BBC radio station to complete city move in April
BBCBBC Asian Network is set to complete a move to Birmingham by the end of April.
The final phase will see Asian Network Breakfast with Nikita Kanda, The New Music Show, Pritt, Nadia Ali and Bobby Friction join the shows already broadcasting from the city.
The network currently broadcasts 73% of its output from the city, and the breakfast show will be the final one to move on 28 April.
The relocation is part of the BBC's Across the UK strategy, moving shows, talent, teams, and content away from London to help serve and represent all audiences.
Asian Network's Breakfast presenter Nikita Kanda said she was "so excited" to broadcast from Birmingham.
"I absolutely love the city, I've spent a lot of my time there over the years so it already feels like home to me.
"Birmingham, get ready for some Kanda Kaos", she said.
In addition to moving its remaining shows to Birmingham, Asian Network has announced a new schedule from Monday 7 April.
Bobby Friction will leave his current weekday show to front a brand-new specialist music show.
It will be broadcast every Sunday from 21:00-23:00 GMT starting on 13 April, replacing Vallisa's current show which will end in March.
In place of Friction's current show, three new weekday programmes will launch on the network, bringing listeners "the biggest anthems and nostalgic hits" from 18:00- 20:00 GMT, every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, presented by Vallisa, Nadia Ali and Kan D Man.
Harpreet Kaur will host her final show of The Everyday Hustle on 31 March, before the show receives a new rotation of presenters.
Amber Sandhu will leave the network as the co-host of One More Chai, Gura Randhawa, takes over Saturday afternoons.
'BBC brings £305m to the region each year'
Ahead of her first live show on the network, Randhawa said: "I'm beyond grateful for this opportunity and get ready for some serious Geordie energy coming at you on the airwaves".
The head of BBC Asian Network, Ahmed Hussain, said he was "really delighted" to unite the whole team in Birmingham.
"We are proud to be bringing more representation to the Midlands, championing British Asian music and culture and continuing to work with and support local companies", he said.
The BBC said its presence in the region "added over £305m to the economic value of the West Midlands" each year.
It is currently moving its headquarters in the region from the Mailbox to a new development, the Tea Factory in Digbeth.
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