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Radio 2 announces concert series to celebrate 50 years

By | Published on Friday 6 October 2017

Jo Whiley

If you’re bored with everyone banging on about Radio 1’s 50th birthday, how about Radio 2’s 50th birthday? It’s also 50 years old, and among the celebrations on that side of the dial will be five live musical recordings in the BBC Radio Theatre under the station’s In Concert brand featuring acts that represent each of the decades that Radio 2 has been on air.

The recordings are as follows: Tears For Fears (26 Oct), Chic feat Nile Rodgers (30 Oct), Liam Gallagher (2 Nov), Paloma Faith (9 Nov) and Deep Purple (16 Nov). There’s a signed photo of Jo Whiley for anyone who can work out who is representing which decade. She’s going to be interviewing each of the acts, see. As is Simon Mayo. Separately mind. Whiley and Mayo famously hate each other. They loathe each other. They despise each other. They detest each other. They abhor each other. Maybe. I don’t know.

Says that Jeff Smith, Head Of Music for the twos: “In our anniversary year, I wanted to put together a Radio 2 In Concert season to celebrate some of the music enjoyed by our listeners across the past five decades. I’m very excited that this line up of amazing artists have agreed to take part and join us in our Radio Theatre. They will perform some of their biggest songs and new tracks exclusively for the Radio 2 audience to not only hear, but also watch and, hopefully, recommend to their friends”.

Oh yeah, there’ll be some red button nonsense too. That’s where the “watching” comes in.

Adds Whiley: “I’m a big fan of all these artists and am THRILLED to be part of bringing their In Concerts to Radio 2. I look forward to hearing their music and having a chat with the artists live in the Radio Theatre after their performances. It’s going to be another great In Concert season and I hope you will join us”.

No comment from Mayo you’ll notice. He was too busy seething that they let Whiley speak first.



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