UK

Greatest Hits Radio’s annual listener poll to find the ultimate Greatest Hit of the 70s, 80s and 90s is back for 2025.

Voting closes this Sunday 19 October, before the full countdown begins on Monday 27 October from 8am, building up to the Number One being revealed during Simon Mayo’s Drivetime show on Friday 31 October.
Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody has claimed the top spot every year so far, and with the track marking its 50th anniversary, listeners will be waiting to see if it can hold on once again.
To celebrate the milestone, Greatest Hits Radio will air a special documentary, The Story of Bohemian Rhapsody, on Sunday 2 November at 4pm. Narrated by Claire Sturgess, it features exclusive interviews with Brian May and Roger Taylor reflecting on the song’s enduring legacy.
Andy Ashton, Greatest Hits Radio Content Director, said: “The Top 500 is something we’ve done every year since launch, and it’s always been one of the most loved weeks of radio for our audience. There’s something inherently magical about a countdown, especially one that goes across a whole week.”
Listeners who take part in this year’s vote also have the chance to win the Top 20 Greatest Hits on vinyl, alongside a Mixx System 5 record player and speaker system, thanks to HMV and Mixx.

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STV has quietly released a new logo for its forthcoming radio service.

The reveal comes amid ongoing preparations for STV’s entry into Scotland’s commercial radio market.
Until now, the broadcaster had confirmed the station’s intended launch, target audience and key presenters — but not its visual identity.
While the design itself has not yet been described in official materials, the timing suggests it forms part of STV’s broader branding rollout ahead of the station’s debut.
Previously, STV disclosed the radio station will target 35- to 54-year-olds, and broadcast on DAB, online and via smart speakers. The venture sits within a newly formed Audience division that brings together STV’s TV, streaming and audio services.
In terms of talent, STV has already announced Ewen Cameron and Cat Harvey as breakfast hosts. It has more recently added Greigsy (Greig Easton) for mid-mornings and Webster (Stuart Webster) for the drive-time slot.

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Capital XTRA has announced the return of its Comedy Club this November, raising money for Global’s Make Some Noise charity.

The event takes place on Thursday 6th November at the Underbelly Boulevard Soho in central London, bringing together some of the UK’s sharpest comic talent for a night of laughter and music.
Comedian and Capital XTRA presenter Andrew Mensah will host the evening, featuring performances from Prince Abdi, Gbemi Oladipo and Blank Peng, with Eshaan Akbar and Jack Skipper also joining the line-up.
Matt Deverson, Managing Editor of Capital XTRA, said the event has become an important part of the station’s connection with its audience. He added: “The line-up is superb, promising another proper laugh-out-loud evening of comedy, and I’m proud that one of our own, Andrew Mensah, will compère the night again.”
Suzanne Ryder Richardson, Director of Global Goodness, said: “We’re thrilled to bring back the Capital XTRA Comedy Club for a third incredible night of laughs and entertainment, bringing brilliant comedy talent together to raise vital funds for Global’s Make Some Noise.”
The Capital XTRA Comedy Club has previously welcomed well-known acts including Babatunde Aléshé, Josephine Lacey and Axel Blake. The event supports Global’s Make Some Noise, which funds small UK charities tackling issues such as mental health, poverty and homelessness.

