Radio Devon

The BBC has set out plans to transform its local services in England as it seeks to serve audiences better, respond to lessons learnt during the COVID-19 crisis and make savings to tackle its financial challenges.

BBC England, home of the BBC’s local radio stations and regional TV news, will undergo a significant reinvention.

The new vision for regional and local services includes:

• Modernising the BBC’s regional TV centres - investing in the latest technology and introducing a new, consistent operating model for each newsroom with digital story telling at
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BBC local radio stations up and down the country are gearing up to cheer on their local football clubs as we head into the first weekend of live Premier League and EFL Championship football since March.

While the fans can’t get to the grounds, local radio is there to bring you all the colour, drama and excitement straight your homes.

The local radio commentary teams are so excited to be back behind the mic to follow their local teams for the finale of this most unusual season. There’ll be live commentary from the games, plus all the pre and post-match build-up and...

As part of the national 100th anniversary commemorating the end of WW1, ABF The Soldiers’ Charity are staging a special concert at Exeter Cathedral on Saturday 16th June, 2018.

The event will be compered by David Fitzgerald from BBC Radio Devon.

Hosted by the charity’s Devon County Committee, the evening promises to be an outstanding musical contribution to remember the bravery of those from the 2nd Devonshire Regiment who were tragically killed in action during the notorious ‘Battle of Bois de Buttes. Fought on a sparsely wooded hillside on 27th May 1918 this was one of...

BBC Radio Devon has today (Tuesday 28 June) announced that Janet Kipling has been appointed as the station’s Lunchtime Presenter on a permanent bases. Janet, who took over from Bill Buckley earlier this year, has a long-standing history with the BBC that first started 23 years ago at BBC Somerset, before moving to BBC Radio Devon in 1993 as a reporter, producer and then presenter of the Afternoon Show. Janet Kipling said: “I’m delighted to be coming home to BBC Radio Devon after all these years. The station is in new and vibrant shape, technology has transformed our studios, and our...

Jo Loosemore and Sarah Chesters from BBC Radio Devon’s Potting Shed programme (Sundays from 9-12) will be part of Toby Buckland’s 2016 Garden Festival.

Over the years this popular BBC Radio Devon programme has helped gardeners and gardens all over the county.

It invites listeners to ring, write, email and text in with garden queries and questions. Sarah Chesters from RHS Rosemoor gives expert advice and answers. The two presenters will be offering gardening Q & A sessions on Saturday 30th April in the tea tent during four sessions between 11am - 4pm

We’re so...

BBC Radio Devon’s audience has plummeted to its lowest level for more than two decades.

Figures obtained by the Express & Echo show the station had an average of 180,000 listeners a week from July to September, down 34,000 from the previous three months.

The number of listeners went up by 24,000 between September 2014 and April 2015, but dropped 7,000 in the following three months.

The latest figures represent a fall of 17,000 over the past year and 88,000 since September 2005.

They are the lowest recorded for any quarter since audience data for local...

Popular BBC Radio Devon presenter Judi Spiers has been contoversially dropped by station bosses.

The broadcasting stalwart announced the news to shocked listeners on her regular morning slot today.

She told her audience that after 15 years in the job, this week would be her last.

A friend of Judi’s told the Daily the broadcaster was ‘saddened but wanted to continue until the bitter end for her listeners and team.

This is the latest controversial decision believed to have ben taken by managing editor Mark Grinnell.

In January, he ousted equally...

As exclusively revealed by the Exeter Daily yesterday, David Fitzgerald is to take over the presenting slot currently occupied by Judi Spiers.

Fitz and his Producer Monica Ellis will be moving to the Mid-Morning Show on BBC Radio Devon from Monday 6 July.

The BBC also announced this afternoon that Pippa Quelch will be the new voice of Drive Time.

Pippa, who was born and grew up in Devon, will present a mixture of news, travel and music each weekday from 5pm – 7pm in her new Drive Time Show.

Pippa currently presents the Sunday morning show on the station, ‘...

BBC Radio Devon afternoon presenter David Fitzgerald is poised to take over from soon-to-be-axed Judi Spiers, the Daily understands.

According to sources, some staff were told of the planned appointment this afternoon.

It had been thought that another of the station’s casualties, Matt Woodley, would be taking the slot.

David, like Judi, is not a BBC employee and operates on a freelance basis.

He is an all-round broadcaster and TV presenter having spent a spell of his career at Sky.

David is believed to get on well with BBC Radio Devon’s managing...

A twitter account has been set up calling on BBC bosses to save popular presenter Judi Spiers’ show from the axe.

The Radio Devon stalwart told her audience this morning that this week would be her last.

She said: "This is my last week. But boy we've had some good times. We've had some dodgy times as well but on the whole we've had some good ones. We've had some dark times in recent days but hopefully they'll be blown away.”

It is not clear why the show is being dropped but the Daily understands it was not Judi’s choice to leave and that she is deeply saddened....