BBC Radio 2 live

BBC Radio 2 is the most listened-to radio station in the United Kingdom, with around 12.6 million listeners a week according to RAJAR figures from June 2025 — roughly one in every eight hours of radio listening in the country. It went on air at 5.30am on 30 September 1967, replacing the BBC Light Programme; the first record played was Julie Andrews singing "The Sound of Music". Funded by the licence fee, it carries no advertising, which is why it can keep specialist music programmes — jazz, folk, country, soul, the "Sounds of the 60s" strand — alongside a daytime schedule of broad popular music that competes directly with Heart and Greatest Hits Radio. Its presenters are some of the best-known voices in British radio. Since 6 July 2026 the breakfast show has been presented by Sara Cox, who moved across after seven years on drivetime. Vernon Kay follows in mid-morning, Jeremy Vine has presented his lunchtime mix of news, debate and music since 2003, and Trevor Nelson took over afternoons in January 2025. Changes to these slots are routinely treated as national news. Radio 2 is also home to the BBC Concert Orchestra and the BBC Big Band, and broadcasts live music throughout the year. You can hear it on 88–91 FM across the UK, on DAB, on digital television, on BBC Sounds and on the live stream on this page.