Parsons and Allen join Smooth

Former Radio 2 presenter Lynn Parsons and ex-Capital host Mike Allen are joining Smooth Radio London.

They join Graham Dene, Mark Goodier, Kevin Greening and Martin Collins from Monday. Radio 2 presenter Nick Barraclough also joins the station to host a networked country music show.

Mike takes the evening show Monday to Thursday, with Lynn taking care of Friday to Sunday.

Smooth Radio are happy with the heavy-weight line-up: “London favourite Graham Dene will present the breakfast show when he leaves Magic, while chart show guru Mark Goodier will be on mid-mornings. Kevin Greening moves from his current mid-morning show to the afternoon slot and ex-Virgin presenter Martin Collins takes to the airwaves at drivetime. 6 at 6 will be a new feature during the drive-time show in which Martin Collins talks to stars of tv, stage, sport, music and movies — as varied as Kim and Marty Wilde and Jeffrey Archer — and asks them to choose their six favourite songs.”

London’s Smooth Radio Programme Controller Gavin McCoy said: “The addition of Lynn and Mike completes the jigsaw and our line-up is a force to be reckoned with on the London airwaves. These are talented presenters who will connect with the audience because they know London and the music we’ll be playing inside out.”

In a deal with UBC, Nick Barraclough will leave Radio 2 and host a three hour Sunday evening show (5pm-8pm) on four of the five Smooth Radio stations from 1st April.

Nick says he’s thrilled at the prospect of starting his new show: “I’ve got mainstream stuff, bluegrass, honky-tonk, country rock and Americana I’ve been dying to put all in one show.” And the Nashville artists are just as enthusiastic — four time CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Martina McBride, joins Nick on the first show, and Alison Krauss talks about her brand new album a week later.