Paul O’Grady to return to airwaves on Boom Radio following Radio 2 departure

The comedian and presenter left his Radio 2 Sunday afternoon slot in August last year after almost 14 years, following a schedule shake-up which saw him regularly swapping with comic Rob Beckett.

O’Grady’s forthcoming Easter special on Boom Radio – an independent UK radio station aimed at Baby Boomers – follows a special show hosted by the 67-year-old on Christmas Day 2022, which drew in a record number of listeners, according to the station.

Speaking ahead of the Easter Sunday show, O’Grady said: “It’s great to be working with the team at Boom again. It already feels like my new radio home.

“My producer Malcolm and I are looking forward to our special TeamPOG show on Easter Sunday – who knows, this could be the start of a regular gig!”

O’Grady will be joined by his long-term producer Malcolm Prince, who also worked for Radio 2 until last year.

The special Easter Sunday show on Boom Radio will begin at 2pm and see O’Grady host the show from his home alongside Prince.

Boom Radio co-founder Phil Riley said: “It’s testament to the success of Boom Radio that a broadcaster like Paul, at the top of his game, has agreed to join us for this Easter special.

“We know our audience loved him at Christmas, so it’s great to have him back.”

Boom Radio was founded during the pandemic by former radio executives Riley and David Lloyd, and saw presenters hosting shows and playing music from their garden sheds and bedrooms.

Many of the station’s presenters, including radio veterans David Hamilton, Graham Dene, Kid Jensen and Judi Spiers, came out of retirement to help launch the station.

O’Grady’s resignation from Radio 2 is one of a number of departures from established presenters, including Vanessa Feltz, who stepped back from her shows on Radio 2 and BBC Radio London after almost 20 years at the helm, and Ken Bruce, who left the station earlier this month.