BBC Radio stations to unite for Great British Singalong

bbc asian networkbbc radio 1bbc radio 1xtraBBC Radio 2bbc radio 6 music

Published on March 30, 2020 - 9:56 am

This Thursday (2 April) BBC Radio 1, Radio 2, 6 Music, 1Xtra and the Asian Network will come together for the BBC’s Great British Singalong, a mass singalong designed to lift the nation’s spirits.

The five BBC music stations will each bring one song that they think listeners will love to join in with, wherever they are, in the special simulcast at 9am on Thursday.

Between now and Thursday, each station will ask their listeners which track they should bring to the singalong, but the final song choices will lie with each of the presenters.

Greg James will be leading the singalong on Radio 1 with Dermot O’Leary (who is covering for Zoe Ball) on Radio 2, Lauren Laverne on 6 Music, Dotty on 1Xtra, and Harpz Kaur on the Asian Network.

Greg James says: “Nothing brings people together quite like radio does. It’s been a great comfort for me to have a focus during this extraordinary time. I’m so glad the listeners find what we’re currently doing a useful distraction as well. I can’t wait to annoy all the 6 Music listeners with my choice.”

Dermot O’Leary says: “Warm up your vocal chords everyone – and get ready to join me, Greg, Lauren, Dotty and Harpz for a sing song on Thursday at 9am. And don’t forget to send me your brilliant suggestions for uplifting songs that Radio 2 can bring to the table!”

Lauren Laverne says: “I’m so glad that as radio presenters we can continue to unite and entertain listeners during such a challenging time and what better way to bring people together than a singalong? I hope you’ll join us on Thursday – and I look forward to hearing your suggestions. I know they will be fabulous.”

Dotty says: “Few things bring us together in the way that music does so I hope the national singalong can play some small part in reinforcing that real sense of community that has and will continue to carry us through the most difficult of times. I look forward to lifting the nation’s spirits with these shared anthems on Thursday.”

Harpz Kaur says: “So excited to be teaming up with the rest of the stations to play some massive tunes out on Thursday morning! I’m 100% going to be singing my heart out in the studio and I can’t wait to see which five tracks we end up with.”

Each presenter will broadcast from their own studio and listeners will be encouraged to tune in to one of the stations or to BBC Sounds and to share on social media using the tag #UKSingalong.