New schedules to launch on BBC local radio stations in Yorkshire

Local BBC radio stations across Yorkshire are announcing changes to their schedules starting this autumn.

Popular comedian Toby Foster will be hosting a new afternoon programme across the Yorkshire region and Ellie Colton will be the host of a brand-new weekday Breakfast show on BBC Radio Sheffield.

Last year the BBC shared plans to put local information at the heart of the online experience with greater news provision for 43 areas across England. This means more original journalism and in-depth investigations with 130 additional journalists including a team of 70 investigative journalists across the country.

We said there would be schedule changes to afternoon, evening and weekend schedules for all 39 stations including BBC Radio Leeds, BBC Radio Sheffield, and BBC Radio York.

Most of the voices in the new schedules will be familiar to listeners with some taking on new shows and, or areas.

One of the newer voices is Ellie Colton who is launching a new Breakfast show on BBC Radio Sheffield. Born and bred in South Yorkshire, Ellie has successfully hosted BBC Upload for the station for the past three years where she has been proud to showcase local creative talent from poetry to playwrighting to podcasting.

Ellie says: “I’m so proud to be from South Yorkshire and I can’t wait to take on the job of waking up the area every morning. I’m excited to get started and chat to the people of South Yorkshire & North Derbyshire and find out what’s happening in their lives.”

Resident comedian and popular presenter Toby Foster, who joined the station in 2002, is to host the shared afternoon shows which will be broadcast across the region five days a week.

Toby says: “I’m really excited to broadcast to the best region in the country. I love being on the radio, having a laugh and hearing great stories. I can’t wait to do that across Yorkshire.”

Katrina Bunker, Senior Head of Production for BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, says: “I’m incredibly proud of what we do and pleased to share the new line-up for Yorkshire. We’ll have fantastic authentic local voices and characters on-air who are known and loved by listeners. They’ll continue our great traditions of championing local communities and hosting the local conversations.

“Our new shared programmes will be big shows that bring our county together – celebrating our shared Yorkshire identity and exploring our many great differences.”

Here is an overview of how schedules will sound on BBC Radio Leeds, BBC Radio Sheffield, and BBC Radio York.

On BBC Radio Sheffield Ellie Colton is the new presenter of the weekday Breakfast Show 6am-10am (from later this Autumn), and Paulette Edwards will be presenting day times 10am-2pm.

On BBC Radio Leeds Rima Ahmed continues as the presenter of the weekday Breakfast Show 6am-10am, and Gayle Lofthouse will be presenting day times 10am-2pm.

On BBC Radio York Georgey Spanswick continues as the presenter of the weekday Breakfast Show 6am-10am. Joanita Musisi will be presenting day times 10am-2pm Monday – Thursday, with new voice Bek Homer in the chair on Fridays.

  • Weekday afternoons 2-6pm
  • BBC Radio Leeds, BBC Radio Sheffield, BBC Radio York – Toby Foster
  • Weeknights from 7pm
  • (Broadcasting across the region)
  • Monday - Conversation and music for South Asian communities with Arzu Dutta
  • Tuesday - Sport or Bek Homer (coastal communities)
  • Wednesday - Sport or John Kane (Northern Soul)
  • Thursday & Saturday BBC Upload – Ellie Colton
  • Friday - Conversation and music for African & Caribbean communities with

Sile Sibanda
Thursday nights 8-10pm
BBC Music Introducing on BBC Radio Leeds and BBC Radio Sheffield – Emily Pilbeam and Christian Carlisle

Weekends

  • Saturday and Sunday 6am-10am – On BBC Radio Leeds, BBC Radio Sheffield, and BBC Radio York – Kat Cowan
  • Saturday 10am- 2pm – On BBC Radio Leeds, BBC Radio Sheffield, and BBC Radio York – Nick Ahad
  • Sunday 10am- 2pm – On BBC Radio Leeds, BBC Radio Sheffield, and BBC Radio York –
  • Becky Measures