Radio 2 ups comedy ante

Following a BBC Trust review, the BBC is to include more comedy programming on Radio 2 in order to broaden the station’s appeal and appease the Trust’s criticism of the network.

BBC Radio 2 currently broadcasts - on average - one hour of comedy a week. Its recent comedy output includes a repeat of Jason Byrne's stand-up series, and IT-related sitcom On The Blog. New panel show And The Winner Is, hosted by Matt Lucas, airs on February 25.

Andrew Harrison, chief executive of commercial radio body RadioCentre told the BBC website that: "Comedy, arts, documentaries and specialist music are essential elements of Radio 2's required output, but for too long it has been able to tuck these away at the margins of the schedule in its inexorable pursuit of popularity over public service."



A spokesperson for the BBC said: "We will be revamping and refreshing our coverage, aiming to thread arts, documentaries and comedy into the peak time schedule.”