BBC Asian Network to complete its move to Birmingham by April 2025
The BBC Asian Network has announced that it will complete its move to Birmingham by April 2025.
Asian Network Breakfast with Nikita Kanda, The New Music Show, Pritt, Nadia Ali and Bobby Friction will join the wide variety of shows and DJs already broadcasting from the Mailbox, Birmingham. Asian Network currently broadcasts 73% of its programme from Birmingham with plans to consolidate the entire network to the city by April 2025.
These moves are part of the BBC’s Across the UK strategy, moving shows, talent, teams, and content away from London to allow the BBC to better reflect, represent and serve all audiences.
The New Music Show with DJ Limelight and Kan D Man (Wednesday’s 20:00-22:00) will broadcast from Birmingham from Wednesday 9 April, with DJ Limelight continuing as host, followed by Pritt (Sunday, 19:00-21:00) and Nadia Ali (Sunday, 15:00-17:00) broadcasting from Birmingham from Sunday 13 April.
Asian Network Breakfast with Nikita Kanda will be the final show to move to the city, broadcasting live from Birmingham from Monday 28 April.
Nikita Kanda says, “I’m so excited to be broadcasting Asian Network Breakfast from Birmingham! I absolutely love the city! I’ve spent a lot of my time there over the years so it already feels like home to me. I can’t wait to join my Asian Network family in the Mailbox. Birmingham, get ready for some Kanda Kaos!”
In addition to moving its remaining shows to Birmingham, Asian Network has announced a new schedule starting from Monday 7th April.
As part of the changes, Bobby Friction will leave his current weekday show to front a brand-new specialist music show, bringing specialist music, entertainment and exclusive soundtracks to audiences across the UK. Bobby’s new show will broadcast every Sunday from 21:00-23:00, starting on Sunday 13 April, replacing Vallisa’s current Sunday show which will end in March.
In place of Bobby’s current show, three new weekday programmes will launch on the network, bringing listeners the biggest anthems and nostalgic hits from 18:00-20:00, every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, presented by Asian Network’s Vallisa, Nadia Ali and Kan D Man respectively.
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Other changes taking place from Monday 7 April include The Everyday Hustle (Monday, 06:00-06:30) beginning a new rotation of presenters, to be announced soon, with Harpreet Kaur hosting her final show on Monday 31 March. Amber Sandhu will leave Asian Network with co-host of One More Chai, Gura Randhawa, taking over Saturday afternoon’s 15:00-1800, hosting her first live show on the network. Asian Network Chill will also come to an end in March.
Ahmed Hussain, Head of Asian Network, says, “I’m really delighted to be uniting the whole of Asian Network in Birmingham and to be delivering on our promise to increase investment and support talent across the UK.
Birmingham is such a diverse and creative city and an important location for our listeners. We are proud to be bringing more representation to The Midlands, championing British Asian music and culture and continuing to work and support local companies. Most of all I’m excited to bring the Asian Network family together!
Finally, I’d like to say a massive thank you to Amber for the energy and fun she has brought to the airwaves over the past two years, I wish her all the best with her new ventures.”
Gura Randhawa says, “I can’t even put into words how buzzing I am to be hosting my first live show with Asian Network! One of my main goals for 2025 was to get more involved with the network, and we’re just getting started. I’m beyond grateful for this opportunity and get ready for some serious Geordie energy coming at you on the airwaves!”
The BBC’s Across the UK strategy sets out plans for moving content, power and decision-making across the country to better reflect and represent all parts of the UK and serve all audiences. The BBC adds over £305m to the economic value of the West Midlands each year and is continuing to invest heavily in the region.
As part of these moves and in line with the BBC’S strategic priority to build a bigger pop music supplier community in the West Midlands, Asian Network will continue to work with and support local suppliers, including plans to continue working with current independent suppliers Audio Always, Glenvale Media, True Thought Production, Resonate Agency and VoxWave, all based in Birmingham.
