Local BBC radio stations across East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire will be next to launch their new schedules, from October 23.
The new schedules come as part of the BBC’s nationwide changes to local radio broadcasting, announced last year and which, despite leading to more regionally or nationally syndicated shows and the departure of some much loved voices, the corporation said will ultimately mean “greater news provision for 43 areas across England…more original journalism and in-depth investigations with 130 additional journalists including a team of 70 investigative journalists across the country.”
As the changes roll out nationally, listeners have already bid farewell to high-profile names such as Linda McDermott and Allan Beswick in the North West and Nick Roberts in the North East
Key highlights across BBC Radio Humberside and BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s new schedules include:
- Kofi Smiles stays on Breakfast at BBC Radio Humberside, Scott Dalton stays on Breakfast at BBC Radio Lincolnshire.
- Carla Greene leaves BBC Radio Lincolnshire to take on daytimes 10am-2pm at BBC Radio Humberside in her home city of Hull.
- Frances Finn takes on daytimes at BBC Radio Lincolnshire (Monday-Thursday).
- Richard Stead hosts the afternoon show across both stations.
- Fiona Mills moves from weekend mid-morning at Radio Humberside to weekend breakfast on both stations.
- Sean Dunderdale hosts Friday 10am-2pm on Radio Lincolnshire and Saturday and Sunday daytimes 10-2pm on both Humberside and Lincolnshire.
The BBC said that most of the voices in the new schedules will be familiar to listeners, with some taking on new shows and/or areas. One such voice is Richard Stead, the host of a new afternoon show broadcast on both Radio Humberside and Radio Lincolnshire, 2-6pm. Stead is already known to listeners of BBC Radio Humberside, where he has been regularly commentating on rugby league games for many years.
Stead said: “I’m really looking forward to working across East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, it’s a part of the world I know well having broadcast there lots of the past 30 years. I’m passionate about local radio and am excited about sharing some great stories on BBC Radio Humberside and BBC Radio Lincolnshire.
“I know there is so much affection from the audiences for both stations and I feel fortunate to be able to speak to them every day.”
Katrina Bunker, senior head of production for BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, said “I’m really proud of the new line-up for East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. We’ve got some terrific broadcasters who care passionately about the areas they serve. I know they’ll be great champions for local communities and will love entertaining and being at the heart of the local conversation.
“Our new shared programmes on weekday afternoons and weekend mornings have really big personalities who will bring audiences together for must listen to shows”
A variety of new community and community of interest programmes will also begin in the evenings from next month.
The schedules in full look like this:
Weekday schedules
Breakfast (6am-10am)
BBC Radio Humberside: Kofi Smiles
BBC Radio Lincolnshire: Scott Dalton
Daytimes (10am-2pm)
BBC Radio Humberside: Monday-Friday Carla Greene
BBC Radio Lincolnshire: Monday-Thursday Frances Finn; Friday Sean Dunderdale
Afternoons (2pm-6pm)
Richard Stead to be broadcast on both BBC Radio Humberside and BBC Radio Lincolnshire
Evenings
Local Sport (6pm-7pm)
And beginning in November:
Monday (7pm-10pm) – conversation and music for South Asian communities with Arzu Dutta
Tuesday (7pm-10pm) – sport or Bek Homer (coastal communities)
Wednesday (7pm-10pm) – sport or John Kane (Northern Soul)
Thursday (7pm-8pm) – BBC Upload; (8pm-10pm) – BBC Music Introducing with Jericho Keys on Radio Humberside and Dean Jackson on Radio Lincolnshire
Friday (7pm-10pm) – conversation and music for African and Caribbean communities with Sile Sibanda
Weekend schedules
(Broadcasting on Radio Humberside and Lincolnshire)
Breakfast (6am-10am) Fiona Mills
Daytimes (10am-2pm) Sean Dunderdale
Saturday Afternoon (2pm-6pm) local sport
Sunday Afternoon (2pm-6pm) Sarah-Jane Honeywell
