BBC Radio 2 today announces that Radio 2 Breakfast Show presenter Chris Evans will be leaving the network. Thirteen years after presenting his first show for the station, he will broadcast his last show in December 2018.

Chris says: “I have absolutely loved every single moment of my time at Radio 2. The last 13 years have flashed by in what seems like the blink of an eye. I have learnt so much from so many people to whom I will be eternally grateful.

 

"As Sir Terry said before me, there’s never a right time to leave something you love but there might be a wrong time if you hang on too long. I honestly think The Breakfast Show is currently as positive, useful, sunny and inclusive as it has ever been. In fine shape for its next custodian. Whoever that turns out to be, I wish them all the very best, they are in for an absolute blast.”

 

Tony Hall, Director-General of the BBC, says: “Chris has been an absolutely first-class presenter of the Breakfast Show. He has brought both warmth and a genuine insight into what listeners want. He has given 100 percent to each of his BBC projects, including raising millions of pounds for Children in Need. I’d like to thank him for all his efforts over the years and wish him all the best for the future.”

 

Chris first joined Radio 2 in September 2005 as the host of the Saturday afternoon show, moving to Drive Time in April 2006. Chris subsequently won Sony Music Radio Personality of the Year 2006, 2007 and 2009 and Drive Time won The Entertainment Award in 2007 and 2009. Chris took over from Sir Terry Wogan as the host of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show in January 2010, taking the show to a peak audience of 9.91m (RAJAR - Q2 2014). Chris won the ARIA for Best Music Radio Breakfast Show in 2016, the same year that Radio 2 won Best National Station.

 

During his time on the Breakfast Show, Chris has raised many millions of pounds for Children in Need, from his two annual festivals CarFest as well as his on-air fundraising. In 2011, Chris created and launched 500 Words, a children’s story writing competition. This year, the initiative attracted a record 134,780 entries, with the final taking place at Hampton Court Palace in the presence of honorary judge, The Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cornwall. The programme currently has a weekly audience of 9.04m (RAJAR - Q2 2018), making it the UK’s most listened to radio programme.

 

Bob Shennan, Director, BBC Radio and Music (and former Radio 2 Controller), says: “Chris has been done an incredible job for Radio 2 for more than a decade. He has taken Breakfast radio to new heights and is one of the greats. We will miss him and plan to build an even stronger station, taking inspiration from both his, and his predecessor Sir Terry Wogan’s, legacy.”

 

Lewis Carnie, Head of Radio 2, says: “Over the past eight years on Breakfast, Chris has built an incredibly close relationship with the Radio 2 audience. I’d like to thank him, on behalf of them all, for becoming their friend via the airwaves. We look forward to launching a brand new Radio 2 Breakfast Show early in the New Year.”

 

I'm sad about this. I made the switch to Radio 2 about six years ago, and I love listening to Chris Evans in the morning. Mind you eight years is a good running considering he was only at Radio 1's breakfast show for half the time he's done this slot.

 

I hope his replacement is either Sara Cox or Mark Goodier as they've proved themselves to be great fits for that slot as holiday cover. If they even consider putting Vanessa Feltz in his place though I'm switching until Ken Bruce comes on at 9:30am.

Edited October 3, 20186 yr by ThePensmith

This is great news, can't stand Chris Evans and neither can my mum (who actually listens to R2).

He's off to Virgin Radio according to Radio Today:- https://radiotoday.co.uk/2018/09/chris-evan...-for-breakfast/

 

Best of luck to him, the reward must of been a big one to tempt him away from the BBC!

Should this topic not be moved to The Lounge section?

I fully expect that the next Radio 2 breakfast presenter will be Sara Cox.

They've just moved Sara to night time recently so I'll be surprised if they move her again. She's still regular cover but in the same way as Scott Mills I reckon the show will probably go to someone else. I'd like it to be Sara but we shall see.

Should this topic not be moved to The Lounge section?

No, discussion like this has always taken place in the chart forum.

They've just moved Sara to night time recently so I'll be surprised if they move her again. She's still regular cover but in the same way as Scott Mills I reckon the show will probably go to someone else. I'd like it to be Sara but we shall see.

 

 

If not Sara then I think Simon Mayo may get it. The three front runners seem to be Sara, Simon and Zoe Ball in that order of likelyhood. Mayo once said that he'd never do another breakfast show though.

