BBC Radio 2 is preparing for Radio 2 In The Park, the station’s annual festival, which this year takes place at Moor Park in Preston.
In the latest edition of Music Weekwe interview station director Helen Thomas and head of music Jeff Smith about the opportunities for the acts featured in the programme in terms of pre-festival programming and coverage of the event on TV, radio, BBC Sounds and iPlayer over the weekend and beyond.
The full list is:
Saturday, September 7 – Sting, Sugababes, Snow Patrol, Craig David, Kim Wilde, Pixie Lott, Shaznay Lewis, Travis
Sunday, September 8 – Pet Shop Boys, Manic Street Preachers, Sister Sledge feat. Kathy Sledge, Paul Heaton, Gabrielle, Shed Seven, Delta Goodrem, Haircut 100
PiercingThe main performances by and the Pet Shop Boys will be broadcast on BBC television in September; details to be confirmed.
From Monday 2 September, BBC iPlayer will offer classic sets from previous Artists from Radio 2 in the ParkThere will then be a live stream of Radio 2 In The Park on September 7th and 8th, with the performances available on demand after the festival concludes.
A separate highlights compilation will be available on demand on BBC iPlayer and Red Button from Monday 9 September.
The channel also celebrates the career of the Pet Shop Boys, who were responsible for the release of No. 2 Album Nevertheless this year.
Ahead of the festival, Radio 2 announced that listeners had voted West End Girls – which reached number one in the UK in 1985 – as their favourite Pet Shop Boys song of all time, with It’s A Sin (1987) coming in at number two and Always On My Mind (1987) at number three.
For the full countdown to the top 30, watch Your Ultimate Pet Shop Boys Song, hosted by Mark Goodier, available on BBC Sounds (from Monday 19 August) and broadcast on Radio 2 on Saturday 24 August (1pm-3pm).
In July, Radio 2 listeners were asked to vote for their favourite Pet Shop Boys song. They could choose up to five of their tracks from a list of their songs ranked in the top 100, including songs on which they appeared as guest artists and album tracks chosen by a panel of expert judges including Radio 2’s Gary Davies.
Also available on BBC Sounds (from 19 August) is “Your Ultimate Pet Shop Boys Song – The Extras”, featuring Pet Shop Boys songs that didn’t make the top 30.
Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe said: “When this poll was launched we said we would be very keen to see which song Radio 2 listeners would choose as their favourite Pet Shop Boys song and the full top 30 list of songs is fascinating. We are very pleased and not entirely surprised that West End Girls topped the charts! It’s a song we still love playing in concert, 40 years after it was first released.”
Jeff Smith, Head of Music, Radio 2said: “West End Girls is a timeless pop classic that sounds as fresh today as it did when it was first recorded nearly 40 years ago. I’m looking forward to hearing it live on Radio 2 in the park in Preston!”
Mark Goodier said: “I remember playing West End Girls when it was first released on their original record label. I loved it but it wasn’t a success in the UK. It took about a year and a half, a new record label and a new producer and then we had the hit that has been part of our lives for nearly 40 years. It’s a remarkable song and it set the tone for what has turned out to be a great career for one of Britain’s most innovative groups.”
The full top 30 list, voted by Radio 2 listeners, is:
1West End Girls (1984)
2 It’s a Sin (1987)
3 Always on my mind (1987)
4 What did I do to deserve this? (with Dusty Springfield) (1987)
5 On My Own (1988)
6Suburb (1986)
7 Go West (1993)
8 Rent (1987)
9Boring (1990)
10 Chances (Let’s Make Lots of Money) (1985)
11 Heart (1988)
12Domino Dance (1988)
13 Love Comes Fast (1986)
14 That’s Life (1996)
15 Where the Streets Have No Name (I Can’t Take My Eyes Off You) (1991)
16 Paninaro / Paninaro ”95 (1995)
17 Jealousy (1991)
18 King’s Cross (1987)
19 It’s OK (1988)
20 Hello Spaceboy (with David Bowie) (1995)
21 A New Bohemia (2024)
22 Can you forgive her? (1993)
23 In The Night (Clothes Show Theme) (1985)
24 So Hard (1990)
25 Normally I wouldn’t do something like that (1993)
26 You only tell me you love me when you’re drunk (2000)
27New York City Boy (1999)
28 Shopping (1987)
29 Love etc. (2009)
30 As it once was (2009)
Ahead of Sting’s headline appearance at Radio 2 in the Park on Saturday 7 September, ERAs: Sting is a five-part series – available now on BBC Sounds – celebrating the superstar, songwriter and activist.
This latest Eras series is presented by Vernon Kaywhich guides listeners through each episode. The series features BBC archive footage, including interviews with Annie Nightingale, Lulu, Jo Whiley and Sara Cox, as well as new interviews with friends, fans and collaborators including Jools Holland, Shaggy, Bob Harris, Jeremy Vine, Mark King, Shaun Keaveny and Guy Garvey.
BBC Radio 2 is the UK’s most listened to radio station with a weekly audience of 13.3 million (RAJAR Q2, 2024), which represents a slight decrease compared to the previous year.
PHOTO CREDIT: Eva Pentel
