Autumnal Treats on Radio 2 as The Beatles revealed as the listeners’ Ultimate British Group

The Beatles are today revealed as Radio 2 listeners’ Ultimate British Group as the station delivers a feast of Autumnal treats…

Radio 2 listeners have crowned The Beatles their favourite British band taking the No.1 spot in Your Ultimate British Group, with hundreds of thousands of votes cast by music fans. The vote gave listeners the opportunity to pick their five favourite groups to mark the annual all-day musical celebration of National Album Day on Saturday 19 October.

In the No.2 spot is Queen, No. 3 is The Rolling Stones, No.4 is Pink Floyd and No.5 is Fleetwood Mac. The full Top 30 chart is below and available exclusively to hear now on BBC Sounds, presented by Mark Goodier, as part of a National Album Day Collection. It will be broadcast on Radio 2 from 1-3pm on Saturday 19 October when all the music played on Radio 2 will be from Great British groups – from Sounds of the 60s with Tony Blackburn (6am-8am) through to Sounds of the 90s with Fearne Cotton (10pm-midnight).

An additional show, Your Ultimate British Group: The Extras, is now available in the BBC Sounds collection, which will feature (in no particular order) the bands voted in chart position numbers 30-54. Both shows are BBC Audio productions.

A star-studded panel, including Radio 2 presenters, Jo Whiley, Sara Cox, OJ Borg, Vernon Kay, Scott Mills, Trevor Nelson, DJ Spoony, and Owain Wyn Evans voted from a long list of nearly 100 bands to produce a final list of 54, which spans the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s and 10s. The list was compiled from the timeless melodic music that is played on Radio 2 and the Most Successful British Groups on the Official Albums Chart. A British group is any band of 2+ members that is made-up wholly or the majority are people who were born, live or hold British citizenship. The chairman of the selection panel is Radio 2 and 6 Music’s Head of Music, Jeff Smith, who is also the chairman of the Mercury Prize judging panel.

Jeff Smith, Head of Music for Radio 2 says: “We have absolutely loved seeing the Radio 2 listeners cast hundreds of thousands of votes for their Ultimate British Group, and this Top 30 chart reflects some of music’s biggest selling, most loved and established British artists who have achieved incredible success globally across the decades.”

Mark Goodier says: “Radio 2 listeners have chosen their best of the best British world-beating groups. I can’t wait to count down this chart. It promises to be quite a listen!”

The chart is:

1. The Beatles
2. Queen
3. The Rolling Stones
4. Pink Floyd
5. Fleetwood Mac
6. Led Zeppelin
7. Take That
8. Coldplay
9. Oasis
10. Electric Light Orchestra
11. The Who
12. Depeche Mode
13. The Jam
14. Radiohead
15. The Smiths
16. Genesis
17. Pet Shop Boys
18. The Cure
19. Duran Duran
20. Madness
21. Girls Aloud
22. The Beautiful South
23. The Kinks
24. Bee Gees
25. Wham!
26. The Clash
27. Blur
28. Spice Girls
29. The Police
30. Manic Street Preachers

In addition to Radio 2’s battle of the bands, there is further programming to celebrate the success of Great British Groups, which is available now as part of the National Album Day Collection on BBC Sounds.

Also available in the National Album Day Collection on BBC Sounds are a number of exclusives:

Johnny Marr’s Great British Groups (on Radio 2 from midnight-1am, 13, 20, 27 October and 3 November) is a beautifully curated four-part playlist series in which Johnny takes listeners on a captivating journey through Great British bands, spanning from the 1960s to the contemporary era. Focusing on artists who have not only resonated with him, but have also left an indelible mark on the music scene, Marr reflects on the enduring legacy and cultural impact of British guitar bands worldwide. He delves into their influence on subsequent generations of musicians and their enduring popularity, offering insights into their significance in shaping music and society. A Listen production.

Johnny says: “The nice people at Radio 2 have invited me along to play some music by British bands from albums that I really like and maybe a couple of albums I’ve been involved in myself! I’ll be choosing all kinds of things from long-players by British bands of all kinds, as long as they go around at 33 revolutions per minute. Part of wanting to be a great group is wanting to be as good as the people you think are great and not necessarily just copying or being in those shadows. All of the great bands that I know of and that I love have all managed to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people who came before them.”

