Radio 5 live in huge line-up change

BBC Radio 5 live has today announced some of its biggest names, including Richard Bacon, Victoria Derbyshire and Shelagh Fogarty, are to leave the station as it unveils a huge line-up change.

The changes are part of the biggest shake-up to the station’s daytime schedule in years, with two new programmes set to launch and the signing of new presenters.

The brand-new daytime line-up is led by two of the station’s original stars, Adrian Chiles and Peter Allen, who will host 5 live Daily. The new programme will broadcast from 10am to 1pm, Monday to Friday. Then from 1pm to 4pm, BBC Sport’s Dan Walker will be joined by BBC Northern Ireland’s Sarah Brett to host the second of the two new programmes – Afternoon Edition.

5 live Daily will be the station’s home of hard news. Chiles will host the programme on Monday and Tuesdays and Allen on Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays, covering the biggest national and international stories every day.

Afternoon Edition will broadcast Monday to Thursday from 1pm to 4pm, with Walker and Brett featuring a new range of expert voices, more stories from all over the UK and interviews with big name guests.

These two new daytime programmes will replace current shows hosted by Victoria Derbyshire, Shelagh Fogarty and Richard Bacon, who have each decided it’s the “right time to move on to explore new ventures both within the BBC and externally.”

“This Autumn feels the right time to refresh parts of our schedule as we follow-on from what’s already proving to be a wonderful sporting summer,” said BBC Radio 5 live controller, Jonathan Wall.

“We have a great blend of established presenters and new signings to take 5 live forward in our home in Salford. It’s an exciting and creative team that I know will drive the station on to even greater heights.

“Victoria, Shelagh and Richard have all played such key roles delivering fantastic live radio and I wish them every success with their future projects.”

Other key changes include a brand-new sound to Friday afternoons from 1pm-2pm as Eleanor Oldroyd hosts The Friday Sports Panel. Oldroyd will be joined each week by a wide range of sporting personalities to preview the weekend’s action and debate the day’s biggest talking points. The Kermode and Mayo Film Review will keep its 2pm slot on Fridays.

5 live Drive completes the afternoon line-up. Current presenter Anna Foster will now be joined by Tony Livesey every Monday to Friday from 4pm to 7pm. Chris Warburton will take over from Tony on Saturday morning with Eleanor Oldroyd and on Sunday morning with Sam Walker.

Nicky Campbell and Rachel Burden will continue to kick-off the weekday daily schedule with 5 live Breakfast from 6am, including the popular Your Call from 9am.

In addition to the weekday changes, 5 live has also announced two new presenters as the hosts of Saturday’s Fighting Talk. Georgie Thompson joins the team and former Guardian sports writer and stand-up comic, Josh Widdicombe, will by on air on Saturday mornings.

606’s Jason Roberts will also join the 5 live Sport team. Roberts, a former Premier League striker who has enjoyed a successful run on the station’s football phone-in show alongside Robbie Savage and Ian Wright, will move to a role with 5 live Sport including hosting some of the big football nights on 5 Live Sports Extra.

With Dan Walker moving across to Afternoon Edition, Mark Chapman will be the new Friday night 5 live Sport host with a preview of all the weekend’s sporting action, and Jonathan Overend will take over the reins of 5 Live Sport on Sunday afternoons.

BBC Radio’s chief football correspondent, Mike Ingham, who retires from commentary at the 2014 World Cup Final, will be presenting 5 live football specials throughout the 2014/15 season. Plus, John Murray, who has been a core member of the 5 live Sport team for many years will become the new football correspondent.

The new schedule will commence in October 2014.