Keeping the nation smiling: the week in radio

We’re currently living through challenging times. Whether you tune in for the news, entertainment or a bit of companionship, it’s never been more important for radio to support its listeners.

You might be working from home, social distancing, or on the frontlines. Radio offers audiences a few moments of distraction, a voice in the room, and a bit of joy in a time when it’s needed more than ever. Some good songs, funny content and a few moments of collective positivity can all have an impact on your day.

Every week, we round up some of the best moments in commercial radio from the last seven days for your enjoyment. Whether you caught them live or want to listen back, check them out below.

A decade of One Direction

One Direction’s official 10-year anniversary was on July 23rd, and to mark the occasion, Roman Kemp hosted a watch party of the boy band’s most iconic moments on Capital, with Liam Payne appearing on Capital Breakfast for a chat to relive the best bits of 1D from the past decade.

.@LiamPayne telling @romankemp to do his @onedirection impressions is what #1Dat10onCapital dreams are made of. ? pic.twitter.com/P0IwGoJ7xf

— Capital (@CapitalOfficial) July 23, 2020

Get stuck in to these activities

As lockdown continues to relax and the school holidays begin, Fun Kids has launched a new podcast, Activity Quest, all about things for families to do. The first episode, released on Monday, looks at GoApe’s Treetop Challenge, places to visit across the UK, and features vet, conservationist, CBeebies presenter and author Jess French talking about her upcoming book, Slow Down Monkey.

Sometimes you should meet your heroes

Iconic pop star Kylie Minogue has inspired so many people across the globe and as one of her biggest fans, Hits Radio presenter James Barr took the chance to explain the impact her music has had on his life.

We're not crying you are ?@kylieminogue has inspired so many people across the globe and as one of her biggest fans, @imjamesbarr took the chance to explain the impact her music has had on his life ? pic.twitter.com/QfGFcp6tWN

— Hits Radio (@hitsradiouk) July 23, 2020

Eyes on Jay

In a one-hour special, Asian FX’s Shivi Hotwani spoke to R&B artist Jay Sean to takes listener through his music industry journey, his collaborations with some of the biggest names in RnB and his new podcast ‘Basement Banter’. If you missed it, it’ll be repeated again this Sunday at 7pm.

As the Seasons change

London Mozart Players and Classic FM’s ‘LMP Live!’ partnership has seen the chamber orchestra back together in three socially-distanced concerts for the first time since lockdown. For the third and final event, this week violinist Jennifer Pike performed Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons at the Mansfield College, Oxford, as a nod to the last official day of home-schooling at the end of July.

Has your station launched a new segment, had someone interesting on a show or done something else great this week? Let us know by contacting coral.williamson@radiocentre.org