Ed Miliband and Iain Duncan Smith to present on BBC Radio 2
The Labour and Conservative MPs to stand in for Jeremy Vine on Radio 2.
“I am delighted that Ed Miliband and Iain Duncan Smith will be presenting the Jeremy Vine Show. Both have held crucial roles in political life and will bring unique perspectives and insight to the programme, in the heart of the daytime schedule.” – Head of Radio Two Lewis Carnie
The stations flagship current affairs programme, the Jeremy Vine Show, will be guest-presented by the former leader of the Labour Party and MP for Doncaster North, Ed Miliband, and the former leader of the Conservative Party and MP for Chingford and Woodford Green, Iain Duncan Smith.
For five days each in the weeks beginning 19th and 26th June from midday – 2pm, Ed and Iain will front the programme, which attracts a weekly audience of 7.07m. Ed will host the show the first week and Iain the second.
The long running slot was originally presented by the late Sir Jimmy Young. He developed the popular programme format of current affairs mixed with music interludes and serious, and not so important, topical debate. The hand over from the late Sir Terry Wogan to Sir Jimmy on Radio 2 in the 1970s became legendary for their witty sparring. The current affairs programme began in 1973. Young last hosted it in 2002, when in January 2003 Jeremy Vine took over the reigns.
“This follows a tradition of Radio 2’s popular current affairs show, being occasionally guest-presented by prominent politicians which began with figures such as Neil Kinnock and the late Charles Kennedy in the early 1990s. Political coverage is the bedrock of the programme and this is a sign of how important politics is to Radio 2, especially at such a key time in the nation’s history. Each day we will cover the big stories that affect our listeners and continue to inform, educate and entertain the Radio 2 audience.” – Editor of the Jeremy Vine Show Phil Jones
