BBC Radio 2 is to mark the 50th Anniversary of Abbey Road, with a 4 day pop-up DAB radio station.
Radio 2 Beatles will feature programmes hosted by Gary Barlow, John Bishop, Martin Freeman, Guy Garvey, Dave Grohl, Giles Martin, Cerys Matthews, Paul Merton, Zoe Ball, Sara Cox and Joe Wiley.
It will broadcast live starting on Thursday 26th September, from London’s Abbey Radio Studios. A number of shows will be simulcast on Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.
“The Beatles are woven into the fabric of UK culture. They inspired and continue to inspire artists of all generations and created some of the world’s most loved music. As their seminal album Abbey Road is 50 years old, I am delighted that Radio 2 is celebrating the Fab Four with a four-day pop-up DAB radio station,” said Lewis Carnie, Head of Radio 2.
Shows include We Write The Songs, where Gary Barlow interviews Paul McCartney about the music and how they only began writing because other bands were stealing their act.
“It was an absolute honour that Paul McCartney, one of my true heroes and a legendary songwriting genius, agreed to talk in depth about his work for my Radio 2 series We Write The Songs,” said Barlow.
“This particular episode really is a masterclass from the master! I am thrilled to launch my first series on the network as part of Radio 2 Beatles, which sounds like it is going to be four days of unmissable radio.”
My Beatles features Dave Grohl, Jack Savoretti and Tom Odell talk about the influence the Fab Four’s music had on them; while the daily series, I Was There, hears from some of those who were part of the swinging 60s.
Lauren Laverne presents Desert Island Beatles, featuring guests who’ve selected one of their group or solo records, as a must-have track, plus Liza Tarbuck meets pop-artist and Sgt. Pepper sleeve designer Sir Peter Blake.
The BBC has also commissioned a special chart from the Official Charts Company. Janice Long and Radio 1’s Greg James will count down the most downloaded and streamed Beatles songs in the UK.
