Nihal Arthanayake to leave daytime schedule on BBC Radio 5 Live
Nihal Arthanayake, the popular former BBC Asian Network and BBC Radio 1 presenter, is set to leave his daytime slot on BBC Radio 5 Live. His final weekday show will air on 27th June. However, fans of Arthanayake will still be able to hear him on the airwaves as he transitions to a new role, hosting interviews each Sunday evening at 20:00 from September.
Explaining his decision, Nihal said, “I’ve got a second book to write and I need some time and space, and do some other things that I’ve always wanted to do.”
Expressing his excitement about the new format, Arthanayake added, “I’m incredibly excited to have been given my own space on BBC Radio 5 Live to purely do what I love most about broadcasting, in-depth interviews with fascinating people. I want to create something distinct and unique for a new audience on Sunday evenings as well as my podcast. I want both to become a time for my listeners to be inspired and celebrate creativity and culture in all its forms.”
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Heidi Dawson, Controller of BBC Radio 5 Live, praised Nihal’s talents, stating, “Nihal is an outstanding broadcaster and interviewer, and this new programme gives him the opportunity to showcase the best long-form interviews that he is so good at.”
In addition to his new Sunday evening show, Nihal’s ‘Headliners’ podcast will be extended to include additional and exclusive material that won’t be heard on the Sunday programme, offering listeners even more content to enjoy.
