TIMES RADIO HAS LAUNCHED!
The new national DAB station begins broadcasting on Monday 29th June 2020….
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Mariella will host afternoons Monday to Thursday 1-4pm
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Phil Williams to helm evenings Monday to Thursday
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Carole Walker to present late night Monday to Thursday
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Times columnists Giles Coren and Hugo Rifkind have own shows
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Gloria De Piero, Kait Borsay, Ayesha Hazarika, Alexis Conran and Calum Macdonald all lined up for programmes
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Amber Rudd with daughter Flora Gill, Lord Digby Jones, Lord Daniel Finkelstein, Philip Collins, Rachel Sylvester, Alice Thomson and Matthew Syed to host specially-commissioned shows and podcasts
News UK today announces that Times Radio will launch at 6am on Monday 29th June, and reveals the rest of the presenter line-up including Mariella Frostrup, Phil Williams, Carole Walker, Giles Coren and Hugo Rifkind. Amber Rudd, her daughter Flora Gill and Lord Digby Jones are amongst those presenting specially-commissioned shows.
Times Radio is the new national digital news radio station bringing together the peerless journalistic expertise of The Times and The Sunday Times with the world-class speech radio and podcasting experience of Wireless, the company behind talkSPORT, talkRADIO and Virgin Radio.
One of Britain’s most established broadcasters, Mariella Frostrup is the latest Times Radio hire and will be presenting afternoons, Monday to Thursday. Mariella is known for her intelligent and accessible commentary, with her presenting credits stretching from Sky’s Book Show, C4’s Sex Box to Open Book on BBC Radio 4 and Panorama. Mariella’s new show will be an engaging and educated look at topical social and family issues, arts and culture, as well as discussions and interviews with celebrity guests.
Established broadcaster Phil Williams, best known for presenting his own shows on BBC Radio 5 Live for over 20 years, will host the evening slot, Monday to Thursday. He will take listeners through the big stories of the day, look ahead to the next day’s headlines with expert guests and keep his audience across the latest sports and entertainment news.
Experienced TV and radio journalist Carole Walker brings with her over 20 years’ experience as a BBC political correspondent. Her late-evening show will wind down the day with informed conversation about the main issues of the day, will preview the next day’s front page stories and shine a particular focus on political events in the USA.
Renowned Times columnist & restaurant critic, as well as a TV presenter, podcaster and self-confessed social media catastrophe, Giles Coren will have a weekly Friday afternoon show. His scathingly quick wit and humour has already transferred successfully from print to audio, with his podcast Giles Coren Has No Idea going to Number 1 in the charts.
The regular weekday schedule is completed by the announcement of Calum Macdonald as the presenter of Early Breakfast (5-6am Monday to Friday). Calum is a young emerging broadcaster who’s built a name for himself at BBC Radio Scotland and 5 Live with his journalistic approach, and his engaging yet authoritative style will be the perfect companion for all those early risers.
The full weekend schedule announced today includes, on Saturday mornings, the witty Times columnist and critic Hugo Rifkind, winner of both ‘Critic of the Year’ and the ‘Best of Humour Award’ at the Press Awards. His show will take listeners around the UK, through the week, and will look at what the weekend has to offer.
Former Labour shadow minister and political editor of GMTV, Gloria De Piero has her own show on Friday mornings, and will join forces with the station’s Chief Political Commentator Tom Newton Dunn on Sunday mornings in a pairing they’re calling “G&T”. It will comprise a leisurely and informed look through the Sunday papers together with interviews with leading politicians on the big issues of the moment.
Warm, modern and sincere, the news and sports presenter Kait Borsay will delight listeners late nights Friday to Sunday. Kait is also one of the founders and presenters of the popular football podcast, The Offside Rule.
The charismatic and engaging broadcaster Alexis Conran, who has recently been presenting on talkRADIO, will host lunchtimes on Saturday & Sunday. Alexis is best known for co-hosting the BBC Three show The Real Hustle and is a member of the Magic Circle.
Columnist, broadcaster, stand-up and former government adviser Ayesha Hazarika has the drivetime slot on Saturday and Sunday and will bring her insightful and unique opinions and observations on current affairs and politics, together with a range of modern, diverse and humorous guests.
Other big names to join Times Radio for special features and podcasts include former Conservative Home Secretary Amber Rudd with her journalist daughter Flora Gill, talking about their different take on the world, as well as international businessman, crossbench peer and leading Brexiteer Lord Digby Jones, who will present a series looking at how businesses are getting ready for Brexit.
Also hosting special features will be a selection of award-winning Times and Sunday Times columnists including Rachel Sylvester, Alice Thomson and Matthew Syed. Lord Daniel Finkelstein and Philip Collins will present a show in which they argue out their different takes on the political world.
Times Radio will broadcast on DAB, online and via app and smart speakers. The station will be ad break free, with commercial opportunities for sponsors across the schedule.