If you’re used to listening to your local Heart presenters, get ready for big changes!

Updated May 20, 2019 - 12:44 pm

JK, Kelly Brook, Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden

Heart is set to radically change its schedules from next month, with the number of regional afternoon shows about to half when its national networked breakfast show with Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden begins.

Some of the current breakfast presenters will move to drivetime, whilst some of the weekend and local drivetime presenters will also transfer, but others will be leaving.

There are 24 local Heart drive shows at present, but this is being reduced to just 12 as allowed under new Ofcom Guidelines. RadioToday has estimated the 90 presenters broadcasting on Heart today will become around 20 next month. Plus producers, programmers, and general staff based at buildings being closed will also lose jobs.

Drivetime shows will be on-air for three hours weekdays from 4pm till 7pm in Scotland, the North East, the North West, South West, Yorkshire, the Midlands, the East, the South, the North West, West, North Wales and South Wales.

JK & Kelly Brook will host the Heart drivetime show in London. Des Clarke will host drivetime across Scotland having moved over from Capital Breakfast in April.

In the Midlands, Ed and Gemma will move from breakfast to drivetime and Ben Atkinson will take on Heart West’s drivetime show. In the South, Rich Clarke will present the drivetime show.

In the North East, Emil Franchi will move from weekends to the new weekday slot of 4pm – 7pm. For the North West, Adam Weighell will join the line-up, having previously presented on Capital Liverpool.

Heart Cambridge drivetime presenter Hannah Clarkson will present a brand-new drivetime show in the region of Heart East, incorporating Cambridgeshire, East Anglia, Essex and the Home Counties.

In Wales, former Breakfast hosts Jagger and Woody (Simon Jagger and Chris Wood) will help host drivetime in South Wales every weekday, whilst Megan Llŷn and Oli Kemp will take on the North.

In Yorkshire, Dixie (David Dixon) and Emma Lenney will present the brand-new drivetime show from 4pm – 7pm every weekday. In Hertfordshire John Darin will continue presenting Heart drivetime, on Heart Hertfordshire.

No regional weekend programmes will be broadcast, with all shows being made in London.

Managing Editor of Heart, James Rea says: “Heart’s new drivetime shows will provide a burst of freshness across the UK, going live from Monday June 3rd. This morning’s announcement follows the news of Jamie Theakston & Amanda Holden hosting a brand-new nationwide Heart Breakfast show which launches on the same day.

“I feel incredibly proud to be able to unveil a full Heart line up so that every part of the UK can continue to turn up the feel good!”

Global Radio, owner of Heart, is leading the way with consolidation of the radio industry which is now allowed under the new rules.

The radio landscape has changed a lot over the last ten years and Global’s aim is to make itself and the sector stronger against current and future audio competition, but unfortunately it does mean there are casualties who are losing their job, plus there may be less opportunities in the future for anyone wanting to break into the radio business.

From Monday 3rd June, the Heart weekday schedule is as follows:

Monday – Thursday

01:00 – 04:00 Simon Beale
04:00 – 06:30 Jenni Falconer
06:30 – 10:00 Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston & Amanda Holden
10:00 – 13:00 Pandora
13:00 – 16:00 Matt Wilkinson
16:00 – 19:00:

Heart London – JK and Kelly
Heart Scotland – Des Clarke
Heart North East – Emil Franchi
Heart Yorkshire – Dixie and Emma
Heart East – Hannah Clarkson
Heart South – Rich Clarke
Heart South West – Ben Atkinson
Heart North West – Adam Weighell
Heart Midlands – Ed and Gemma
Heart North Wales – Megan Llŷn and Oli Kemp
Heart South Wales – Jagger and Woody
Heart Hertfordshire – John Darin

19:00 – 22:00 Sian Welby
22:00 – 01:00 Fia Tarrant

Friday

01:00 – 04:00 Simon Beale
04:00 – 06:30 Jenni Falconer
06:30 – 10:00 Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston & Amanda Holden
10:00 – 13:00 Pandora
13:00 – 16:00 Matt Wilkinson
16:00 – 19:00:

19:00 – 22:00 Heart’s Club Classics with Toby Anstis
22:00 – 01:00 Lilah Parsons

Saturday

01:00 – 06:00 James Stewart
06:00 – 10:00 JK and Kelly Brook
10:00 – 13:00 Rochelle Humes
13:00 – 16:00 Kevin Hughes
16:00 – 19:00 Rich Clarke
19:00 – 22:00 Heart’s Club Classics with Pandora Christie
22:00 – 01:00 Lilah Parsons

Sunday

01:00 – 06:00 James Stewart
06:00 – 09:00 Jenni Falconer
09:00 – 12:00 Sian Welby
12:00 – 16:00 Matt Wilkinson
16:00 – 19:00 The Official Big Top 40
19:00 – 22:00 Emma Bunton
22:00 – 01:00 Ellie Taylor & Anna Whitehouse