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The full line-up has been confirmed for this year’s UK Community Radio Network (UKCRN) Conference, taking place in Bradford on Saturday, 25th October.
The annual event coincides with the 20th anniversary of community radio in the UK, celebrating two decades of local broadcasting, connection and impact, supported by headline sponsor Be Broadcast.
Hits Radio presenter Stephanie Hirst will share her personal journey in radio, reflecting on her career and the importance of community stations in engaging and empowering audiences.
A special anniversary panel led by Dom Chambers from Sound Vision will look back at how community radio has evolved over the last twenty years. Dom will be joined by Jason Rosam of Riverside Radio and other well-known figures from across the sector.
UKCRN Co-Founder Rebecca Steers will host a forward-looking session on the future of community radio, exploring new technology, legacy planning and the development of the next generation of broadcasters.
Other speakers include Kerry Cobb from Fix Radio, who will present a case study on serving the UK’s builder community while maintaining community values, and representatives from Be Broadcast, Cornwall Media Network and Ashdown Radio, offering insights into PR, collaboration and event-based income generation.
Industry suppliers including Promo Only, DHD Audio, Vortex Communications, Radio News Hub, RadioToday and The MediaSite UK will also be there throughout the day.
To support attendance, 20 bursary places covering both the conference and the Community Radio Awards have been made available, funded by Aiir, Be Broadcast, Steers Media, Broadcast Bionics, Rupert Brun, All In Media and UKCRN.
The weekend concludes with a Development Morning on Sunday, 26th October, providing hands-on opportunities for networking, demo feedback and skills development.
Tickets for both events are available via communityradio2025.eventbrite.co.uk.
More information on the bursary scheme is available at ukcrn.radio/bursary.

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Global’s Make Some Noise has raised a record-breaking £4.8 million during its 2025 charity appeal.

The annual campaign, now in its twelfth year, saw Global radio presenters take on daring challenges to encourage donations for small local charities across the UK.
Heart presenters Amanda Holden, Jamie Theakston and Ashley Roberts faced their fears in Heart’s Herculean Challenge.
Capital’s Kem Cetinay took on a full day of non-stop padel matches with the help of fellow presenters, celebrities and his friend Chris Hughes.
In Scotland, Heart Breakfast host Grado hand-cycled more than 400 kilometres from Granite City to Glasgow for his first ever Make Some Noise event.
On Make Some Noise Day, presenters from across Global’s radio brands including Heart, Capital, Smooth, Classic FM and Radio X came together to celebrate the nationwide fundraising effort.

Simon Pitts, Global’s Group CEO, said: “It’s incredible to be celebrating a record-breaking fundraising total of more than £4.8 million.
The creativity, generosity and energy across this year’s appeal has been inspiring and I’m proud that we’re helping to make a life-changing impact within communities across the UK.”

Suzanne Ryder Richardson, Director of Global Goodness, added: “From Kem Cetinay’s epic 24-hour padel marathon to Amanda Holden braving a box of snakes, our presenters, partners and listeners have yet again been incredibly generous in their support. This record-breaking figure will make a real difference.”
Furniture Village sponsored this year’s appeal, with Disney’s Hercules, PureGym and Digby Brown also backing presenter challenges.

Since its launch in 2014, Global’s Make Some Noise has supported over 527 community projects and helped change more than 227,000 lives across the UK.
More information on this year’s appeal can be found at makesomenoise.com

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Rebecca Frank is leaving her position as KISS Network Content Director at Bauer Media after more than five years.
Her role will be filled by Paul Gerrard, currently Content Director at Hits Radio, who will take on an expanded role as Content Director for both Hits Radio and the KISS Network.
Rebecca joined Bauer in January 2020 from Media Works New Zealand, where she was Head of Development.
Before that, she spent several years at the BBC, including as Daytime Editor at Radio 1 and Head of Production for BBC R1, 1Xtra and the Asian Network.
During her time at KISS, Rebecca played a central role in shaping the network’s sound, overseeing the launch of new digital stations and strengthening the KISSTORY brand. She also led on key talent signings, bringing in presenters such as Pete Wicks and Olivia Attwood, Harriet Rose and Henrie Kwushue, while steering the network through one of its strongest periods for branded content.
Gary Stein, Director of Audio at Bauer Media Audio UK, said Rebecca had made a huge contribution to the business. “Rebecca has led the KISS brand with passion and focus through a period of enormous transformation. We wish her the very best for what comes next,” he said.
Reflecting on her departure, Rebecca said working with the KISS team had been a career highlight. “The brand has a special energy and creative power which will always stay with me; I’m honoured and proud to have been part of the story.”
Rebecca will leave Bauer on Thursday 16 October.

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