Zoe Ball to launch new Radio 2 show on 3 May

Today we can reveal the start date for Zoe Ball’s brand new Radio 2 Saturday show. It will launch on Saturday, 3 May.

Zoe Ball will launch her brand new early afternoon show which will air 1-3pm. She’ll be playing some of her favourite music and having lots of laughs reconnecting with listeners.

Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, says: “Zoe is one of the UK’s most loved presenters, so I’m thrilled to announce that she has a new home on Radio 2 on Saturday lunchtimes, plus she’ll be hosting various specials for us throughout the year.”

Zoe, who presented her last Radio 2 Breakfast Show on Friday 20th December after six years, most recently presented two episodes of Christmas Crooners over the festive period.

On the same weekend Pick of the Pops with Mark Goodier moves to its brand new Sunday teatime slot, airing 5-7pm. Rob Beckett has already hosted his final show in this timeslot, and Sean Keaveny will cover the next two Sundays.

In addition to her new Saturday programme, Zoe Ball will also host a number of specials on Radio 2 starting with Radio 2 Loves Brass, which was broadcast Easter Sunday at 8pm. In this unique performance being held in conjunction with Bradford 2025 City of Culture, Zoe Ball presents Black Dyke Band with special guests, including Bradford Cathedral Choir, The Punjabi Roots Drummers, soprano soloist Carly Paoli and singer Marti Pellow. Catch up on BBC Sounds.

As previously announced, she will also host Elaine Paige: 60 Years in Showbusiness, a world exclusive concert honouring the extraordinary career of the station’s host of Elaine Paige on Sunday (1-3pm). On Friday 25th April, the cream of musical theatre – including Samantha Barks (winner of The Masked Singer 2025, Frozen, Les Misérables, Oliver!, Chicago), Mazz Murray (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Chicago, We Will Rock You), Julian Ovenden (Bridgerton, Downton Abbey, South Pacific), Charlie Stemp (Half a Sixpence, Hello, Dolly, Kiss Me, Kate), and Summer Strallen (Love Never Dies, The Sound of Music, Guys and Dolls) – will perform some of Elaine’s most adored songs at the London Palladium, which will be broadcast on Radio 2 on Sunday 4th May (8-10pm).