Jane and Fi will present a live afternoon show together on Times Radio, as well as launching a new podcast, in an exclusive deal

New line up for Times Radio, with additional Mariella Frostrup show at the weekend and more John Pienaar in the evenings

Leading broadcasters Jane Garvey and Fi Glover are joining Times Radio in an exclusive deal.

The award-winning journalists will present a new live daily afternoon show together on Times Radio, joining a schedule which includes Aasmah Mir, Stig Abell, Matt Chorley, Mariella Frostrup, John Pienaar, Ruth Davidson and Cathy Newman.

Jane and Fi will also be launching a new regular podcast together.

The pair are two of Britain’s most admired broadcasters, having spent their careers at the BBC, and together have hosted the hit BBC podcast Fortunately since 2017 - but this is the first time they will broadcast a live news programme together.

Jane Garvey co-presented first Breakfast and then Drive on BBC Radio 5 Live, and was the first voice when the station launched in 1994, before moving to BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour, which she presented from 2007 to 2020.

Fi Glover hosted the late-night programme on BBC Radio 5 Live for three years before moving to Radio 4, where her credits include The Listening Project, Saturday Live and Broadcasting House.

The duo hit the top of the charts with the compelling BBC podcast Fortunately, where they chat about life and talk to broadcasters and personalities. It has had over 30 million downloads and was in the BBC’s top three podcasts of 2021.

When Jane and Fi start on Times Radio on Monday 10 October, they will co-present a new live programme from 3-5pm, Monday to Thursday, covering the day’s news as well as their reflections on the day.  Full details of their new podcast will be announced in due course.

Jane Garvey said: “I've had a brilliant time working for the BBC. Now I'm delighted to be joining the award-winning team at Times Radio. We can't wait to get started on a live mix of illuminating conversation, topical interviews and occasional carping.”

Fi Glover said: “It’s been an amazing 29 years with the BBC. But I am so looking forward to bringing Times Radio listeners some extraordinary stories from some extraordinary people with Jane.”

Times Radio Programme Director, Tim Levell, said: “Jane and Fi are two of the best broadcasters in Britain. I’ve loved listening to them over the years as they did their own thing — but when they paired up on Fortunately… it was a revelation. They’re witty and clever, but still care about what matters to all of us. Bringing them together for a daily live radio show should be both enjoyable, and a must-listen.”

The new schedule will also see Mariella Frostrup present an additional weekend show looking back at the cultural highlights of the past week on her show, as well as her regular Monday-Thursday afternoon show, which will be 1-3pm.

John Pienaar’s Drive show will cover the main news stories of the day from 5-7pm. From 7-8pm, John will be joined by leading commentators, politicians and thinkers, for a more in-depth conversation about the day’s events, with a particular focus on Westminster politics.

Mariella Frostrup said: “Over the past two years my show has brought our listeners a daily fix of news and views along with a generous helping of arts and culture. I’m delighted that I can now use the highlights of our cultural output to create an additional weekend show celebrating the best new books, theatre, film, music and television while continuing to keep weekday lunchtimes a favoured destination for our growing converts to the station.”

John Pienaar said: “We’ll have in-depth analysis of the day’s biggest stories from Westminster and around the world, and I’m looking forward to introducing new voices into the mix, discussing the big stories and the big issues with expert, thoughtful and often outspoken friends.”

The latest RAJAR results for the period ending 26 June 2022 revealed Times Radio is delivering a reach of 570k listeners, who are listening to 3.15m of Times Radio every week. The station has become the destination for a higher proportion of AB profile listeners than BBC Radio 4, LBC and BBC Radio 5 Live, engaging with The Times’s take on major rolling news events.

Times Radio’s roster of broadcasters includes the award-winning Aasmah Mir, Stig Abell, Matt Chorley, Carole Walker, Ayesha Hazarika, Kait Borsay, Cathy Newman and Ruth Davidson. The station continues to navigate listeners through an unprecedented news agenda as the cost of living spirals, the war in Ukraine rages on and the country engages with a new Prime Minister. Times Radio is available on DAB radio, online and via the free Times Radio app.