2006 in British radio

none October 2023 2006 British radio British television British music This is a list of events in British radio during 2006. Events January 16 January – FM102 The Bear in Stratford-upon-Avon and Kix 96 in Coventry are merged and relaunched as Touch FM 23 January – Former XFM presenter Christian O'Connell joins Virgin Radio to present The Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show. http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/534998/virgin-shouts-oconnells-arrival-breakfast-show-campaigns-kick-off/ Virgin shouts about O'Connell's arrival as breakfast show campaigns kick off Daniel Farey-Jones Brand Republic 11 January 2006 23 July 2012 February Undated in February – The A List launches on Heart, Real Radio and Century FM. Featuring adult contemporary music, the programme is presented by Melanie Sykes and Nick Snaith. 6 February – BRMB's second "Two Strangers and a Wedding" competition ends with the marriage of Craig Cooper and Rebecca Duffy at Birmingham's Hotel du Vin.Paul Lewis https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/feb/07/commercialradio.radio1 Strangers marry after match made on radio station | Media The Guardian 7 February 2006 14 February 2012 28 February – Radio 2 Drivetime presenter Johnnie Walker announces he will leave the show after seven years. He will present his last show on 31 March. https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4760328.stm Drivetime DJ Walker to step down BBC News 28 February 2006 18 December 2009 March 2 March – Chris Evans is announced as Johnnie Walker's replacement on BBC Radio 2's Drivetime show from April. https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4766066.stm Evans to host Radio 2 Drivetime BBC News 2 March 2006 18 December 2009 8 March – Radio 1 launches its YouTube channel. April 3 April – BBC GMR reverts to its original name of BBC Radio Manchester. 9 April – Russell Brand presents his first Saturday night Russell Brand Show on BBC Radio 2. 11 April – Launch of the Wake Up to Wogan podcast, a downloadable audio file providing highlights of the BBC Radio 2 show.https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/04_april/10/togcast.shtml BBC Press Office Wogan launches world's first 'TOGcast' BBC 10 April 2006 16 October 2026 18 April – Chris Evans takes over Radio 2's Drivetime show from Johnnie Walker. 19 April – London's 102.2 Smooth FM gives away £118,454 to a listener from Essex who correctly identifies their Secret Song as Diana Ross's My Old Piano. The Secret Song has been running since November 2005 and, at this time is the biggest cash prize on radio this century.http://radiotoday.co.uk/2006/04/capital-and-smooth-fm-pay-out/ Capital and Smooth FM pay-out Radio Today 20 April 2006 26 January 2012 23 April – The Radio 4 UK Theme is used for the last time, amid controversy over its axing by Radio 4 controller Mark Damazer.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4640990.stm BBC News Online UK Theme to be dropped by Radio 4 23 January 2006 2 February 2014https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/03_march/31/radio4.shtml BBC – Press Office 31 March 2006 Radio 4's new-look early mornings 2 February 2014 The decision to axe the theme, which had been used since 1978, to make way for a 'pacy news briefing' led to widespread coverage in the media and even debate in Parliament.https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo060125/debtext/60125-03.htm House of Commons Hansard Debates for 25 Jan 2006 (pt 3) 25 January 2006 3 February 2014 29 April – In some areas Centre FM is renamed as Touch FM. Undated in April – The timeslot for Bob Harris's Saturday evening show on Radio 2 is moved forward an hour, meaning it airs from 11pm to 2am instead of 10pm to 1am. May No events June 24 June – The final edition of Home Truths is broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Undated in June – Nick Clarke broadcasts Fighting to Be Normal on BBC Radio 4, an audio diary of his treatment for cancer. In August he returns to presenting The World at One on the network, but his last appearance is on 12 September and he dies on 23 November. July 25 July – A Secret Song competition on Manchester's 100.4 Smooth FM is won by a listener who correctly identifies the track as Razzamatazz by Quincy Jones. The competition had been running since 27 March with the prize money standing at £86,500 at the time it was won.http://radiotoday.co.uk/2006/07/smooth-fm-listener-wins-86k/ Smooth FM listener wins 86k Radio Today 25 July 2006 26 January 2012 Undated in July – Networking is increased on the north of England Magic stations when the local afternoon show is