Edited September 3, 20186 yr by Crazy Chris

Rumours from someone supposedly in the know who posts on Digital Spy. "Simon Mayo to get breakfast. Sara Cox gets drivetime. Jo Whiley moves to 10pm slot. That's what I'm hearing."

 

That sounds reasonable to me.

Edited September 3, 20186 yr by Crazy Chris

If Simon Mayo does Breakfast that could affect his film show on five live

Please no. The whole daytime line up needs a shake up not a reshuffle. Someone new and exciting please.

Please no. The whole daytime line up needs a shake up not a reshuffle. Someone new and exciting please.

 

 

I think they'll wait until Ken and Steve decide themselves that they've had enough as their ratings are both still very high. Can see Vine stepping down soon though as am sure he'll find it hard to juggle his new Ch.5 show with Radio 2 at noon. Already people are complaining as parts of the Ch.5 show are having to be pre-recorded. Mayo would fit well in the lunchtime slot slot otherwise it may go to Feltz.

Edited September 3, 20186 yr by Crazy Chris

Please no. The whole daytime line up needs a shake up not a reshuffle. Someone new and exciting please.

 

 

Any suggestions? You don't tend to jump straight in to a prestigious daytime slot on Radio 2 with a huge salary, or R1 for that matter, without having been tried out at weekends or some other time on the network first.

Edited September 3, 20186 yr by Crazy Chris

Apparently Zoe Ball is in talks to take over

Zoe Ball confirmed as new host!

 

 

Zoe Ball is the new host of the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show, the UK’s most listened to radio programme, from January 2019.

The appointment follows Chris Evans’ announcement last month that he is leaving the Radio 2 Breakfast Show in December, after eight years hosting the Radio 2 Breakfast Show and 13 years on the station.

 

Zoe says: "I'm absolutely thrilled to be following in the giant footsteps of Chris Evans as the host of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show. To be the first woman to present this very special show is both an honour and privilege. Believe me, I'm not underestimating the enormity of the task ahead, to follow not one but two of my broadcasting idols, into such a well-loved show is somewhat daunting but I hope, in the same way that Chris made this show his own after taking over from the wonderful Sir Terry Wogan, that with a top team alongside me, I can bring the fabulous Radio 2 audience a show they want to wake up to."

 

Lewis Carnie, Head of Radio 2 says: “I’m delighted that Zoe is the new host of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show as she’s a hugely talented and much loved presenter who brings over 25 years broadcasting experience to the network. She’s already built a loyal audience via her Saturday afternoon show, and I know she’ll be a huge hit with the listeners.“

 

Zoe first joined BBC Radio in October 1997 as the co-host the Radio 1 Breakfast Show with co-presenter Kevin Greening. From October 1998 to March 2000, Zoe hosted the programme solo, the first female to do so. Zoe has been a regular voice on Radio 2 since 2006, presenting various documentaries and providing holiday cover for Chris Evans, Ken Bruce and Dermot O Leary. From June 2009 to January 2012, Zoe presented the Saturday early morning breakfast show, returning permanently to Radio 2 in March 2017 as the host of the Saturday afternoon show (3-6pm).

 

Bob Shennan, Director, BBC Radio and Music (and former Radio 2 controller) says: “The Radio 2 Breakfast Show is arguably the most coveted job in UK radio with a long and illustrious history, and I’m thrilled that the baton is now passing to Zoe, who I know will make the show her very own.”

 

Zoe is the third presenter to host the Radio 2 Breakfast Show in recent years. Chris Evans took over from Sir Terry Wogan as the presenter of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show in January 2010. Sir Terry first began presenting the R2 Breakfast Show from 1972 (at the age of 34) - December 1984, after which he left to concentrate on TV work. He returned to the R2 Breakfast Show in 1992 and continued until December 2009, when he moved to a Sunday morning show, Weekend Wogan.

 

As well as presenting her Monday - Thursday evening show and fronting various network initiatives, Sara Cox will continue to cover the Radio 2 Breakfast Show for 10 weeks each year, whilst Zoe is away.

 

The host of the new Saturday afternoon show (3-6pm) will be announced in due course.

 

The Radio 2 Breakfast Show (6.30-9.30am) has a weekly audience of 9.04m (RAJAR - Q2 2018). Radio 2 currently has a weekly audience of 14.94m.

 

Delighted Zoe is taking up the mantle. She was the Breakfast DJ when I started listening to Radio 1 when I was 9/10!

BALL BAGS BREAKFAST!!