Radio Times weekends

Ken joined the BBC in 1977 as a BBC Radio Scotland staff presenter.  

His first regular slot on Radio 2 was the Saturday Late Show in 1984 and the following year he fronted the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, taking over from Terry Wogan. 

He moved to mid mornings in 1986, then after a brief stint on late nights and early mornings, he returned to mid mornings in January 1992.  Ken also presented Radio 2’s coverage of Eurovision since 1988 until last year and was a regular presenter of Sunday Night is Music Night. 

Ken left Radio 2 last year and now presents the Morning Show on Greatest Hits Radio. 

PopMaster, a quiz which has run for over 25 years, is written by Phil Swern and remains a very important slot within Kens radio show.

PopMaster has now transferred to TV and can be seen on Channel 4 with a new series launching mid 2024.

Ken continues to present live shows around the Country, most recently in Scotland, Nottingham and at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall in London.

Jenny Ryan is a professional quizzer and general knowledge maven.

In 2015 she joined ITV's hit The Chase as The Vixen, now in its 17th series and its prime time spin-off Beat The Chasers.

Before joining The Chase, Jenny worked behind the scenes as a writer and researcher on shows including QI and The Weakest Link. You might have seen her on quiz shows such as University Challenge (University of Leeds, semi-finalist 2002-03), Mastermind and Only Connect (as a member of champions ‘The Gamblers’).

Jenny is also a talented singer and musician. Jenny and her fellow Chasers won BBC1's Let's Sing & Dance For Comic Relief. On her own, Jenny made it to the finals of The X Factor: Celebrity.

Jenny and Lucy Porter have their own hugely successful podcast, Fingers On Buzzers. Sharing their passion for quizzing in all its forms, they chat to guests ranging from enthusiastic amateurs to the people who make our favourite programmes. From the Bullseye contestant who explains how to share the star prize when it's a car, to celebrity quiz fans and experts such as Michael Sheen, Richard Osman and Les Dennis, there's nostalgia and tips for everyone.

According to Time Out, Lucy “is one of the most talented comics on the circuit.” Having had sixteen Edinburgh Fringe shows and international tours, Lucy is a well-established and loved comedian.

On TV, she has recorded a set for Live at the Apollo and has appeared on The Celebrity Chase, the celeb special of BBC 1’s Pointless and Celebrity Mastermind and she recently won Mastermind Champion of Champions. Her TV panel show credits include Would I Lie to You, QI, Mock the Week, Insert Name Here, Have I Got News for You and Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

On the radio, Lucy regularly appears on The News Quiz, The Now Show, The Unbelievable Truth, Just a Minute, Nature Table as well as her own shows In the Family Way & Back in the Family Way. 

 Lucy co-presents popular quizzing podcast Fingers on Buzzers alongside The Chase’s Jenny Ryan.

With a showbiz career spanning over 30 years, Toby Anstis is one of the nation's best loved radio and TV presenters.

Since his time in the legendary 'Broom Cupboard' on BBC1, Toby has taken part in I'm A Celebrity, co-hosted Children In Need, starred in Grease in the West End, and won a record three episodes of Pointless - among many other TV appearances.

In 2019, he was given the opportunity to launch a brand new national radio station, Heart Dance, which he hosts the breakfast show every morning, plus Club Classics every Friday night on Heart and Heart Dance.

Over the years, Toby has DJ'd at clubs and venues around the world, including supporting Elton John, the O2 on New Year's Eve and the Main Stage at Epsom Derby. In 2022, he took Heart Dance to Cafe Mambo in Ibiza.

Multi-award-winning comedian, presenter, actor, author, and scriptwriter Russell Kane is a regular on Channel 4, BBC, and ITV with recent TV appearances include The Apprentice: You’re Fired, The One Show, Live at the Apollo, The Stand Up Sketch Show, Michael McIntryre’s Big Show, Antiques Road Trip, Stupid Man, Smart Phone, as well as regular appearances on Steph’s Packed Lunch.

His chart-smashing BBC Radio 4 / BBC Sounds podcast Evil Genius quickly became a flagship show, and was the best performing original podcast on the platform. It has been turned into a TV show by BBC Studios, and will appear on Sky TV in November 2023. Russell also recently helped present a prime-time, conversation-changing documentary about men’s bodies and sperm counts on Channel 4’s Celebrity Save Our Sperm. This year he performed headline slots at Latitude, Reading, and Leeds festivals.

