gambaccini, Mark Goodier, Angela Griffin, Bob Harris, Vernon Kay, Cerys Matthews, Paddy McGuinness, Scott Mills, Jason Mohammad, Trevor Nelson, Dermot O’Leary, Elaine Paige, Mark Radcliffe, Romesh Ranganathan, DJ Spoony, Liza Tarbuck, Jeremy Vine, Michelle Visage, Johnnie Walker, Jo Whiley, Phil Williams and Owain Wyn Evans.

At the 2024 Audio and Radio Industry Awards, also known as the ARIAs, Scott Mills won Gold for the Best Music Entertainment Show, 21st Century Folk won Gold for the Best Music Special, Windrush 75 won Gold for Best Coverage of an Event, and The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show won Bronze for the Best Music Breakfast Show. Plus, Cerys Matthews won the Best Blues Broadcaster Award for the third time at the annual UK Blues Awards so she has now been elected into the UK Blues Hall Of Fame.