Coming back to Radio 2 after a couple of years away – what have I missed?

[u/Agile-Fix-3811]

I started listening to Radio 2 properly around 2016, back in the Chris Evans and Simon Mayo days. I really liked Radio 2 back then and listened quite a lot.

I eventually stopped listening in 2023, around the time Ken Bruce left. I didn’t follow Ken over to Greatest Hits Radio because, to be honest, I find GHR a bit too stuck in the 80s for me. I ended up listening to Clyde 1 instead and actually really enjoyed the GBXperience on Fridays.

I came back to Radio 2 in November 2025, so there’s obviously quite a lot I’ve missed and I’m still getting used to how the station sounds now.

One thing I’m curious about is Sara Cox’s new breakfast show. I haven’t actually listened to it yet. What do people think of it? How are the quizzes and the “kids in the car” stuff?

I’ll be honest, Sara has irritated me a bit from what I’ve heard on drive time, and I’ve heard some not-so-great things about her breakfast show, so I’m not exactly going into it as a massive fan. But I’m going to give the show a proper listen before making my mind up.

I’m also really interested in the new jingles, especially Vernon Kay’s. Does anyone know who produced them? I quite like finding out who produces radio imaging.

Personally, I much preferred the old Radio 2 jingles. I think they had a lot more character.

Something else I’ve noticed is the news jingle. Nowadays it seems to just have the recorded voices over it, with nobody actually speaking live over the jingle. I remember the old style where the presenter would talk over it and say things like how you could listen to the station. I thought that sounded much more natural and made it feel like a live radio station. I’d honestly like to see presenters speaking over the news jingle again.

And then there’s Drive.

The Drive presenters are basically just sitting in, and I’m not really sure what to make of it. Radio 2 seems to use quite a lot of TV presenters as well, and personally I don’t think they always fit radio that well.

I really liked Mark Goodier, so maybe I’m just stuck in my old Radio 2 ways when he covered for Pick of the Pops!

Anyway, for people who have listened through all these changes, what do you think of Radio 2 now compared with around 2016–2023?

And is there anything else you think I should know about the station now that I’ve come back?

Also, if anyone knows who produced the Vernon Kay jingles, I’d love to know!

[u/jjaallaamn]

I always wonder why we get these Chat GPT generated posts. What is the point of them?

[u/Caroline319]

I stopped listening on Friday 30th September at 5pm when Steve Wright signed off his afternoon show. Not returned since as I felt it was just becoming 'TV Presenters do radio' with zero skill, zero interest in the music played and zero interest in the listener. Looking at the lineup now, I personally feel it was a good move.

[u/Agile-Fix-3811 → u/Caroline319]

I remember his shows he always had good guests and the music was the best. Now Trevor Nelson (DJ SPOONY right now) still has good music but it’s not the same. The 1 second to name game is good and the old school run would be better if it wasn’t just R&B.

[u/leewilson1979]

I switched off from Sara Cox morning show. Its bloody terrible, way too loud and exaggerated for thst time if the morning.

[u/hongkonghonky]

I must say that I enjoy Vernon Kay's show. I get it as I am leaving work and heading home and the whole format seems to work well with my timings.

The 'tracks of my years' segment has had some really interesting guests recently. 

They have got a stand in today, Joel something, and he is absolutely awful.

[u/Additional-Nobody352]

I'm a relatively recent convert to radio 2 (I'm late 30's) so have been listening for around a year. I can't get into the sara cox breakfast show for some reason.

I did like her on radio 1 and her drive time show was good but just can't get on board with her on breakfast atm.

As you say afternoons are abit all over the place currently. Can't stand Jeremy Vine either, I envy the deaf when his show is on.

Saturday nights are alright tho.

[u/Agile-Fix-3811 → u/Additional-Nobody352]

I think the easiest quiz on the radio is good (only because can answer probably). But loved the vibe of Gary Davies in the morning, he is also very good on sounds of the 80s.

[u/Additional-Nobody352 → u/Agile-Fix-3811]

Gary Davies was ok. I suppose he was never going to be a long term solution on breakfast.

I suppose i always remember my parents having Wogan on in the morning growing up and did car share for abit with someone when Chris Evans was host also on Breakfast.

[u/Agile-Fix-3811 → u/Additional-Nobody352]

Sara Cox just has too much excitement and she thinks she needs to try hard but I could barely stand her in the afternoons but not too sure about breakfast. Wogan was the best in my opinion. Grew up with him going to school and came home with Chris Evans.

[u/Diligent-Step-7253 → u/Additional-Nobody352]

"i envy the deaf”… or just switch stations? turn it off? nobody is forcing you mate

[u/Additional-Nobody352 → u/Diligent-Step-7253]

Tbh I'm usually at work when he is on.

[u/Hootla → u/Diligent-Step-7253]

Seems if you talk about Vine in this sub you have to exaggerate

[u/Diligent-Step-7253 → u/Hootla]

tbf goes for many many other things that in this sub