dropped in favour of a networked programme. Consequently, only the breakfast show is locally produced. August 27 August – Sue Lawley presents her final edition of BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs after eighteen years. Her last castaway is the actress Joan Plowright.Owen Gibson https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/aug/25/broadcasting.bbc profile: Sue Lawley The Guardian 25 August 2006 19 March 2014 September 6 September – Kiss 100 is relaunched after a decline in listening figures, dance stations Vibe 101 and Vibe 105-108 are also rebranded to Kiss. 16 September – Saturday Live, Home Truths replacement show on BBC Radio 4, begins with Fi Glover as presenter. Undated in September – Broadcast presenters Clare Balding and Alice Arnold enter into a civil partnership.https://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2006/dec/10/features.review37 One year of being Mr and Mr The Observer 2006-12-10 2011-11-19 London Louise France October 1 October – Kirsty Young takes over as presenter of Desert Island Discs. Her first guest is children's author and illustrator Quentin Blake.http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Desert+Island+Kirsty+picks+007+Kate+Moss+and+Pope.-a0152203361 Desert Island Kirsty picks 007 Kate Moss and Pope Billy Paterson Sunday Mail Trinity Mirror 1 October 2006 19 March 2014 10 October – Talksport becomes the first national commercial radio broadcaster to win Premier League commentary rights. Talksport wins a package that allows it to broadcast the second choice Saturday afternoon games that kick off at 3pm – the BBC will get first pick.https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/oct/10/radio.sport Talksport wins Premiership rights Julia Day 10 October 2006 The Guardian 22 October – A new chart show called Fresh 40 launches. Aired on the Kiss and Galaxy networks and other youth-orientated stations, it counts down the top 40 r’n’b and dance songs and is broadcast against commercial radio's Hit40uk chart programme and the BBC Radio 1 Sunday afternoon chart show. November 3 November – Charles Wood's play The Conspiracy of Sèvres (about the 1956 Suez Crisis) is broadcast. 18 November – Russell Brand joins Radio 2 to present a regular weekly programme.http://radiotoday.co.uk/2006/11/brand-new-show-for-r2/ Brand new show for R2 Radio Today 2 November 2006 11 February 2012 Undated in November – CTR 105.6 in Maidstone, Kent, is purchased by the KM Group, taking the number of KM-owned stations in Kent to 7. December 8 December – CB radio in the United Kingdom becomes licence-free. Undated in December – GMG Radio purchases the Saga Radio Group. http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/610310/GMG-extends-network-acquisition-Saga-Radio/?DCMP=ILC-SEARCH GMG extends network with acquisition of Saga Radio Brand Republic Joanne Payne 19 December 2006 18 December 2009 Unknown Galaxy 102.2 is renamed Galaxy Birmingham in line with other Galaxy radio stations. Sport on 5 is renamed 5 Live Sport. Station debuts 14 February – Talk 107 25 February – Touch FM (Banbury) 29 June – 99.9 Radio Norwich 10 July – Yorkshire Radio 15 August – Gaydio 2 September – Brunel FM 11 September – Bay FMhttps://radiotoday.co.uk/2026/09/devonair-radio-marks-20-years-since-bay-fm-debut/ DevonAir Radio marks 20 years since Bay FM debut Radio Today 17 September 2026 19 September 2026 1 October – Original 106 (Solent) 16 October – 107.3 Abbey FM 18 December – Radio Music Shop 25 December – theJazzXmas Day launch for GCap Jazz https://web.archive.org/web/20070927022205/http://www.radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.1359 2007-09-27 . Published by Radio Today on 28 November 2006. Accessed 18 December 2009.GCap Media inc Regulatory Announcement https://web.archive.org/web/20250906133315/https://www.londonstockexchange.com/LSECWS/IFSPages/MarketNewsPopup.aspx?id=1348267&source=RNS 6 September 2025 . Published by the London Stock Exchange on 28 November 2006. Accessed 18 December 2009 Programme debuts 3 January – The Geoff Show on Virgin Radio (2006–2008) 23 January – The Christian O'Connell Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio (later Absolute Radio) (2006–present) 9 April – The Russell Brand Show on BBC 6 Music (later BBC Radio 2) (2006–2008, 2010, 2013, 2017) 18 April – Chris Evans Drivetime on BBC Radio 2 (2006–2009) 12 July – The Personality Test on BBC Radio 4 (2006–2007) 25 August – Jest a Minute on BBC Radio Wales (2006–2009) September – The Dream Ticket with Joe Mace on BBC 6 Music (2006–2007) 8 September – 1966 and All That on BBC Radio 4 (2006) 18 October – The Unbelievable Truth on BBC Radio 4 (2006–present) 14 