Beverley Knight surprises Trevor Nelson with BBC anniversary cake

Trevor Nelson marked 30 years at the BBC today with an on-air celebration.

Singer Beverley Knight surprised the broadcaster with a cake live in the BBC Radio 2 studio today during his afternoon show, as colleagues, listeners and global stars paid tribute to his landmark anniversary.

The moment formed part of a wider celebration recognising Nelson’s influence across radio and music culture.

Earlier today, Trevor joined Scott Mills on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show to reflect on his most memorable moments across three decades of broadcasting.

He also appeared on BBC Morning Live, speaking to Richie Anderson from the Radio 2 studio, where he revisited his first radio link and career-defining interviews.

Trevor reflected on conversations with some of the world’s biggest artists, including Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Missy Elliott, Mariah Carey and Usher. His work has been widely recognised for championing R&B, soul and black music culture across UK radio.

Tributes poured in from major international stars including Alicia Keys, Lemar, Eve, Jessie J, Nile Rodgers, Craig David, Sade, Jessie Ware and actor Stephen Graham. Sir Lenny Henry also marked the milestone by performing a special rendition of Happy Birthday for the broadcaster.

Alicia Keys praised Nelson’s long-standing support for artists and his passion for music. She said: “Your love and passion for music is so evident, it’s so pure, it’s so real, which is so rare in this business. I just want to thank you for always representing me and helping the music to soar.”

Rapper Eve also shared her memories of performing at Nelson’s Soul Christmas concert at the Royal Albert Hall. She described it as one of her favourite performing moments and congratulated him on his broadcasting achievement.

Craig David highlighted Trevor’s cultural impact and long career across BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra and Radio 2. He described Nelson as a trusted voice for artists and audiences, saying his work has helped shape the UK music landscape.

Sade thanked Trevor for supporting her music over many years and described him as an inspiration. Jessie J praised his dedication to the industry, while Jessie Ware credited his programmes as influential in her own career journey.

Listen back to Trevor Nelson’s Radio 2 show here on BBC Sounds.