The Great British Groups That Broke America is a four-part series (broadcast in full on Radio 2 from 1-3am, Saturday 12 October) showcasing British groups that found success in the US. From The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in the 60s, Led Zeppelin and Supertramp in the 70s to Queen and Genesis in the 80s and Radiohead and Spice Girls in the 90s, this programme delves into the music, stories, and cultural impact of these iconic GB groups as it reveals how these bands conquered the US charts. A Bengo Media production.

• Episode 1: The 60’s The First Invasion, hosted by Sounds of the 60s presenter Tony Blackburn, looks back at the decade that saw the birth of the British Invasion, highlighting the groundbreaking success of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Yardbirds to name a few as they took America by storm. Featuring interviews with Jack Savoretti, Kathy Sledge, Deniece Williams and Chesney Hawkes and more.
• Episode 2: The 70’s – Stadium Rock Arrives hosted by Sounds of the 70s presenter Johnnie Walker, focusses on the 1970s which was a decade dominated by rock giants like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Fleetwood Mac, with contributors including Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Paul Gambaccini.
• Episode 3: The 80s – The Second Invasion hosted by Sounds of the 80’s presenter Gary Davies explains how bands like Duran Duran, Bananarama, Culture Club and others led the charge in this decade, dominating the American charts with their infectious pop tunes and iconic music videos featuring interviews with UK and US contributors including Kim Wilde and Michelle Visage.
• Episode 4: Sara Cox, The 90s – The Challenging Years hosted by weekday teatime host Sara Cox who shows how guitar bands like Radiohead and Bush, and global superstars Spice Girls, left a significant mark on the American music scene with contributions from Shed Seven and Chicane.

Ultra Lounge – Henry Mancini and Beyond (8-10pm, Sunday 13 October) was recorded at this summer’s BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall to mark a century since Henry Mancini’s birth in Ohio. In this concert, Edwin Outwater and the BBC Concert Orchestra celebrate the man and his music in styles ranging from jazz to light classical and film music.

Mancini was more than one of the greatest composers in the history of film music, he was also one of the most versatile musicians of his or any time as well as an accomplished flautist and conductor. Among the classics are the slinky Lujon and themes from The Pink Panther and Peter Gunn, joined by gems from the lounge music and space-age pop genres Mancini helped inspire, including easy-going tracks by Burt Bacharach, Les Baxter and Juan García Esquivel. A BBC Audio production.

Trevor Nelson introduces the Queens Of Soul concert (8-10pm, Sunday 20th October), recorded this summer in Malta with the BBC Concert Orchestra and three stunning vocalists – Marisha Wallace, Gloria Onitiri and Vanessa Haynes. They performed hit after hit in celebration of the multi-million selling tracks of the legendary Tina Turner and the iconic queens of soul, Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin. Songs included What’s Love Got To Do With It, River Deep Mountain High, I Knew You Were Waiting, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, One Moment In Time, I Will Always Love You, Think, Respect, Private Dancer, Proud Mary and Simply the Best. These Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves.

Trevor says: “I can’t think of anything better than tuning into this brilliant Queens Of Soul concert for two hours, featuring some of the best music ever written for the absolute legends of soul, Tina, Whitney and Aretha, backed by the truly magical sound of the BBC Concert Orchestra.”

Also on BBC Radio 2, Sir Lenny Henry presents The Sound of Philadelphia (8-10pm, Sunday 27 October), a special concert recorded in October at the Royal Albert Hall to mark 50 years of black-owned soul music label, Philadelphia International Records. The one-off performance features hits from the label’s extensive back catalogue, performed by guest stars Beverley Knight, Andrew Roachford, Omar Lye-Fook, and Tony Momrelle accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra and music director Chris Cameron.