Winner of Best Show in 2010 at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards, Russell went on to make history as the first comedian to win both the Edinburgh Comedy Award and Melbourne Comedy Festival’s Barry Award in one year.

As ever, Russell also continues to provide his ever-popular topical online rants known as Kaneings.

David O’Doherty is a best-selling author, multi-award-winning comedian and self-described ‘Ryanair Enya’.

David first stepped on stage at Dublin’s Comedy Cellar in 1998. In 1999 he won So You Think You’re Funny an award for new comedians and was runner-up in the BBC New Comedy Awards.

A TV regular, David made his stand-up debut on BBC2’s Live At The Apollo in 2017. David’s other television appearances include 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Would I Lie To You? and The Alternative Comedy Experience. He has hosted Never Mind The Buzzcocks and made appearances on shows such as QI, Dave’s One Night Stand and Have I Got News For You. He also hosts his own show on Channel 4, Along For The Ride With David O’Doherty, which aired in 2021.

International comedy megastar, Hal Cruttenden has established himself as a versatile performer on the stand up scene. A credited actor and writer as well, Cruttenden’s talents are undeniable, and his reputation as a hilarious act spans continents and platforms, a testament to his global popularity. At events, Cruttenden can provide your every entertainment need. From humorous host, to stand out stand up act, Cruttenden is one of the best names in the business to secure your event success.

A regular performer at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Cruttenden was nominated for the Best Newcomer Award in 2002, during one of his first appearances. Revered for his live performances, Cruttenden has extensively toured the UK with five of his shows reaching sell out status dates, including: Chubster, The Tiny Rage Tour and Lively. Larger than life, and bold in his delivery, Cruttenden appeals to audiences of all demographics, leading him to be highly sought after for live comedy gigs across the world. From the Montreal Just For Laughs Festival to New Zealand Comedy Festival, Cruttenden has performed on every major comedy platform.

With an impeccable live reputation, it wasn’t long before Cruttenden was requested for appearances on the small screen. With an enviable list of credits including: Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, Have I Got News for You, and Would I Lie to You, Cruttenden has forged an illustrious career in comedy media. Able to have any audience in stitches with his relatable gags, the three-time Chortle Award nominee, is perfectly placed on panel shows, adding humour to the on screen dynamic.  

The award-winning smash-hit comedy, as seen in the West End and heard on Radio 4, comes to Heythrop Park.

The all-star Austentatious cast for one delightful evening only, the all-star Austentatious cast will improvise a hilarious new Jane Austen novel, inspired entirely by a title from the audience. Performed in period costume with live musical accompaniment, it’s a riotous, razor-sharp show where swooning is guaranteed.

The revolving Austentatious cast include numerous, award-winning TV and Radio starring performers, including Rachel Parris (The Mash Report, Live at the Apollo), Cariad Lloyd (QI, Inside No.9, Griefcast, The Witchfinder), Joseph Morpurgo (Radio 4, Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee) and more.

‘Ridiculously silly…wickedly funny’

★★★★★

The Times

‘A joy to behold’

★★★★

The Guardian

‘Brilliant, barmy improv’

★★★★

The Telegraph

‘Sheer unbridled silliness’

★★★★

Evening Standard

Jenny Powell is one of the UK’s most experienced and recognisable presenters, having appeared in some of the most loved TV shows in the UK.

She hosts her own weekend Breakfast Show on Greatest Hits Radio Saturday and Sunday mornings, the critically acclaimed Hot Mess Mums podcast and is developing a TV show looking at her Cape Coloured heritage and her ethnic roots in South Africa.

She first came to prominence presenting the cult music show No Limits for BBC 2 and then quickly became a firm favourite on children’s TV, hosting such shows as UP2U, Ghost Train and Gimme 5. She went on to host a huge range of TV shows such as Top of the Pops, To Buy or Not To Buy, Soap Fever, Live Talk, Wordplay, Jenny Powell's Luxury Uncovered, Food and Wine Adventures, and the hilarious Saturday night show ITV1 BIGHEADS with Jason Manford and Kris Akabussi.

She has also appeared in numerous other shows including Celebrity MasterChef, Come Dine With Me, Lemon La Vida Loca, Loose Women, Pointless and a regular on Through The Keyhole as well as her iconic role on Wheel of Fortune. Jenny is a fantastic live event host, compering several events a week and her professionalism, passion and sense of fun is evidenced by the number of repeat bookings she receives.