Angela Scanlon and Ben Earle appointed to new BBC Radio 2 roles
- BBC Radio 2 is heading into the autumn with a number of exciting presenter signings, naming Angela Scanlon as the new weekday Drivetime host and appointing Ben Earle...
- Angela Scanlon will front the Radio 2 Drivetime show airing weekdays from 4 p.m.
- Scanlon described the new assignment as properly exciting, noting the unique nature of connecting with millions of listeners during their commutes and evening routines.
BBC Radio 2 is heading into the autumn with a number of exciting presenter signings, naming Angela Scanlon as the new weekday Drivetime host and appointing Ben Earle to lead the station’s weekly country music program, according to a network announcement on 28 September 2026. Scanlon takes over the flagship afternoon slot in November, while Earle steps into the Thursday evening country show following the departure of longtime broadcaster Bob Harris.
Angela Scanlon Takes Over Weekday Drivetime in November
Angela Scanlon will front the Radio 2 Drivetime show airing weekdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., beginning in November 2026. Head of Radio 2 Helen Thomas stated that Scanlon proved extremely popular with listeners during a summer guest-hosting stint on the program and praised her warmth and quick wit.
Scanlon described the new assignment as properly exciting, noting the unique nature of connecting with millions of listeners during their commutes and evening routines.
I cannot wait to get stuck in. We’re going to have a lot of fun.
Angela ScanlonScanlon brings an extensive broadcasting background across television and radio to the full-time role. Her 2026 credits include co-hosting BBC Eurovision coverage with Rylan, fronting BBC Two’s The Apprentice: Unfinished Business, co-hosting the weekly podcast Get A Grip, and presenting ITV’s This Morning. Her radio resume includes hosting Sunday early breakfast on BBC Radio 2 from 2018 to 2021, filling in for Steve Wright in the Afternoon, and succeeding Graham Norton in the Weekend Breakfast slot on Virgin Radio UK in 2024. Thomas extended thanks to all guest presenters who filled the Drivetime slot since Sara Cox moved to the Breakfast show.
Ben Earle Assumes the Radio 2 Country Show
Ben Earle will take over the Radio 2 Country Show broadcast on Thursday evenings from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. Earle succeeds Bob Harris, who hosted the program since 1999 before stepping down earlier in 2026 due to ill health.
Earle is a singer/songwriter and one half of The Shires, recognized as the bestselling UK country duo of all time. He made his Radio 2 presenting debut in 2019 by filling in for Harris, an appearance that earned him the CMA International Country Broadcaster of the Year Award in 2020. Alongside recording and writing music in the UK and Nashville, Earle has spent the past five years presenting a Sunday morning show on Absolute Radio Country, which hit record listening figures in 2026.
Thomas stated she is thrilled that Earle is taking over the country broadcast. Earle noted that the genre has grown significantly in the UK, with American acts now headlining stadiums.
Ben Earle