A major shake-up at BBC Radio Scotland will see presenters on its morning news show replaced and the flagship programme potentially ‘rebranded’.
Good Morning Scotland (GMS) is regularly hosted by Gary Robertson and Laura Maxwell, with Graham Stewart, Fiona Stalker, Andrew Black, Lucy Whyte and Hope Webb stepping in as guest presenters.
But the Mail understands Mr Robertson is stepping down after more than 20 years and Ms Maxwell will be dropped from the line-up, although it is understood that both will ‘continue in high profile news roles’ at BBC Scotland.
It comes after BBC Radio Scotland listener numbers slumped from 800,000 to 745,000 between October-December in 2023 and the same period in 2024, according to data from Radio Joint Audience Research (RAJAR).
BBC Radio Scotland has warned star presenters their roles may be lost under sweeping changes to GMS, which launched on Hogmanay 1973 and has become the longest-running and most listened-to radio show broadcast from Scotland.
It is believed that Martin Geissler, host of The Sunday Show, which is broadcast on BBC1 Scotland and BBC Radio Scotland, and Laura Maciver, BBC Scotland News’s senior presenter, have been lined up to host a revamped early morning show.
The Mail understands GMS host Laura Maxwell will be dropped from the programme
Gary Robertson will step down from GMS after presenting the show for more than 20 years
It is believed that Laura Maciver and Martin Geissler have been lined up to host a revamped early morning show
The architect of the radical changes is Victoria Easton Riley, BBC Scotland’s head of audio and events, who was recruited in May to help revitalise the station’s output.
She previously produced the Radio 1 Breakfast Show before becoming director of content for Scotland and Northern Ireland with commercial radio firm Bauer, where she was credited with generating significant growth in listeners for Clyde 1 and Forth 1.
Ms Easton Riley has pledged to create ‘bold, distinctive content for audiences across the country’.
A corporation source said: ‘It’s true that we’re about to change presenters – however there are no plans for any major changes to GMS itself.
‘Apparently there is also some discussion going on regarding the branding of all the radio news programmes.’
On Mr Robertson, the source said: ‘He’ll still be presenting other major daily and weekly programmes. He’s not leaving. Apparently he wanted off mornings after 20-odd years.’
It is understood the future of Mornings, With Kaye Adams, which runs from 9am to noon on weekdays, is also uncertain.
A senior BBC source said Mr Robertson and Ms Maxwell ‘are two of our finest journalists’ and both ‘will carry on working for BBC Scotland in high-profile news roles’.
The source added: ‘Any potential change in our flagship breakfast programme would focus on building on the reputation they have built for GMS as having the highest editorial and journalistic ambitions.
‘Our new head of audio is working through her thinking for the whole of our audio offer, including the daytime schedule, but there are no immediate proposals to make changes to that output.’
Share or comment on this article:
Shake-up at BBC Scotland as flagship radio programme presenters potentially replaced as part of rebrand