Radio 2 planning new visualised podcast series
The BBC loves a vodcast, and there's a project developing one for Radio 2 audiences.
The BBC is developing a new visualised podcast format for Radio 2, in a move aimed at boosting the station’s reach and modernising its output.
The proposed series, which will be made available via BBC iPlayer, will feature some of Radio 2’s biggest presenters in conversation with high-profile guests. Executives believe the format will help bring the station’s star interviews to a wider audience by combining traditional radio with a more visual, on-demand experience.
The approach mirrors a format already proving successful elsewhere in the industry. Virgin Radio has seen significant traction with its TFI-style presentation, where host Chris Evans has swapped the traditional radio studio setup for a vodcast format. The move has generated hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube, with its popularity leading to Channel 4 acquiring the rights to air six compilation episodes on Friday nights.
Sources suggest the BBC sees the visualised podcast as an opportunity to showcase Radio 2’s access to A-list talent while also strengthening its digital presence. This week alone, the station has hosted a string of major names, including the cast of The Devil Wears Prada 2, Sheridan Smith, Ralph Fiennes and Martin Clunes.
The development comes at a critical time for Radio 2, which is attempting to rebuild its reputation following the unexpected departure of breakfast show presenter Scott Mills. The station has faced growing criticism that it has drifted away from its core over-55 audience.
In response, Radio 2 has turned to experienced broadcasters Gary Davies and Mark Goodier to front its flagship breakfast and mid-morning slots. The move is widely seen as an attempt to reconnect with long-time listeners after concerns that the station had become overly focused on younger demographics.
Those concerns were recently amplified by former Radio 2 producer Malcolm Prince, who argued in a newspaper interview that the station had been neglecting older audiences. Industry insiders have also suggested that plans to serve that demographic through a new golden oldies DAB sister station had been central to the BBC’s strategy, but those ambitions were halted after Ofsted ruled the station could not go ahead.
The new visualised podcast format is expected to play a key role in promoting the station’s strengths, particularly its ability to attract major guests and deliver compelling long-form interviews.
Meanwhile, speculation continues over who will eventually take over the coveted Radio 2 breakfast slot on a permanent basis. Names understood to be in the frame include Sara Cox, Vernon Kay, Emma Willis and Greg James. However, insiders indicate that any new breakfast show is unlikely to launch in the immediate future.
The BBC has yet to formally confirm details of the new series, but the move signals a clear shift towards hybrid radio-television formats as broadcasters compete for audiences across multiple platforms.