Paul O'Grady on the Wireless

Last updated

Paul O'Grady on the Wireless
Other namesPaul O'Grady, TeamPOG, TeamPOGradio
Genre Music, talk
Running time2 hours (17:00 - 19:00)
Country of origin United Kingdom
Language(s) English
Home station BBC Radio 2 (2009-2022)
Boom Radio (2022 Christmas Special)
Hosted by Paul O'Grady
Produced by Malcolm Prince
Recording studio Wogan House, London (2009-2020)
Original release5 April 2009 
25 December 2022
No. of episodes547
Audio format Stereo/8891 FM, DAB digital radio, TV and online
Website Official BBC Website

Paul O'Grady on the Wireless (billed as Paul O'Grady and referred to on-air as TeamPOG or TeamPOGradio) was the incarnation of the Sunday teatime slot on BBC Radio 2 from 5 April 2009 to 14 August 2022, hosted by Paul O'Grady. [1] It was produced by Malcolm Prince, who also made regular contributions to the programme, and it regularly attracted over two million listeners. It was broadcast on Sundays between 17:00 and 19:00.

Contents

From its inception until 13 February 2022, the show was broadcast every Sunday. On 2 February 2022, it was announced that BBC management had decided to reduce the number of shows per year from 40 to 26 and that O'Grady would take a break for three months, with the replacement programme hosted by Rob Beckett. [2] O’Grady returned on 22 May 2022 for a new series of thirteen shows which ran until mid-August. He continued to broadcast from his home.

On 9 August 2022, it was announced that O'Grady would be leaving the network after fourteen years and that the final show of the series, the 546th edition, would be the last to air on Radio 2, on Sunday 14 August. [3] His producer Prince also left the BBC. Beckett replaced him full time on Sunday afternoons.

On 21 November 2022, Prince announced that he and O'Grady would return to host the annual Christmas Day special on Boom Radio, with O'Grady again broadcasting from home. [4]

The show was to return for an Easter special on Boom Radio on 9 April 2023, and a regular slot in May but this was cancelled due to O'Grady's sudden death on 28 March, and was replaced by a specially adapted repeat of his 2022 Christmas show, including an introduction by Prince.

Plus, 3 of the show's specials were made available to listen to again on BBC Sounds and were re-broadcast by Radio 2.

The series was never actually billed as Paul O'Grady on the Wireless; in the Radio Times, it was simply listed as Paul O'Grady.

Background

O'Grady confirmed in 2008 that he would be getting his own show on BBC Radio 2 and no longer covering for presenters on other programmes.

The show marked O'Grady's permanent role as a Radio 2 presenter, following numerous stints standing in on other shows including Elaine Paige on Sunday .

The programme celebrated its 200th show on 24 February 2013, its 300th show on 17 May 2015, its 400th show on 11 February 2018, and its 500th show on 28 March 2021. It celebrated its 10th birthday on 7 April 2019.

The programme was off-air from March to June 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It then aired a series of compilation shows, before returning for new pre-recorded shows on 9 August 2020, with O'Grady presenting from his home, rather than in the studio. On 11 April 2021 his show was cancelled for the first time due to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh's death.

Format

The show aired from 17:00 to 19:00 on Sundays and was often pre-recorded during the preceding week, although early in the show's run it had been broadcast live on most weeks. The show's format consisted of a series of tracks intertwined with emails and messages from listeners, and regular features such as:

Stand-in presenters

Special editions

On 14 November 2010, BBC Radio 2 hosted its annual 'Children in Need Music Marathon'. O'Grady was joined by Jodie Prenger in the studio from 16:00–19:00 on this day, as they took listener's requests, pledges and donations.

On 6 November 2011, the second hour of the show was dedicated to an interview with Susan Boyle.

On 13 November 2011, BBC Radio 2 hosted its 'Children in Need Jukebox'. Paul presented the final two hours of the Jukebox, between 17:00 and 19:00. He was joined in the studio by Jane McDonald in the first hour and Nicki Chapman in the second hour, as they took listener's requests, pledges and donations.

The show had a lunchtime slot on Christmas Day from 2009 to 2017 and again from 2019 to 2021, plus Paul had presented his own Christmas Day show in 2008 before his regular show began. The Christmas Day show returned for the last time in 2022 on Boom Radio.

See also

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References

  1. "BBC Radio 2 - Paul O'Grady".
  2. "Here's how Spring 2022 looks on the BBC Radio 2 schedule - RadioToday". February 2022.
  3. "Paul O'Grady to step down from his BBC Radio 2 show - Media Centre".
  4. "Boom Radio hires Paul O'Grady for Christmas Day show - RadioToday". 21 November 2022.