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BBC Asian Network revamps weekends

The BBC Asian Network has unveiled a slew of weekend schedule changes, taking place from Saturday 17th May.

The national broadcaster is relaunching its ‘Weekend Breakfast’ slot, a year after it was replaced with the film magazine show ‘Love Bollywood’. The new ‘Weekend Breakfast’ will be hosted by Tommy Sandhu, best known as the voice of ‘Graham’ on TV show ‘Blind Date’. The programme will air Saturdays and Sundays between 07:00 – 09:00.

Tommy Sandhu said: “Having DJ’d in London for years, I know what a heavy Friday and Saturday night feels like – so whether you’re getting up … or just getting in … I’m looking forward to easing everyone into their Saturday and Sunday mornings! … It’ll be like one BIG BUFFET BREAKFAST show… there’ll be something for everyone!”

‘Love Bollywood’ is losing an hour from being a four-hour to a three-hour show in the new schedule. The show will now also be presented by Raj and Pablo on both days as oppose to the current set-up of Saturdays only.

Raj and Pablo said: “We are over the moon – we Love Bollywood and can�۪t wait to sit in the Bollytastic HOT SEAT on Saturdays and Sundays…our weekend mornings are going to be one Big Bollywonderfull Bonanza!”

Former ‘Love Bollywood’ presenter and ZEE Music host Murtz is being moved to a new interactive show on Saturday afternoons, which replaces the sports slot. The programme simply titled ‘Request Show’ will play new Asian songs as requested by listeners.

Murtz said: “I�۪m really excited and scared! Having presented Love Bollywood for a year it�۪s going to be weird going back to presenting on my own! But I can�۪t wait to get my teeth into it! Three hours of wicked tunes, jokes and typical Murtz humour ��� no holds barred!”

‘Devotional Sounds’, Asian Network�۪s early morning religious music slot, sees minor scheduling changes with programming beginning one hour earlier at 04:00 and continuing until 07:00.

Sunday night Language Shows also see minor scheduling changes with the Mirpuri and Gujarati shows swapping timeslots beginning with Punjabi at 17:00 moving to Mirpuri at 19:00, Gujarati Show at 21:00 and ending on the Bengali Show at 23:00.

The rest of the weekend schedule remains the same.

Andy Parfitt, Controller, Asian Network, Radio 1, 1Xtra and BBC Switch said: “These changes simplify and strengthen Asian Network�۪s offering. We hope our listeners will love the new mix of music and speech they can hear every weekend on Asian Network.”