Radio 2 to increase its comedy output

Following a review by the BBC Trust, the BBC has said that it will start to include more comedy programmes on Radio 2 in a move designed to broaden the station's appeal.

A spokesperson for the BBC says: "We will be revamping and refreshing our coverage, aiming to thread arts, documentaries and comedy into the peak time schedule and continuing to target audiences over the age of 35."

Highlighting the station's increased desire to promote its comedy output, controller of Radio 2 Bob Shennan said: "Matt Lucas's forthcoming Radio 2 comedy And The Winner Is will be featured in Steve Wright's show to inform his daily audience of Matt's first radio comedy since Little Britain."

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."

Currently, BBC Radio 2 only broadcasts - on average - one hour of comedy a week. Most of Radio 2's comedy shows are broadcast in the 10pm - 11pm slot on Thursdays, although some comedy-related documentaries and comedy dramas, such as last year's The Adventures of Sexton Blake, have been transmitted at other times. Radio 2's 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 starts on Thursday 25th, where it will be paired with a repeat of David Quantick's Blaggers Guide.