Characterised by funk influences and lush string and horn arrangements, Philly soul would lay the groundwork for the emergence of disco later in the 1970s. The label’s roster included The O’Jays, Patti LaBelle, Lou Rawls, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, and Teddy Pendergrass among others, with hits including Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now, Don’t Leave Me This Way, Love Train, Me and Mrs. Jones and When Will I See You Again. A Spiritland production.

Lenny Henry says: “I love Philadelphia Soul music, it’s softer and more soulful than Motown, and I love it because it’s got a more groovy and instinctive feel. Without the Sound of Philadelphia, I might not have created Theophilus P Wildebeeste. He was a tribute to Teddy Pendergrass and all those other soul singers who liked to speak words of lurve on their records. Gamble and Huff and the rest of the Philly team are legends and it is a privilege to host a night of their musical genius.”

Lenny Henry is one of Britain’s best known television performers, as well as a writer, philanthropist, and award-winning stage actor. He was awarded a Knighthood in 2015 for services to drama and charity. Music director, conductor and composer Chris Cameron has served as music director for George Michael and written arrangements for artists including Randy Crawford and Take That. A BBC Audio production.

Lenny will also be co-hosting Trevor Nelson’s Rhythm Nation show (10pm-midnight, Thursday 17 October) on Radio 2 and BBC Sounds. Lenny will be on the show to talk about his life through music and The Sound Of Philadelphia concert. He will be choosing some of his favourite tracks to play on the show and chatting to Trevor about some of his inspirations throughout his highly distinguished career. A BBC Audio production.

Lenny Henry’s Playlists – on BBC Sounds from 17 October

To accompany the Royal Albert Hall concert, for BBC Sounds Lenny Henry has also put together a Philly Soul Playlist of some of his favourite Philadelphia Soul tunes. In the programme, he talks about how important music was to him growing up and how it has soundtracked his life and career in the clubs, on the radio, and in forming his own record collection. His playlist includes music from People’s Choice, Archie Bell & The Drells, Billy Paul and The Jones Girls.

He has also compiled Lenny Henry’s Lifetime Anthems Playlist in which he picks some of the tunes and artists he loves that have soundtracked his life, including Prince, DJ Kool, Beverley Knight, Eddie Kendricks and Soul II Soul. Music was a huge part of Lenny’s upbringing in the programme, Lenny shares some incredible stories of meeting his idols Prince and George Clinton, and talks about his friendship with Beverley Knight who sang at his 60th birthday party.

Radio 2’s Pop Top 10 podcast, hosted by Scott Mills and Rylan, continues on BBC Sounds and available to watch on BBC iPlayer. These long-time friends and music fanatics got together to rank the biggest tracks, artists and iconic moments in pop culture, and are joined in each episode by a special guest to debate a Top 10 on a different musical theme – from British Girlbands and Christmas Hits, to Soapstars turned Popstars and Ultimate Chart Battles – with the episode ending with the reveal of what’s made their No. 1 spot.

So far in the series, Katherine Ryan joined Scott and Rylan to debate their Top 10 Greatest British Girlbands; EastEnders legend Natalie Cassidy helped them rank their Top 10 Soapstars who’ve gone on to pop stardom; and Denise van Outen joined the duo to reminisce about the biggest hits of 2004. In episode 4, Shaznay Lewis from All Saints – and who recently performed George Michael’s Freedom 90 at Radio 2 in the Park in Preston – joins Scott and Rylan to debate the ultimate iconic 90s cover versions; in episode 5, Perrie Edwards joins them to debate the Top 10 Greatest Female Power Vocalists – from the high notes of Mariah Carey to the husky tones of Amy Winehouse, this is one for the belters, plus Perrie shows off her amazing vocal range; and in episode 6 Aston Merrygold joins them to chat 00s Pop R&B Chart Classics… cue memories of first love, first cars and school discos! A Listen production.

Next week, Radio 2’s Piano Room returns for an autumn run as Vernon Kay welcomes three-time BRIT Award winner, Rag ‘N’ Bone Man, to perform alongside the BBC Concert Orchestra at the BBC Maida Vale studios (9.30am-12pm, Thursday 17 October). He will be performing one of his previous hits, a new single and a classic cover, with the performance also available to hear on BBC Sounds and watch on BBC iPlayer.