November – Living with the Enemy on BBC Radio 4 (2006) Unknown – The Bottom Line on BBC Radio 4 (2006–present) Continuing radio programmes 1940s Sunday Half Hour (1940–2018) Desert Island Discs (1942–present) Woman's Hour (1946–present) A Book at Bedtime (1949–present) 1950s The Archers (1950–present) The Today Programme (1957–present) Your Hundred Best Tunes (1959–2007) 1960s Farming Today (1960–present) In Touch (1961–present) The World at One (1965–present) The Official Chart (1967–present) Just a Minute (1967–present) The Living World (1968–present) The Organist Entertains (1969–2018) 1970s PM (1970–present) Start the Week (1970–present) You and Yours (1970–present) I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue (1972–present) Good Morning Scotland (1973–present) Newsbeat (1973–present) File on 4 (1977–present) Money Box (1977–present) The News Quiz (1977–present) Feedback (1979–present) The Food Programme (1979–present) Science in Action (1979–present) 1980s Steve Wright in the Afternoon (1981–1993, 1999–2022) In Business (1983–present) Sounds of the 60s (1983–present) Loose Ends (1986–present) 1990s The Moral Maze (1990–present) Essential Selection (1991–present) No Commitments (1992–2007) Wake Up to Wogan (1993–2009) Essential Mix (1993–present) Up All Night (1994–present) Wake Up to Money (1994–present) Private Passions (1995–present) Parkinson's Sunday Supplement (1996–2007) The David Jacobs Collection (1996–2013) Sunday Night at 10 (1998–2013) In Our Time (1998–present) Material World (1998–present) Scott Mills (1998–2022) The Now Show (1998–present) Jonathan Ross (1999–2010) 2000s Dead Ringers (2000–2007, 2014–present) BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (2000–present) Sounds of the 70s (2000–2008''', 2009–present) Big John @ Breakfast (2000–present) Parsons and Naylor's Pull-Out Sections (2001–2007) Jammin' (2001–2008) Go4It (2001–2009) The Jo Whiley Show (2001–2011) Kermode and Mayo's Film Review (2001–2022) The Big Toe Radio Show (2002–2011) A Kist o Wurds (2002–present) The Day the Music Died (2003–2007) Fighting Talk (2003–present) Jeremy Vine (2003–present) Trevor's World of Sport (2004–2007) The Chris Moyles Breakfast Show (2004–2012) Annie Mac (2004–2021) Elaine Paige on Sunday (2004–present) Ending this year 22 June – It's Been a Bad Week (1999–2006) 31 March – Drivetime with Johnnie Walker (1998–2006) 4 July – Mitch Benn's Crimes Against Music (2004–2006) 10 August – The Dream Ticket with Nemone (2005–2006) 29 September – 1966 and All That (2006) 19 December – Living with the Enemy (2006) Closing this year Date Station Debut2 JunePrimetime Radio200029 SeptemberStar 107.91998 Deaths 1 February – Ernest Dudley, 97, novelist, journalist, screenwriter, actor and radio broadcasterhttp://icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200berkshireheadlines/tm_objectid=16714494&method=full&siteid=50102&headline=radio-sleuth-creator-dies-aged-97-name_page.html Get Reading: Latest Reading and Berkshire News, Sport and What's On Icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk 2017-01-14June 2022 InternetArchiveBot yes 27 February – Linda Smith, 48, comedian 19 April – June Knox-Mawer, 75, romantic novelist and radio broadcaster 8 July – Peter Hawkins, 82, voice actor 5 October – Robert Dentith, 29, presenter of The Unsigned Show'' on Kerrang! Radiohttp://www.kerrangradio.co.uk/Article.asp?id=286225&spid= https://web.archive.org/web/20070929071404/http://www.kerrangradio.co.uk/Article.asp?id=286225&spid= dead 2007-09-29 Kerrang! DJ Rob Dentith Passes Away Kerrang! Radio October 2019 2019-11-05 21 October – Paul Walters, 59, BBC radio and TV producerWogan producer Walters dies at 59 BBC News 21 October 2006 31 October – William Franklyn, 81, actor 23 November – Nick Clarke, 58, radio and television presenter and journalist https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6175786.stm Radio 4's Nick Clarke dies at 58 BBC News 23 November 2006 8 January 2010 27 November – Alan Freeman, 79, disc jockey and radio personalityhttp://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=166927 Tributes pour in for DJ Alan Freeman News.ninemsn.com.au Nine News 29 November 2006 9 January 2012 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120211095922/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=166927 11 February 2012 18 December – Mike Dickin, 63, Talksport radio presenter (car accident)https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6194773.stm Entertainment | Radio host Dickin dies in crash BBC News 2006-12-19 2017-01-14 dmy-all 23 December – Charlie Drake, 81, comedian References 2 Radio British Radio, 2006 In Category:Years in British radio