Romesh Ranganathan to takeover from Claudia Winkleman on BBC Radio 2

Claudia Winkleman announced this morning live on BBC Radio 2 that she has decided to step down from her Saturday show (10am-1pm). Claudia will present her last weekly programme on the station in March 2024.

Comedian, author and actor Romesh Ranganathan, who currently presents ‘For The Love Of Hip Hop’ for Radio 2 and BBC Sounds each Saturday morning (midnight – 1am) will launch a new Saturday morning show (10am – 1pm) in April 2024.

Claudia says, “I absolutely love Radio 2 and it’s been a privilege to host the Saturday morning show for three years. I will miss our amazing guests, our brilliant listeners and the one and only Sally Traffic. The truth is my children are growing up inordinately fast so I have decided to follow them around at home before they leave for good. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who works on the show, I will continue to visit with badly made biscuits and will pester the bosses to present the odd special.

“I couldn’t be happier that Romesh is taking over Saturday mornings on Radio 2. He is brilliantly laugh out loud funny, and I’ll listen every single week as my kids beg me to leave them alone.”

Romesh says, “In my many years working as a maths teacher thinking ‘what would happen if I gave this up’, I never imagined I’d be sandwiched between Dermot O’Leary and Steve Wright on the UK’s most popular radio station every Saturday morning. I’m grateful to Claud for wanting to spend more time with her kids, and enabling me to spend less time with mine, and I look forward to finding out what the nation is up to at that time, as well as speaking to some familiar faces. It’s going to be fun. Probably.”

Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2 says, “I’d like to thank Claudia for entertaining her millions of listeners each Saturday morning with such sparkling wit and great warmth. Radio 2 listeners can rest easy as we’re working on a plan for some specials in the future, so watch this space!

“I’m delighted to welcome Romesh to his new Saturday morning show on Radio 2. Judging by the audience’s reaction to him at Radio 2 in the Park in Leicester this year, he’s already a firm favourite with our listeners. Like Claud before him, he’ll guarantee your Saturday mornings continue to be an appointment to listen.”

Charlotte Moore, Chief Content Officer, BBC, says, “Claudia is one of the BBC’s most loved presenters and I’d like to thank her for all the laughs she’s given us as we’ve started our weekends on Radio 2 over the past three years. I really look forward to joining her for series two of The Traitors in the new year as well as Strictly Come Dancing next Autumn.

“Romesh is hugely popular with BBC audiences so I’m thrilled that he will be bringing his own unique sense of humour to Saturday mornings on Radio 2. I can’t wait to hear his new show.”

Multi award-winning comedian Romesh Ranganathan is best known for fronting such series as The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan, The Ranganation, Rob & Romesh Vs, A League Of Their Own, Asian Provocateur, and as the presenter of BBC One’s The Weakest Link.

Romesh is also host of his own Radio 2 and BBC Sounds show For The Love Of Hip Hop, which saw him win the prestigious Radio Academy ARIA Gold award for Best Specialist Music Show in 2023. Romesh also co-hosts hit podcast Wolf & Owl with Tom Davis which has seen them perform to sell out audiences at their live shows.