There’s lots happening at Radio 2, with the launch of a new weekday schedule featuring The Scott Mills Breakfast Show, and the return of Piano Room month in February
Coldplay cover The Proclaimers, Kim Wilde covers Crowded House, Kiefer Sutherland covers Phil Collins
Published: January 14, 2025 — Radio 2 has announced the return of Piano Room month in February along with the new Radio 2 weekday schedule launching later this month, plus a number of exciting new shows and specials across the station, including a celebration of Elaine Paige’s incredible 60 year career in showbusiness, a new five-part series – Eras: Bob Marley hosted by Trevor Nelson, and much more…
From Monday 3 February to Friday 28 February in Vernon Kay’s weekday mid-morning show, a month of incredible Piano Room performances return. The season will feature 16 of pop’s most loved artists singing live whilst being accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra from London’s BBC Maida Vale studios. Each artist will perform a new song, a classic and a cover version – and, as well as being on BBC Sounds, will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer from later that day.
The 100th Piano Room will air on Thursday 27 January, featuring one of the UK’s most successful singer songwriters, Gary Barlow. Each Friday’s show will feature highlights from that week’s Piano Room performances. Vernon’s Ten To The Top quiz – which sees two contestants compete in a pop quiz – remains daily at 10.30am. A BBC Audio production.
This year’s stunning line-up is:
Mon 3 February – Coldplay, performing a cover by The Proclaimers
Tue 4 February – Kim Wilde, performing a Crowded House cover
Wed 5 February: Tom Grennan, performing a Harry Nilsson cover
Thu 6 February: Mica Paris, performing a Bob Marley cover for Piano Room on what would have been Bob Marley’s 80th birthday
Mon 10 February: Myles Smith, performing a Green Day cover
Tues 11 February: Kiefer Sutherland, performing a Phil Collins cover
Wed 12 February: Celeste, performing a Labi Siffre cover
Thu 13 February: 10cc’s Graham Gouldman is reuniting specially for this Piano Room with fellow band co-founder Kevin Godley in the 50th anniversary year of their seminal hit, I’m Not in Love, and performing a cover by The Everly Brothers.
Mon 17 February: Natasha Bedingfield, performing an Oasis cover
Tue 18 February: Deacon Blue, performing a Beyoncé cover
Wed 19 February: Chesney Hawkes, cover to be announced
Thu 20 February: Kate Hudson, cover to be announced
Mon 24 February: Franz Ferdinand, performing a Britney Spears cover
Tue 25 February: Elkie Brooks, performing a Rag N Bone cover on her 80th birthday
Wed 26 February: Teddy Swims, performing a Nat King Cole cover
Thu 27 February: Gary Barlow, performing a Sam Fender cover for The 100th Piano Room
Coldplay will also be broadcast as a special on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer at a later date.
Exclusive live performances from Coldplay will also be broadcast on Jo Whiley’s Radio 2 show.
Jeff Smith, Head of Music, Radio 2, says: “Radio 2 prides itself in presenting listeners with live music from some of the world’s most popular musicians, so I’m delighted to be bringing another stellar line-up of artists to the Piano Room in February. This list is bursting with iconic entertainers who have sung some of the best songs ever written.”
Vernon says: “It’s been a privilege to feature some of the world’s best loved performers in the Piano Room across the past year. The line-up for this February is awe-inspiring and represents the huge range of music from across the decades that I love playing on my show every day, so please do join me for what will be a very special month of music.”
Matthew Swann, Director of the BBC Concert Orchestra, says: “Piano Room month is now a much-anticipated annual occasion for the BBC Concert Orchestra, and we are delighted to be embarking on our fourth year. The BBC CO will be working with another star-studded line-up of world-class musicians and will perform some of their best-loved songs. Reimaging their tracks with the depth and colour of the live orchestra never fails to create an evocative listening experience for audiences, and we can’t wait to showcase it on Radio 2 in February.”
Kim Wilde says: “I’m a big fan of Radio 2’s Piano Room performances, so it’s a real honour to be asked to do this! We’re really looking forward to it!”
Tom Grennan says: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be doing Radio 2’s Piano Room, it’s a pleasure and an honour. This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time now and I just hope I can do it justice.”
Mica Paris says: “And just like that it’s 40 years in music… seems only fitting, this year, that I return to my beloved Radio 2 – to perform for Piano Room – to mark this milestone with a world premiere of a brand new song and two very special classics!”
Myles Smith says: “I’m incredibly excited and grateful to be invited to collaborate with the BBC Concert Orchestra for Radio 2’s Piano Room. Growing up, music was always my way of making sense of the world, and being able to bring my songs to life in this way feels like such a special moment. To have these stories elevated by the richness of an orchestra is both humbling and inspiring. It’s an opportunity to connect with people on an even deeper level, and I can’t wait to share this experience with everyone listening and watching.”
Kiefer Sutherland says: “I’m thrilled to be invited by the BBC to perform for Radio 2’s Piano Room. It will be my first time playing with an orchestra and I’m very excited for the opportunity.”
Celeste says: “In the last two years I have had the opportunity to perform with orchestras, the LCO, and Hans Zimmer for the Queens Jubilee, and it has come to influence my style and the outcome of my second studio album. I am especially looking forward to having this opportunity to perform and record in this style with the BBC Concert Orchestra at Maida Vale.”
Graham Gouldman says: “It’s a huge honour to be asked to do a Piano Room session. Kevin and I have worked together on several projects over the years, he’s guested with 10cc at the last two Royal Albert Hall concerts, so we didn’t have to think long about accepting. Writing a new song and picking a cover track to perform were stimulating and enjoyable challenges.”
Natasha Bedingfield says: “I’ve always loved orchestras and I’m excited to reimagine my songs for Radio 2’s Piano Room with the legendary BBC Concert Orchestra.”
Deacon Blue says: “We are thrilled to be a part of BBC Radio 2’s Piano Room month this February. There really is no other feeling like performing alongside a live orchestra! This ain’t Texas… This is Maida Vale!”
Franz Ferdinand says: “We’re thrilled to be part of Piano Room Month for Radio 2 with the BBC Concert Orchestra. This is something that we’ve wanted to do for a long time so it’s an honour to be asked. It’s a chance to hear songs like you’ve never heard them before and maybe something that you’ve definitely never heard us do before. Can’t wait!”
Celebrating her 80th birthday on Tuesday 25 February by performing live for BBC Radio 2’s Piano Room, Elkie Brooks says, “What a way to mark the day, the BBC Concert Orchestra, my fantastic band, making music in the company of great musicians – I couldn’t honestly want for more.”
Teddy Swims says: “I’m so excited to be heading back to the UK to perform for BBC Radio 2’s Piano Room with the amazing BBC Concert Orchestra at the legendary Maida Vale studio! It’s going to be a blast!”
Source
BBC Radio 2
