Angela Scanlon Confirmed as New Host of BBC Radio 2 Drivetime, Ben Earle to Lead Country Show

Angela Scanlon has been named the next permanent presenter of BBC Radio 2's drivetime programme, stepping into the 16:00-19:00 weekday slot that Sara Cox left earlier this year. The announcement, made on Monday during Cox's breakfast show, ends months of speculation over who would take charge of one of the station's most prominent daily broadcasts. Scanlon will begin hosting the show in November, according to the BBC.

The Irish presenter described her appointment as "properly exciting," framing the role as an opportunity to connect with listeners during one of the most varied parts of their day. "Millions of people, all having completely different days, piling into the same conversation for a few hours - what a strange and lovely thing!" she said.

Scanlon is hardly a newcomer to Radio 2. She hosted a Sunday early morning programme on the station between 2018 and 2021, giving her a prior relationship with its audience and production teams. Her return to a daily, high-profile slot represents a significant step up in responsibility and visibility within the BBC's audio portfolio.

Her selection followed a summer of rotating guest hosts, a common tactic used by Radio 2 when a major slot becomes vacant. Joel Dommett, Jason Manford, Ellie Taylor, Alex Jones and Gary Davies were among those who filled in after Cox departed drivetime in May, effectively auditioning for audiences and executives alike. The breadth of that list reflected the station's desire to test different tones and styles before committing to a permanent voice.

Beyond radio, Scanlon has built a substantial television career that has raised her public profile considerably. She is known for her work on The One Show, This Morning, Your Home Made Perfect and The Apprentice: Unfinished Business, and she competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2023. That mix of entertainment, lifestyle and reality programming has made her a recognizable figure across a range of audiences, not just habitual radio listeners.

She has also expanded her radio footprint beyond the BBC. After Graham Norton's departure in 2024, Scanlon hosted the weekend breakfast show on Virgin Radio, and she currently co-hosts the Get A Grip podcast. Those roles suggest a presenter comfortable working across commercial and public service broadcasting, a versatility that likely appealed to Radio 2's decision-makers.

In her own description of the new job, Scanlon leaned into the domestic, everyday settings in which drivetime radio is consumed. "Every weekday, I'll be in your ears, your cars and your kitchens - on the school run, on the way home, or standing at the hob wondering what on earth to feed a small but hungry mob," she said. She added that she wants "all of it: the stories, the opinions, the chaos, the tiny triumphs and the things you probably shouldn't admit on national radio."

Radio 2 controller Helen Thomas praised Scanlon's warmth and quick wit, noting that she had proved "extremely popular with the Radio 2 audience this summer" during her stint covering the slot. Thomas framed drivetime as a strategically important programme, describing it as a show that helps listeners "get home and start their evenings in a positive and upbeat mood." She also thanked the various presenters who had kept the slot running since Cox's move to breakfast.

The shake-up at Radio 2 has been substantial in recent months. Cox replaced Scott Mills on the breakfast show in a change announced in April, and her promotion to that flagship programme triggered a chain of on-air reshuffling. Drivetime is widely regarded as the second most important slot in the station's weekday schedule, making the appointment of a permanent host a matter of keen interest to both the industry and the audience.

Separately, Radio 2 has confirmed that Ben Earle will take over the station's weekly country music programme, following the departure of longtime host Bob Harris. Harris, known to many as "Whispering" Bob, presented the show for 27 years before announcing his exit in June. His decision came weeks after he disclosed that his prostate cancer had spread to his spine.

Earle brings both musical credibility and broadcasting experience to the role. He is one half of the British country group The Shires and has presented a weekly show on Absolute Radio Country for the past five years. That combination of artist and presenter credentials gives him a distinctive standing within the genre, particularly among UK country fans who have followed his band's rise.

Thomas highlighted those qualities when confirming the appointment. She said Earle's "knowledge, passion and enthusiasm for the genre," along with his years as a musician and his radio experience, made him "the ideal person to pick up the reins from the legendary Bob Harris." She added that she hopes Earle will host the show for decades to come, echoing the longevity Harris achieved in the role.

The two announcements together illustrate how Radio 2 is recalibrating its schedule for the months ahead, balancing continuity with renewal. Scanlon's arrival at drivetime brings a familiar television face into a daily radio ritual, while Earle's appointment signals a commitment to specialist music programming and to the country genre's growing profile in the UK.

For Scanlon, the challenge will be sustaining the drivetime audience while stamping her own personality on a show that has been defined by her predecessor. Her stated appetite for listener stories and everyday chaos suggests she intends to lean into the conversational, companionable style that drivetime rewards, rather than reinventing the format outright.

For Earle, the task is different but equally delicate: succeeding a broadcaster whose association with country music in Britain spans decades. His background as a working musician may help him connect with artists and listeners alike, but the shadow of Harris's 27-year tenure will inevitably shape how the programme is received.

Both presenters inherit loyal audiences and clear expectations. Scanlon takes over a weekday slot that reaches millions of people at a pivotal point in their day, while Earle steps into a specialist show with a dedicated following. Their appointments mark the latest chapter in a period of significant change across BBC Radio 2's lineup.