BBC Radio Scotland presenter, John Beattie, has been given a new news show to present, as part of a slight daytime rescheduling at the station.
Best known for his sports presenting, former Scotland and British Lion rugby player, Beattie, will be appearing at lunchtime, Monday-to-Thursday – starting today.
His ‘topical lunchtime news show’, as described by BBC Scotland, replaces Scotland Live.
The daytime rescheduling is as follows: Mondays to Thursdays: 6am – 8.55am Good Morning Scotland; 8.55am – 10.30am Call Kaye; 10.30am – 12pm MacAulay and Co; 12pm – 1.15pm John Beattie; 1.15pm – 2pm Book, Culture, Music, and Movie Cafes; 2pm – 3.30pm; 3.30pm – 4pm Features/Drama slot; and 4pm – 6pm Newsdrive.
On Fridays, it is: 6am – 8.55am Good Morning Scotland; 8.55am – 10.30am Call Kaye; 10.30am – 12pm MacAulay and Co; 12pm – 12.10pm News; 12.10pm – 1pm Brian Taylor’s Big Debate; 1 – 1.15pm News; 1.15pm – 1.45pm The Comedy Café; 1.45pm – 2pm New Comedy series; 2pm – 4pm Tom Morton; and 4pm – 6pm Newsdrive.
Says Jeff Zycinski, head of BBC Radio Scotland, in a statement: “Earlier this year we spent a lot of time talking to our audiences across Scotland. John Beattie is a presenter that listeners love hearing from and he has interests well beyond sport.
“He’s a big personality in every way and he joins a very strong line-up in our daytime schedule, including Gary Robertson, Kaye Adams and Fred MacAulay. Longer term, we’re changing the mix of programmes so that there is more speech in daytime – including news, topical conversation, documentaries, drama and comedy – and an unbeatable variety of quality music programmes in the evening, including a continued commitment to live sessions in our specialist shows like Another Country and Travelling Folk. All that, plus our award-winning Sportsound team on medium wave and D.A.B.”
