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

Angela Scanlon has been named the next regular presenter of BBC Radio 2's drivetime programme, stepping into the 16:00 to 19:00 weekday slot that Sara Cox vacated earlier this year. The Irish broadcaster and television personality will begin presenting the show from November, the station confirmed on Monday.

The announcement was made on Cox's new breakfast programme, where Scanlon appeared as a guest to share the news with listeners. The move marks a significant elevation for Scanlon, who previously hosted a Sunday early morning programme on Radio 2 between 2018 and 2021 and has since built a broad portfolio across television and radio.

Scanlon described the appointment as "properly exciting" and reflected on the unique nature of live radio, noting that millions of listeners experiencing entirely different days would come together in the same conversation for a few hours. She called the prospect "a strange and lovely thing," underlining the intimate relationship that drivetime hosts cultivate with a national audience.

In a statement that emphasised her connection with everyday listeners, Scanlon said she would be present in their ears, cars and kitchens — whether during the school run, the commute home, or while standing at the hob wondering what to feed a hungry household. She added that she wanted to hear everything from stories and opinions to chaos, small triumphs, and confessions that perhaps should not be aired on national radio.

Scanlon is a familiar face to British audiences beyond radio. She has presented programmes including The One Show, This Morning, Your Home Made Perfect and The Apprentice: Unfinished Business, and she competed in Strictly Come Dancing in 2023. She also hosted the Virgin Radio weekend breakfast show following Graham Norton's departure in 2024 and co-hosts the Get A Grip podcast.

Her path to the drivetime chair followed a summer of guest presenters who filled in after Cox left the slot in May. Among those who tried out were Joel Dommett, Jason Manford, Ellie Taylor, Alex Jones and Gary Davies. The extended audition period gave station executives the opportunity to assess how each host connected with the audience before settling on a permanent appointment.

Radio 2 controller Helen Thomas praised Scanlon's warmth, quick wit and popularity with listeners over the summer. Thomas noted that drivetime plays a crucial role in helping people get home and begin their evenings in a positive and upbeat mood, and she expressed delight that Scanlon would take up the reins in November.

Thomas also extended her thanks to all the presenters who had occupied the slot during the interim period following Cox's move to the breakfast show. That transition was itself a major scheduling shake-up for the station, with Cox replacing Scott Mills on the flagship morning programme earlier this year.

The drivetime programme is one of the most strategically important in Radio 2's schedule, reaching listeners during the peak commute and early evening hours. Its host is expected to balance music, conversation and companionship, and the appointment of Scanlon signals the station's continued emphasis on warm, personality-driven broadcasting.

In a separate announcement, Radio 2 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 audiences as "Whispering" Bob, presented the show for 27 years and announced in June that he would be stepping down, weeks after revealing that his prostate cancer had spread to his spine.

Earle 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. His appointment brings both musical credibility and broadcasting experience to a programme with a dedicated and knowledgeable listenership.

Thomas described Earle's knowledge, passion and enthusiasm for country music, combined with his years as a musician and his radio presenting experience, as making him the ideal successor to a legendary figure. She added that she hoped, like Harris, Earle would host the show for decades to come.

The two announcements together represent a substantial refresh of Radio 2's on-air lineup, pairing a high-profile television and radio personality with a specialist music host. Both appointments are scheduled to take effect in the coming months, with Scanlon's drivetime debut set for November.

For Scanlon, the role offers a platform to reach a large daily audience in a slot that demands both entertainment and relatability. For Radio 2, the changes reflect an effort to renew its presenting roster while preserving the familiar tone that has made the station the UK's most listened-to radio network.