MFR, Tay FM and Northsound breakfast shows to end

Commercial radio breakfast shows broadcast to listeners in north and north-east Scotland are to end next month.

Bauer Media Group said MFR, Northsound 1 and Tay FM's morning shows would be replaced by Edinburgh-based Boogie in the Morning from 6 January.

The company is also launching a new Scotland-wide early in the morning breakfast show hosted by Tay FM's Gregor Runciman and Lynsey Gibson.

It said MFR host Jodie McCluskey and Northsound 1's Jeff Diack and Lauren Mitchell would be leaving after their final shows in December.

The local breakfast shows are broadcast from Inverness, Aberdeen and Dundee.

Boogie in the Morning won UK's best music breakfast show at The Radio Academy's 2024 Audio and Radio Industry Awards.

Victoria Easton-Riley, content director for Bauer's Hits Radio portfolio in Scotland, said she was delighted more listeners would be able to enjoy the show.

She added: "We share our huge thanks with Jodie, Jeff and Lauren for all they've contributed.

"Each brilliant broadcasters, we wish them all the very best on their last few weeks with us and for everything in the future."

The changes to local radio stations follow a recent change in regulations.

It is now easier for local radio stations to share programmes as long as local news commitments are met.

But this change also marks the end of an era.

The stations involved were all part of the original network of local radio stations set up in the 1970s and 80s.

Radio Forth - predecessor of Forth 1 - is 50 in January. Radio Tay, Northsound and Moray Firth date back to the early 80s.

The practice of networking -sharing programmes - had become common in local radio.

Audiences for the Scottish stations affected are still generally healthy.

Still some will miss the distinctive programming,. even though it has been drawing to a close for many years.