The Radio 2 Breakfast Show

UK radio program

Radio show

The Radio 2 Breakfast ShowGenre| Music, chat, news

|

Running time| 210 mins (1968–72)
120 mins (1972–78, 1986–91, 1994–2009)
150 mins (1978–86, 1993, 2010)
180 mins (1967, 1992, 2010–present)
Country of origin| United Kingdom
Language(s)| English
Home station| BBC Radio 2
Hosted by| Zoe Ball
Starring| Richie Anderson
Tina Daheley
Mike Williams
Produced by| Patrick Thomas
Recording studio| Broadcasting House, London (1967–2006, 2024-present)
Wogan House, London (2006–2024)
Original release| 30 September 1967
Audio format| Stereophonic sound
Website| https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08h8z5t

The Radio 2 Breakfast Show (also known as The BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show) refers to a range of programming on weekday mornings on BBC Radio 2 since the station's inception on 30 September 1967. The show's longest serving host to date was Sir Terry Wogan, who worked on the programme for over 29 years in two separate stints, from 3 April 1972 until 28 December 1984, and again from 4 January 1993 until 18 December 2009. The show's shortest serving host to date was Brian Hayes, who hosted the show from 6 January to 23 December 1992. Since 14 January 2019, the show has been hosted by Zoe Ball. Ball announced her departure on 19 November 2024, and will host her last show on 20 December. She will be replaced with Scott Mills.

One of the show's longest running features has been "Pause for Thought", a short interlude of religious-related opinion at around 7:15am or 9:15am, similar to "Thought for the Day" on BBC Radio 4's Today. In the 1960s-1970s, Rev. Frank Thewlis was a frequent "Pause for Thought" guest. He would later write a book Think Again, a compendium of his frequent talks given on the "Pause for Thought" segment.[1]

## History

[edit]

* Data supplied by the BBC Genome Project.

No  | Presenter  | From  | To  | Duration

|
|
|
|

1  | Various  | 30 September 1967  | 2 January 1970  | 2 years, 94 days
2  | John Dunn | 5 January 1970  | 31 March 1972  | 2 years, 86 days
3  | Terry Wogan | 3 April 1972  | 28 December 1984  | 12 years, 269 days
4  | Ken Bruce | 7 January 1985  | 4 April 1986  | 1 year, 87 days
5  | Derek Jameson | 7 April 1986  | 20 December 1991  | 5 years, 257 days
6  | Brian Hayes | 6 January 1992  | 23 December 1992  | 352 days
7  | Terry Wogan | 4 January 1993  | 18 December 2009  | 16 years, 348 days
8  | Chris Evans | 11 January 2010  | 24 December 2018  | 8 years, 347 days
9  | Zoe Ball | 14 January 2019  | 20 December 2024  | 5 years, 341 days
10  | Scott Mills | January 2025  | present  |

### Breakfast Special (Various presenters: 1967–1970)

[edit]

From Radio 2's inception in 1967, a breakfast programme was broadcast in tandem with Radio 1 Breakfast, featuring a mix of news, music, traffic and weather reports.[2] Unlike its Radio 1 counterpart which had started with a single presenter, Breakfast Special was a continuation of a BBC Light Programme format which had been running since 1965 with a roster of presenters who hosted in weekly rotation.[3] These included Paul Hollingdale (the very first weekday presenter), Ray Moore, Peter Latham, Bruce Wyndham, and John Dunn. The music played was largely easy listening of the type with which Radio 2 would be particularly associated until the 1990s. An early feature was "Band of the Day", which would feature recordings of standards and traditional jazz by artists such as Sidney Sax, Frank Chacksfield, Syd Dale and Leon Young.

During its first year the Breakfast Show began at 5:30 am and ended at 8:30 am, at which time Radios 1 and 2 would broadcast the same programme, however in 1968 this was changed to a 9 am finish, after which Radio 2 would broadcast its own programming.

### John Dunn (1970–1972)

[edit]

Dunn became the first permanent presenter of the show on 5 January 1970, with Ray Moore providing cover. The show was still broadcast during this period between 5:30am and 9:00am.

### Sir Terry Wogan (First tenure: 1972–1984)

[edit]

On 3 April 1972, Dunn was replaced by Sir Terry Wogan (with Dunn moving to begin his long-running popular Drivetime show). During the Wogan era, the programme was also moved to a later start time of 7 am, with an Early Show preceding it, finishing at 9am. During this period Wogan's cover again principally came from Ray Moore, who presented the Early Show at other times. David Hamilton, who at the time was presenting the Afternoon Show also provided holiday cover. From 3 January 1978 Sir Jimmy Young's programme was moved earlier in the day to follow Wogan, and until the end of its run Wogan's programme was broadcast between 7.30am and 10.00am. Their banter-filled handover became something of a feature. Wogan remained in this role until 28 December 1984; as he left the station for a while to begin presenting his own chat show Wogan on BBC1.

