Jo Whiley to become female presenter of Radio 2’s Drivetime in 20 years as she teams up with Simon Mayo

The station has given its schedule a major overhaul 
All change: Jo Wiley will host the new Radio 2 Drivetime show
John Phillips/Getty Images
Jennifer Ruby10 January 2018

Jo Whiley will become the first woman in two decades to present BBC Radio 2’s Drivetime show as part of a schedule shake-up.

The DJ will team up with current host Simon Mayo to present a longer and revamped version of the daily show, the BBC has confirmed.

The new move will make Whiley the first female presenter of the show in 20 years, after Debbie Thrower stepped down from the role back in 1998.

“What a thrill to be working with Simon on this exciting new show. It’s going to be great fun and listeners can look forward to some incredible music and chat, as well as being introduced to some fantastic new talent along the way. Cannot wait,” said Whiley.

Mayo added: “Although we’ve known each other for over 20 years, we’ve never presented a show together. And given that Jo is quite brilliant, it’s high time we put that right.”

In other changes to the schedule, Sara Cox will now present a new show at 10pm Monday-Thursday, which will feature “an upbeat playlist, with the great and the good from the world of theatre, music and film popping in.”

Her current show, Sound of the 80s, will be taken over by Gary Davies, while Angela Scanlon will host a new Sunday morning show from 4-6am.

Cerys Matthews will replace veteran broadcaster Paul Jones as host of the Blues Show on Monday nights.

Stepping down from the role, Jones said: “I have loved playing tracks from the world of Rhythm & Blues on Radio 2 over the last 30-plus years.

“I’m very grateful to all my listeners (not least for their influence on the content of programmes) but it’s time for me to hand over the baton – and I hope and believe Cerys will derive as much joy from the new show as I have until now.”

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