Magic Classical

On 22 December 2018, following the demise of his BBC Radio 2 drivetime show{{snd}}which had been co-hosted with Jo Whiley since May 2018{{snd}}Simon Mayo revealed that "...the new radio show will be announced in January. It will be startling."{{Cite tweet|number=1076389629740367872|user=simonmayo|title=An ex-Radio 2 host writes... So thank you all for all the wonderful comments here. Quite moved by it all. I’ve done a daily national BBC show for 31 years solid so this might take a while to adjust to...anyway the new radio show will be announced in January. It will be startling.|date=2018-12-22|last=Mayo|first=Simon|author-link=Simon Mayo|access-date=2020-05-11}}

A month later, on 21 January 2019, Bauer Radio announced plans to launch a new national classical music service under the name Scala Radio from March, with Mayo having signed up to be one of the lead presenters of the new station.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-46947959|title=Simon Mayo joins new classical station|date=21 January 2019|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC}} More information about presenters and their shows was confirmed in February 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://getdigitalradio.com/scala-radio-announces-further-presenters-for-its-line-up|title=Scala Radio announces more names for presenter line up|date=21 February 2019|website=Digital Radio UK}}

Scala Radio launched at 10am on 4 March 2019 with Simon Mayo hosting the first live programme. The first track played was the prélude to Carmen Suite No. 1 by Georges Bizet.{{cite web|url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2019/03/simon-mayo-launches-scala-radio-on-dab-digital-radio/|title=Simon Mayo launches Scala Radio on DAB digital radio|date=4 March 2019|website= Radio Today|access-date=4 March 2019}}

Advance weekly listings for Scala Radio were published from launch in Radio Times and the Bauer-owned Total TV Guide. The Radio Times removed listings for BBC Radio 1Xtra and details of news and weather bulletins on Radios 1 and 2 to make space for the new station.

The station launched on Sky on 1 May 2019 on channel 0216 (later moved to channel 0151). It was removed on 14 December 2022, and was replaced by sister station Greatest Hits Radio on the platform.https://rxtvinfo.com/scala-radio-to-leave-sky/ Scala Radio to leave Sky

Changes made to the programming schedule from 2 March 2024 resulted in a presenter-less format for most weekday slots, in response to falling listening figures; however, the weekday breakfast show continued to be presented by Charles Nove. The changes also led to the loss of Mark Kermode, Luci Holland, Richard Allinson, Sam Hughes, and Mark Forrest as presenters.{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Ray |date=22 February 2024 |title=Mark Forrest, Mark Kermode, Luci Holland, Richard Allinson and Sam Hughes to leave Scala Radio |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2024/02/mark-forrest-mark-kermode-luci-holland-richard-allinson-and-sam-hughes-to-leave-scala-radio/ |website=Radio Today}}

On 16 September 2024, the station was rebranded to Magic Classical, as part of Bauer Media Audio's 'Magic'-branded stations.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-16 |title=Bauer plans rebrands for Scala Radio and Magic Chilled |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2024/07/bauer-plans-rebrands-for-scala-radio-and-magic-chilled/ |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=RadioToday |language=en-GB}}

Schedule changes on 9 June 2025 saw the return of weekday daytime and evening presenters – Tim Smith and Fran Godfrey (both formerly at Radio 2), and Jo Cochrane (from Forth 1 and Magic Soul) – while Tony Minvielle joined from sister station Jazz FM for a Friday night programme.{{Cite web |last=Collins |first=Steve |date=2025-05-22 |title=Tim Smith and Fran Godfrey join Magic Classical weekday schedule |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2025/05/tim-smith-and-fran-godfrey-join-magic-classical-weekday-schedule/ |access-date=2025-06-07 |website=RadioToday |language=en-GB}}

The presenters on Magic Classical include a range of radio and television personalities, some of whom have previously presented on other Bauer stations, as well as with competitor stations such as Classic FM. The current presenters with regular shows are:{{Cite web|url=https://planetradio.co.uk/scala-radio/presenters/|title=Presenters - Scala Radio|website=Planet Radio|publisher=Bauer Media|access-date=4 March 2019}}

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• YolanDa Brown
• Hannah Cox
• Simon Mayo
• Charles Nove
• Jack Pepper
• Darren Redick
• Ayanna Witter-Johnson
• Tim Smith
• Jo Cochrane
• Fran Godfrey
• Tony Minvielle

{{div col end}}

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• Gemma Cairney
• DJ Spoony
• Goldie
• Sister Bliss
• William Orbit
• Chris Rogers
• Anthea Turner
• Midge Ure
• Jamie Crick
• Angellica Bell
• Danielle Perry
• Mark Kermode
• Alexis Ffrench
• Luci Holland
• Mark Forrest
• Sam Hughes
• Richard Allinson
• Penny Smith

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According to RAJAR data, the station has a weekly reach of 219,000 people as of October 2024.RAJAR https://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php

Magic Classical recommends an album weekly as their Album of the Week, and conducts relevant give-away activities.{{cite web |author1=David May |title=WIN - Scala Radio's Album of the Week |url=https://planetradio.co.uk/scala-radio/competitions/win/album-of-the-week/ |website=Scala Radio}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{YouTube|channel=UC4BUnMPEukqqt38l6_iXl6A}}

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{{Bauer Media Group}}

{{Bauer Radio}}

{{Media in the United Kingdom|radio}}

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Category:Bauer Radio

Category:Classical music radio stations

Category:Radio stations in the United Kingdom

Category:Classical music in the United Kingdom

Category:Radio stations established in 2019

Category:2019 establishments in the United Kingdom