Angela Scanlon is taking over BBC Radio 2’s weekday Drivetime show as part of a new autumn presenter line-up for the station. Scanlon will host the 4pm to 7pm slot every weekday from November, returning to Radio 2 on a full-time basis after previously presenting on the station and stepping into Drivetime over the summer. The BBC has also announced that The Shires singer Ben Earle will become the new presenter of The Radio 2 Country Show on Thursday evenings.

Angela Scanlon Takes Over Radio 2 Drivetime

Scanlon’s new show will air between Trevor Nelson and Jo Whiley each weekday, with the presenter describing the opportunity as “properly exciting”. She said: “Millions of people, all having completely different days, piling into the same conversation for a few hours – what a strange and lovely thing!” Scanlon added that she wants listeners to bring their stories, opinions and everyday moments to the programme, whether they are on the school run, heading home from work or making dinner.

Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, said Scanlon had proved popular with listeners during her summer stint on Drivetime and described the show as an important part of helping audiences move from the working day into their evenings.

Scanlon previously presented Radio 2’s Sunday early breakfast show between 2018 and 2021 and has also covered programmes for presenters including Steve Wright. She later joined Virgin Radio UK for Weekend Breakfast in 2024. Her television work has included The One Show, Robot Wars, Your Home Made Perfect and Strictly Come Dancing, while in 2026 she has co-hosted the BBC’s Eurovision coverage with Rylan and fronted The Apprentice: Unfinished Business.

Ben Earle Takes Over The Radio 2 Country Show

Ben Earle will become the new presenter of The Radio 2 Country Show, which airs on Thursdays from 9pm to 10pm. Earle, one half of country duo The Shires, succeeds Bob Harris, who stepped down from the programme earlier this year due to ill health after presenting it since 1999.

It will not be Earle’s first time behind a Radio 2 microphone. He previously filled in for Harris on the Country Show in 2019, with that run leading to him receiving the CMA International Country Broadcaster of the Year Award in 2020. He has also spent the past five years hosting a Sunday morning programme on Absolute Radio Country. Speaking about the new role, Earle said it felt like he was “coming home” to the show and said he was looking forward to speaking with international artists while also finding new UK country talent.

Helen Thomas said Earle’s experience as both a musician and radio presenter, alongside his knowledge of country music, made him the right person to follow Harris.

Ellie Taylor Also Joins Radio 2’s Autumn Schedule

The autumn changes also include Ellie Taylor, who has begun presenting Emma Willis’ Saturday lunchtime show from 1pm to 3pm while Willis hosts Strictly Come Dancing. Taylor started in the slot on Saturday, 26 September and will continue throughout the autumn and winter. She also begins presenting Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two from Monday, 28 September.

The changes come as Radio 2 heads into the final months of 2026 with a weekly audience of 12.4 million, according to RAJAR figures for the second quarter of the year.

For CultureCues, Angela Scanlon feels like a natural fit for Drivetime after already getting the chance to try out the slot over the summer. She has always been great at that mix of quick humour and easy conversation, so giving her the full weekday show makes a lot of sense. Ben Earle taking over the Country Show also feels like a strong move, especially with his background in The Shires and years of presenting country radio already behind him. Radio 2’s autumn schedule is getting a pretty sizeable refresh.