### Ken Bruce (1985–1986)

[edit]

Wogan was replaced by Ken Bruce, whose first show aired on 7 January 1985. Bruce had presented various Radio 2 programmes after starting at BBC Radio Scotland. Bruce's tenure was brief, his only "crime" apparently being that he "wasn't Terry Wogan". In April 1986 he was moved to the mid-morning slot which, along with brief stints on both the late and early shows in 1990-91, he occupied until 3 March 2023.[4] During the Bruce era, the show was broadcast in a later timeslot between 8.00am and 10.30am.

### Derek Jameson (1986–1991)

[edit]

On 7 April 1986, Bruce was replaced by journalist Derek Jameson, in a move which proved controversial at the time, as Jameson, although known on television for his contributions to programmes such as What The Papers Say, was not recognised as a radio broadcaster.[5] Even though he made the show more news-based, Jameson became a popular broadcaster, regularly attracting audiences of 10 million, and remained in the role until 20 December 1991. During the Jameson era, the show was reduced by 30 minutes and moved to an earlier timeslot of between 7.30am and 9.30am. The show has continued to end at 9:30am ever since Jameson took over.

From the start of 1988 until August 1990, the programme featured a brief sports desk at 8.31 (an additional sports desk also preceded the start of the programme). The sports desk was removed from the programme when BBC radio's sports coverage transferred to the newly launched Radio 5.

### Brian Hayes (1992)

[edit]

On 6 January 1992, Jameson was replaced by Brian Hayes, who took over what was still a news-based show and proved to be an even more controversial choice, as his perceived acerbic manner was seen as being at odds with what the Radio 2 breakfast programme had become. Subtitled Good Morning UK!, it did not prove popular and it ended on 23 December 1992. During the Hayes era, the show was extended by one hour and was moved to an earlier start time of 6:30 am. Hayes remains the show's shortest serving presenter.

### Sir Terry Wogan (Second tenure: 1993–2009)

[edit]

Main article: Wake Up to Wogan

Hayes was replaced by Sir Terry Wogan, who returned to the programme and the station on 4 January 1993, after the axing of his BBC TV chat show. From here on in, the news-based elements of the show were dropped, and it returned to its more traditional music and chat style format. Now entitled Wake Up to Wogan, it was the first time the breakfast show had explicitly been given a title other than a generic "breakfast" term, or simply the name of the host, During the second Wogan era, the show was at first reduced by 30 minutes and broadcast between 7:00 am and 9:30 am in its first year. From 17 January 1994 until the end of its run, the show was reduced by another 30 minutes to a 7.30 startup. In January 2006, the show moved to a studio in Western House (renamed Wogan House in 2016), where it was to remain until 2024.

On 7 September 2009, Wogan announced that he would step down as the show's host at the end of that year, moving to weekends to present a Sunday mid-morning show called Weekend Wogan, starting on 14 February 2010. He presented his final breakfast programme on 18 December 2009, which marked the end of 28 years over two stints working on the show.

Johnnie Walker then became the interim host of the programme in the period between Wogan's departure and Evans' arrival, from 21 December 2009 until 8 January 2010. Walker was a regular stand-in for Wogan during his later years on the show.

### Chris Evans (2010–2018)

[edit]

Main article: The Chris Evans Breakfast Show

Wogan was replaced by Chris Evans, whose first show aired on 11 January 2010. For its first 10 months on air, the show was extended by 30 minutes and broadcast between 7:00 to 9:30, On 11 October 2010, following Sarah Kennedy's retirement from broadcasting in August, the show was on 6:30 to 9:30.[6][7] On 3 September 2018, Evans announced his departure from the network and his plan to move to Virgin Radio. The last show was broadcast on 24 December 2018 and on 21 January 2019, Evans began the second incarnation of the show on Virgin Radio.[8]

The show then used guest hosts Paddy O'Connell, Sara Cox and Mark Goodier in the period between Evans' departure and Ball's arrival, from 26 December 2018 until 11 January 2019.

### Zoe Ball (2019–present)

[edit]

Evans was replaced by Zoe Ball, whose first show aired on 14 January 2019, continuing with the same timings used in the Hayes era and since 11 October 2010 of the Evans era.[9] The final breakfast show from Wogan House after 18 years was broadcast on 9 February 2024, and the show has now moved back into a studio in Broadcasting House. Ball announced her departure on 19 November 2024, and will leave on 20 December. She will be replaced by Scott Mills.

