Angela Scanlon is taking over BBC Radio 2’s Drivetime show this November, alongside Ben Earle becoming the new Country Show presenter.
Angela will host Drivetime on weekdays from 4pm to 7pm, following her successful summer appearances on the station and returning to Radio 2 on a full-time basis.
She said: “Taking over Radio 2 Drivetime is properly exciting. Millions of people, all having completely different days, piling into the same conversation for a few hours – what a strange and lovely thing!”
Angela added that she would be “in your ears, your cars and your kitchens” every weekday, promising stories, opinions, chaos and “the tiny triumphs” of listeners’ everyday lives.
She also highlighted her new position between Trevor Nelson and Jo Whiley, describing them as “two absolute radio legends” and saying: “I cannot wait to get stuck in. We’re going to have a lot of fun.”
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Head of Radio 2 Helen Thomas said she was “delighted” to welcome Scanlon back to the station on a full-time basis, praising her warmth and quick wit following her summer broadcasts.
“Drivetime is such an important show in terms of ensuring people get home and start their evenings in a positive and upbeat mood, and I’m delighted Angela will be taking up the reins in November,” Helen said.
Angela has a long association with radio, making her Radio 2 debut on Sunday early breakfast between 2018 and 2021 and covering for presenters including Steve Wright.
She later joined Virgin Radio UK for Weekend Breakfast in 2024 and has also built a television career including The One Show, Robot Wars, Your Home Made Perfect, Eurovision and This Morning.
Ben Earle is also joining Radio 2 as the new presenter of the Country Show, broadcasting on Thursdays from 9pm to 10pm.
He follows Bob Harris, who stepped down from the programme earlier this year after presenting it since 1999, with Darius Rucker hosting the show during the intervening period.
The singer and songwriter, who is one half of country duo The Shires, first presented on Radio 2 in 2019 when he covered for Bob Harris, later receiving the CMA International Country Broadcaster of the Year Award in 2020.
Ben said: “It really feels like I’m coming home to the Radio 2 Country Show. I’m truly honoured to have been asked to present such a prestigious show in such an exciting time for Country music, especially in the UK.”
He added: “Searching out the best Country songs and playing them every week is going to be so much fun.”
Meanwhile, Ellie Taylor has started presenting Emma Willis’s Saturday lunchtime show from 1pm to 3pm while Emma takes part in Strictly Come Dancing.
She said: “I cannot wait to be back at Radio 2 and am thrilled to be looking after Emma’s Saturday show while she waltzes off to Strictly.”
Ellie also begins presenting Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two on BBC Two from today, Monday 28 September.