Rag ‘N’ Bone Man burst onto the music scene in 2016 with his massive single, Human, and his debut album of the same name went platinum four times over in the UK. It also went multi-platinum in a further twenty-seven countries, becoming the fastest-selling male debut album of the decade. His second album, Life By Misadventure, debuted at No.1 and spent seven weeks in the Top 10, making it the fastest-selling album by a solo artist in 2021. A BBC Audio production.

The Cure are set to perform two world exclusive sessions for both Radio 2 In Concert and BBC Radio 6 Music later this month. The sets will be recorded at the BBC Radio Theatre in London’s Broadcasting House, with the band playing some of their most loved hits as well as songs from their upcoming album, Songs of a Lost World. A BBC Audio production.

For Radio 2 In Concert, the band will perform in front of a small audience of lucky fans at the BBC Radio Theatre on Wednesday 30 October. It will be broadcast in Jo Whiley’s show on Radio 2 and BBC Sounds (7-9pm) on Thursday 31 October, which will also feature Jo’s interview with Robert Smith. And on Friday 1st November, the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, hosted by Zoe Ball, will also feature some exclusive tracks from the recording. The Cure’s performances will also be available in vision on BBC iPlayer on the evening of Thursday 31st October and on demand for 30 days. And on Saturday 2nd November, BBC Two will air The Cure’s Radio 2 In Concert, alongside a new The Cure at the BBC compilation, plus another chance to see That Was Then…This Is Now: The Cure, The Cure at Glastonbury 2019 and Rock Around the Clock: The Cure.

Robert Smith of The Cure, says: “It’s not often we perform such intimate shows, so we’re really looking forward to this, and to sharing more tracks from the new album for the first time on 6 Music and Radio 2.”

Jo Whiley says: “I can’t tell you how excited I am that The Cure will be performing for Radio 2 In Concert. They were my first music obsession and remain so to this day. They played a pivotal role is shaping the sound of that time and have influenced countless artists since with Robert Smith’s incredible songwriting and haunting lyrics.”

Jeff Smith, Head of Music for Radio 2 and 6 Music, says: “The Cure are one of the UK’s most important bands with a string of iconic hits amongst a significant repertoire of work. They are still much-loved today, plus new audiences are discovering their music for the first time. I was delighted when they accepted my invitation to perform a wide cross section of their repertoire, hence the complementary and unique selection of live tracks you will hear in our programming across both Radio 2 and 6 Music where they will feel the love from both our musical mainstream and alternative leaning audiences.”

Also announced today, for the very first time BBC iPlayer will broadcast the The 58th Annual CMA Awards on the night as they happen (from 1-4am UK time, Thursday 21 November). Hosted by Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning and Lainey Wilson, the awards take place at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena in America. BBC Two will also broadcast a 90 mins highlights show the following week. The CMA Awards will also feature as a two hour special on Radio 2 and BBC Sounds (24th November), alongside highlights on The Country Show with Bob Harris (9-10pm, Thursday 21 November). A BBC Audio production.

Nominees for the CMA Awards (which are determined by eligible voting CMA members comprised of professionals within the Country Music industry), include Morgan Wallen, who tops the list with seven nominations, Cody Johnson and Chris Stapleton with five, and Post Malone and Lainey Wilson with four each. Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Megan Moroney and Kacey Musgraves each secure three nominations. Vying for the night’s highest honour, CMA Entertainer of the Year, is Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Chris Stapleton, Morgan Wallen and Lainey Wilson. The first “CMA Awards Banquet and Show” was held in 1967 and the following year, the CMA Awards was broadcast for the first time – making it the longest running, annual music awards programme on network television in the USA.

In 2025, Radio 2 will once again be the broadcasting from C2C – Country to Country festival – in London, Belfast and Glasgow. The station has been C2C’s broadcast partner since its inaugural event in 2013 at The O2 London. Highlights on Radio 2 and BBC Sounds from across the three days, presented by The Country Show’s Bob Harris, will include performances from the world’s best country stars along with the best of emerging talent from Nashville, UK and Europe.

Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, says: “Radio 2’s commitment to specialist music is unrivalled in UK radio, and we’re proud that The Country Show, hosted by our very own Bob Harris, is home to the nation’s most popular country music programming. Radio 2 and C2C have been in partnership since the event’s launch in 2013, and it’s been heartening to watch it go from strength to strength, as the UK’s love for country grows ever greater as the years go by. We can’t wait to broadcast the CMA Awards once again this November and be in every location for C2C in 2025, as part of our mission to introduce our Radio 2 and BBC Sounds listeners to the best of both new and established country artists.”

Paddy McGuinness, who presents on Radio 2 each Sunday morning (11am-1pm), will undertake an UItra Endurance Cycle Challenge for BBC Children in Need. In what will be the ultimate endurance ride of his life, he’ll be cycling through three nations, starting in Wales, travelling through England and finishing in Scotland, starting during The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show on Monday 11 November and pedalling almost 300 miles, starting in Wrexham. The route will take him through eight counties – Flintshire, Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire – including a stop at Preston, where Radio 2 in the Park took place in Moor Park earlier this month – onto Westmorland, Cumberland, Dumfriesshire and Lanarkshire. He is aiming to finish on the morning of Friday 15th November in Glasgow. But Paddy won’t be taking on this challenge on just any bicycle… he will attempt to complete the route on an iconic, BBC Children in Need customised and modified, Raleigh Chopper bike!

Paddy’s Ultra Endurance Cycle will be broadcast live on Radio 2 and BBC Sounds, with video highlights and further coverage on Radio 2’s social media accounts. During the challenge, Radio 2 presenters will be broadcasting their regular shows whilst offering him lots of support, keeping him motivated and spurred on with messages from the listeners. He will also be joined on his arduous journey by a host of surprise guests to help keep him going; and a BBC TV crew will be following Paddy every pedal of the way for a behind-the-scenes documentary about his challenge featuring exclusive footage to be broadcast on BBC ONE later in November. A BBC Studios Entertainment production.

Following the very first National Album Day in 2018, subsequent years have had a specific theme which the BBC has reflected in its content and programming – Celebrating the 90s (2023), Celebrating Debut Albums (2022), Celebrating Women in Music (2021), Celebrating the 80s (2020), and ‘Don’t Skip’ to encourage fans to discover albums in full as a complete body of work (2019).

Now in its seventh year, National Album Day celebrates the creativity and artistry which goes into making an album, the continuing cultural and social importance of this much-loved music format, and encourages us to discover great new albums and to fall in love again with classic records. Radio 2 is the broadcast partner for National Album Day.

BBC Radio 2 is the UK’s most listened to radio station, with a weekly audience of 13.3 million (RAJAR Q2, 2024) and The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show the most listened to Breakfast show in the UK with 6.4 million listeners (RAJAR Q2, 2024). Vernon Kay (Monday-Friday, 9.30am-12pm) hosts the biggest radio show in the UK. The network’s presenters include Michael Ball, Zoe Ball, Rob Beckett, Tony Blackburn, OJ Borg, Revd. Kate Bottley, Rylan, Fearne Cotton, Sara Cox, Jamie Cullum, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Gary Davies, Paul Gambaccini, Mark Goodier, Angela Griffin, Bob Harris, Vernon Kay, Cerys Matthews, Paddy McGuinness, Scott Mills, Jason Mohammad, Trevor Nelson, Dermot O’Leary, Elaine Paige, Mark Radcliffe, Romesh Ranganathan, DJ Spoony, Liza Tarbuck, Jeremy Vine, Michelle Visage, Johnnie Walker, Jo Whiley, Phil Williams and Owain Wyn Evans.

At the 2024 Audio and Radio Industry Awards, also known as the ARIAs, Scott Mills won Gold for the Best Music Entertainment Show, 21st Century Folk won Gold for the Best Music Special, Windrush 75 won Gold for Best Coverage of an Event, and The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show won Bronze for the Best Music Breakfast Show. Plus, Cerys Matthews won the Best Blues Broadcaster Award for the third time at the annual UK Blues Awards so she has now been elected into the UK Blues Hall Of Fame.

KA