### Stand-in presenters

[edit]

Stand-in presenters known to have covered the show include:

* Ray Moore
* David Hamilton
* Sarah Kennedy
* Ed Stewart
* Johnnie Walker
* Richard Allinson
* Jonathan Ross
* Alex Lester
* Ken Bruce
* Aled Jones
* Graham Norton
* Sara Cox
* Michael Ball
* Fearne Cotton
* Matt Lucas
* Mark Goodier
* Richard Madeley
* Ryan Tubridy
* Patrick Kielty
* Gary Davies
* Nicki Chapman
* Vernon Kay
* Rylan Clark
* Dermot O'Leary
* Amol Rajan
* Paddy O'Connell
* Alan Carr
* Scott Mills

## See also

[edit]

* Radio 1 Breakfast

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Think again: broadcast talks from 'Pause for thought'. Worldcat.org. OCLC 16436546. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
2. ^ "BBC Radio 2 – 1 November 1967 – BBC Genome". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk.
3. ^ "Light Programme – 3 January 1966 – BBC Genome". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk.
4. ^ "Ken Bruce signs off final Radio 2 show as BBC career comes to an end". news.bbc.co.uk.
5. ^ "Derek Jameson". 12 September 2012 - via www.telegraph.co.uk.
6. ^ Khan, Urmee (7 January 2010). "Moira Stuart returns to the BBC on Chris Evans' radio show". Telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 January 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
7. ^ Savage, Mark (11 January 2010). "What the critics say: Chris Evans' Radio 2 breakfast show debut". BBC News. Archived from the original on 14 January 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
8. ^ "Chris Evans to leave Radio 2 breakfast show for Virgin". BBC News. BBC. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
9. ^ "Zoe Ball to present Radio 2 Breakfast Show". BBC News. BBC. 3 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.

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BBC Radio 2

Shows|

| Current|

* The Blues Show with Cerys Matthews
* The Country Show with Bob Harris
* Dance Sounds of the 90s
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* Romesh Ranganathan: For The Love of Hip Hop
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* The Radio 2 Breakfast Show
* The Radio 2 Rockshow with Shaun Keaveny
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* Sounds of the 60s
* Sounds of the 70s with Bob Harris
* Sounds of the 80s
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* Tony Blackburn's The Golden Hour
* Tracks Of My Years
* Trevor Nelson's Rhythm Nation

|

Former|

* A Long Walk With... Janice Long (2017–2019)
* All Time Greats/The Music Goes Round with Desmond Carrington
* Anneka Rice on Sunday
* Breakfast Special
* Big Band Special
* Best of Jazz
* The Chris Evans Breakfast Show
* Chris Evans Drivetime
* The David Jacobs Collection/Our Kind of Music
* The Day the Music Died
* Dance Band Days
* Drivetime Show with Simon Mayo & Jo Whiley
* The Dawn Patrol
* Family Favourites
* Folk On 2 (1970–1997)
* Friday Night Is Music Night/Sunday Night is Music Night
* From Ragtime to Rock 'n' Roll (1974)
* It's Been a Bad Week
* Jammin'
* Jazz Parade
* Listen to the Band
* Melodies for You
* Mrs Dale's Diary
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* Pick of Radio 2
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* The Sunday Hour
* Sunday Soapbox
* Sunday Night at 10
* Steve Wright in the Afternoon
* Steve Wright's Sunday Love Songs
* Weekend Wogan
* Wake Up to Wogan
* Waggoners' Walk
* You and the Night and the Music

Special|

* BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
* Young
* BBC Jazz Awards
* BBC Radio 2 Electric Proms
* Radio 2 in the Park

Features, podcasts
(BBC Sounds)|

* Jo Whiley's Shiny Happy Playlist
* Michelle Visage's Handbag Hits
* OJ Borg's One Hit Wonders
* Sara Cox's Half-Wower
* Scott Mills's Wonder Years
* Trevor Nelson's Magnificent 7
* Ten to the Top

Pop-up stations|

* BBC Radio 2 50s
* BBC Radio 2 Country
* BBC Radio 2 Eurovision
* BBC Music Jazz

Related topics|

* Timeline of BBC Radio 2
* "Theme One"
* The Russell Brand Show prank telephone calls row
* BBC Radio 6 Music
* BBC Light Programme

* v
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* e

British radio breakfast shows

Present|

* Radio 1 Breakfast (BBC Radio 1 1967–present)
* Radio 1's Weekend Breakfast Show (BBC Radio 1 1982–present)
* The Radio 2 Breakfast Show (BBC Radio 2 1967–present)
* The Today Programme (BBC Home Service later BBC Radio 4 1957–present)
* The Chris Moyles Show (BBC Radio 1 2004–2012, Radio X 2015–present)
* Good Morning Scotland (BBC Radio Scotland 1973–present)
* Good Morning Ulster (BBC Radio Ulster 1975–present)
* The Pete Snodden Breakfast Show (Cool FM 2004–2012, 2014–present)
* Steve & Karen's Breakfast Show (1999–present)
* The Chris Evans Breakfast Show (BBC Radio 2 2010–2018, Virgin Radio 2019–present)

Former|

* Simon Mayo Breakfast Show (BBC Radio 1 1988–1993)
* Wake Up to Wogan (BBC Radio 2 1993–2009)
* Hirsty's Daily Dose (Capital Yorkshire 2003–2014)
* Simon Bates at Breakfast (Smooth Radio 2011–2014)
* The Christian O'Connell Show (Absolute Radio 2006–2018)

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