Local BBC radio stations across the North East of England are launching changes to their schedules from Monday, September 25.
Last year the BBC shared its plans to “put local information at the heart of the online experience with greater news provision for 43 areas across England.” The BBC said this means more original journalism and in-depth investigations with 130 additional journalists including a team of 70 investigative journalists across the country, although critics have pointed to an increased incidence of shared regional content and the loss of many much-loved local shows, while BBC journalists have been striking in protest.
The BBC has now revealed the forthcoming schedule changes to afternoon, evening and weekend schedules for BBC Radio Newcastle and BBC Radio Tees.
Most of the voices in the new schedules will be familiar to listeners, says the broadcaster, with some taking on new shows and/or areas. Breakfast, mid-morning and sports programmes remain largely the same and local to each radio station.
Of particular note may be the 10pm-1am slots which will now feature the same content nationally, with Becky Want hosting Sunday to Thursday and Jo Good handling weekends. That slot is currently filled in the North East by Steffen Peddie hosting a regional phone-in show across both channels.
Kate Squire, Senior Head of Production for BBC North said: “The new schedules will give our listeners a powerful line-up of popular presenters who are excited to broadcast, inform and entertain audiences where they live. This, teamed with our new investigative news teams, will ensure that audiences across the region get a strong local offering across radio, tv and online.”
Following the largely unchanged earlier scheduling, afternoon and evening schedules in the North East will look like this from Monday:
Weekday afternoons 2-6pm
BBC Radio Newcastle and BBC Radio Tees – Scott Makin will present the afternoon programme. (Scott currently presents the afternoon show at BBC Radio Tees only).
Weekday 6 – 7 (Tees)
BBC Tees Sport will continue as it currently is.
Weekday 6-8 (Newcastle)
Total Sport will continue as it currently is.
Weeknights from 7pm (Tees) and from 8pm (Newcastle)
(Broadcasting across the region)
Monday – Rachel Teate
Tuesday – Jade Burns (will launch later this Autumn).
Wednesday – Joel Mitchell (to launch later this Autumn)
Thursday – Upload with Emma Millen 7-8pm (Tees only); 8-10pm BBC Music Introducing presented by Shakk (BBC Newcastle and BBC Radio Tees)
Friday – Rachel Teate
Sunday to Thursday from 10pm – 1am (all England) launching from 8th October
Becky Want
Friday and Saturday from 10pm – 1am (all England) launching from 13th October
Jo Good
Weekends
(Broadcasting across the region)
6am-10am – Gilly Hope
10am- 2pm – Kelly Scott
Saturday nights 6-10pm
6-8pm – across the region – Upload in the North East.
8pm-10pm – across the region – BBC Music Introducing in the North East.
One North East presenter who will not be featuring in the new schedules is BBC Introducing North East’s Radio Newcastle host Nick Roberts. Roberts has helped thousands of bands and singers across the North East get their first radio airplay, including Sam Fender, but took to Twitter/X at the weekend to announce that this Thursday’s show would be his last one.
Roberts’ slot will now be filled for the entire North East by current Radio Tees Introducing host Shakk.
