Former Radio 1 and Heart 106.2 presenter Emma B is joining Smooth Radio's weekend line-up.
40-year old Emma spent 7 years on Radio 1's weekend schedule, and won various awards for the station's Sunday Surgery show.
She'll host the 2-6pm Sunday afternoon slot on Smooth across the UK from the end of this month, joining a weekend team that also includes Pete Waterman, Pat Sharp and Lynn Parsons.
Since leaving Heart in 2009, Emma has been running a marketing and events company in Ibiza. GMG Radio’s Group Programme Director John Simons said "We’re delighted to have tempted Emma back to the UK. Her relaxed style will provide the perfect accompaniment to the great music that Smooth listeners have come to know and love. Emma joins what is already a formidable line-up of presenters on Smooth Radio."
Smooth Radio Brand Managing Director Andy Carter added: "Smooth’s audience is growing fast across the UK. One compelling reason for this is that its listeners are able to tune in to listen to some of Britain’s best loved presenters playing their favourite music at whatever time of the week they choose. Emma’s weekend show will have a relaxed feel, perfect for Sunday afternoons."
Emma – whose full surname is Boughton – joined Radio 1 in 1998 to do the Saturday early breakfast show and after her [link=https://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.156]departure in 2005[/link] joined London's Heart where she spent four years, including becoming the capital's first number one-rated solo female drivetime presenter.
Emma said: "After having a year or so off being a mum, I'm absolutely thrilled to be back on the radio and to be in the company of a collection of such first rate broadcasters at Smooth Radio is a real privilege."
Smooth Radio have also confirmed the start date for new signing David Jensen, whose arrival was announced back in December. He'll begin his weekday afternoon show on 4 April, and will also host a 'Double Top 20' chart show on Sunday evenings. The two-hour programme will feature two different top 20 countdowns from a particular week and year.