Jamie Cullum Celebrates A Year At BBC Radio 2 & Kicks Off Special Event "2DAY"
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Written by Jon Stickler
Jazz superstar Jamie Cullum marks a year of his hugely popular BBC Radio 2 show this month while taking over the coveted Chris Evans breakfast show slot for one hour, and for one morning only. The station will be switching the DJs around for just 12 hours on Wednesday 22nd June for 2DAY and Jamie will leave his Tuesday evening slot behind to wake up the nation on the breakfast show and kicks-off 2DAY at 7am with Sony Award winning Simon Mayo for one hour with guests, chat and personally selected music choices as well as a look ahead to the day’s programmes. Jamie Cullum and Simon Mayo will be part of three pairings of DJs that will host Chris Evans’ Breakfast show an hour each from 7am through until 10am.
Jamie says, "I'm really excited about the Chris Evans takeover. I've only had my Radio 2 show for a year but already cannot imagine not doing it every week. I'm a novice at this in radio terms so I'm going to have to raise my game for this! The trick is to try and get people not to turn off their radios!"
Chris Evans also said: "I know next to nothing about jazz but I listen to Jamie's show almost every week. He has that irresistible mix of the inner voice of a confident and secure veteran music broadcaster, driven by the youthful enthusiasm of someone clearly still very much in the summer of their own very relevant career as an artist we (the listeners) are very lucky to have him at our disposal."
Bob Shennan, Controller at BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music said "Nearly 900,000 listeners tune into Jamie's weekly show on BBC Radio 2, which is presented with such genuine enthusiasm and style, so it's well deserved that his show has received a nomination at the New York Radio Awards."
In a first for the station, this special day will show listeners that there’s ‘more 2 it’ by pairing some of its presenters together to create a unique line-up of programmes that showcase exactly what makes the network so distinctive. Playing the very best music plus a sprinkling of comedy, discussions, special guests and live performances, this promises to be a day to remember.
Jamie will also close 2DAY by taking part in the Radio 2 All Star Band at 6pm presented by Sir Terry Wogan from the Radio Theatre in London's BBC Broadcasting House. Other performers include Fun Lovin' Criminal Huey Morgan, former Manfreds frontman Paul Jones, and Jools Holland and his band.
The 12 hour switchover comes as Jamie celebrates twelve months of his highly rated prime time show, which has been syndicated across the world and sees him showcase his love for all types of jazz and music rooted in jazz; from its heritage to its future. Featuring live sessions from Maida Vale and guests from around the world including: Clint Eastwood, Dave Brubeck and Dame Cleo Laine as well as helping introduce newcomers like the Mercury Nominated Kit Downes and Gregory Porter.
Jamie’s show has been finalised in both the ‘Best Regularly Scheduled Music Program’ and ‘Best Jazz Format’ categories at this year’s New York Radio Awards and has seen Jamie become a firm favourite on the UK’s most listened to station. All this comes almost a week after Jamie was asked to surprise Robert de Niro at the official opening of the 64th Cannes Film Festival performing his own mashup version of New York New York/Empire State of Mind.
Jamie was also back doing what he loves best recently at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival which was supported by Radio 2. Returning as the festival’s Guest Director, Jamie performed an exclusive set featuring previously unheard material alongside classics from his chart topping albums. In a ground-breaking industry first, the sold-out solo show was simulcast live to more than 75 cinemas across Europe in partnership with City Screen Cinemas. During the Festival, Jamie also introduced Hugh Laurie on stage who played a set that was broadcast live on Radio 2 to a rapturous response.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
![Bad Omens Detail 26-Track 'Concrete Jungle [The OST]' Project, Share New Track The Drain](http://cdn1.stereoboard.com/images/artistimages/50/tn_bad-omens.jpg)
