’ Saturday night BBC Radio 2 show has been cancelled after eight years.
The 57-year-old Red Dwarf star has presented Craig Charles’ House Party weekly on Saturdays from 10pm to midnight since 2014.
However, the radio channel is undergoing a shake-up that also sees big changes made to its Friday – Sunday shows from July 15.
Scissor Sisters’ star Ana Matronic’s early hours Sunday show Dance Devotion and Dr Rangan Chatterjee’s late-night Sunday show are also on the chopping block.
Other changes include a new permanent show for Drag Race star every Friday night from 7 until 9pm, and Angela Griffin will present Radio 2 Unwinds, a mood-boosting Sunday night show from 10pm until midnight.
Craig said in the announcement from the BBC: ‘Every party must come to an end and although I’m packing up my Trunk of Funk on Radio 2, I’ve loved bringing the party to its funky listeners each Saturday night.’
Fans will still able to listen to the on BBC Radio 6 Music each weekday (1-4pm) and The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show (Saturday nights, 6-9pm).
‘It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to be part of the Radio 2 line-up for the last five years,’ stated Ana. ‘To be able to represent dance music culture, history, and community is an honour that I will continue to devote myself to.
‘To all my listeners I wish the very best and hope to see you on a dance floor very soon!’
Dr Rangan added: ‘I’ve immensely enjoyed presenting my Radio 2 show, and I hope I’ve helped guide listeners through a unique time in our lifetime.’
Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, said: ‘Thank you so much to Ana, Craig and Dr Rangan. It has been a pleasure to have them bookend Saturday and Sunday evenings on Radio 2.’
Radio legend Tony Backburn’s Golden Hour is also shifting slots, moving to 7-8pm on Saturday.
Michelle, 53, is also returning in August with a second series of her podcast Michelle Visage’s Rule Breakers, which sees her sit down for more one-to-one encounters with famous faces to hear inspirational stories.
In the first studded series, she interviewed stars including Cameron Diaz, Dawn French, Jessie J, Marc Jacobs, Tan France and, of course, RuPaul.
‘I’m over the moon to be broadcasting my very own show to millions of listeners on Radio 2, where each Friday night I’ll be launching the listeners’ weekends in fabulous style with some of my all-time favourite tracks that promise to get you in the best mood!’ Michelle exclaimed.
She added: ‘I’M SO EXCITED! Bring it all on!’
DJ Spoony, who joined Radio 1 in 2000 to bring garage to a national audience, is also seeing the permanent return of The Good Groove with DJ Spoony, which ran as a four part series on Radio 2 in January.
It will now air every Friday night, from 9 – 11pm, with 60 years of classic soul, Motown, Philly, R&B, soul, garage and hip hop for listeners’ ears.
The BBC’s Helen Thomas added: ‘I’m delighted to welcome Angela, DJ Spoony and Michelle to the Radio 2 family and looking forward to hearing their new weekly shows on Radio 2 from July.
‘As ever, listeners can hear the shows they love any day and any time of their choice via BBC Sounds.’
Other schedule switches include The Rock Show with Johnnie Walker moving from Saturday night to late-night on Friday (11pm-midnight), while Sounds of the 80s with Gary Davies will be swapping from Friday night to Saturday from 8pm. Â
Fearne Cotton is also moving from Fridays to Saturdays with Sounds of the 90s and its new time slot of 10pm until midnight.
The regular one hour documentaries/music genre slot will move to a new home of Friday into Saturday (midnight – 1am).
All programmes can be heard at any time on BBC Sounds.
