BBC Radio 2 in the Park 2025 to land in Chelmsford
Radio 2 in the Park, the station's flagship live music festival, will take place in Hylands Park in Chelmsford, Essex from Friday 5 - Sunday 7 September.
The announcement was made on The Scott Mills Breakfast Show, with Scott speaking to Radio 2 presenter, Ellie Taylor, who is from Essex. She was live on air at Hylands House within Hylands Park to reveal the location to listeners. Rylan – who Scott unofficially crowned "The Earl of Essex" during the show - also joined Ellie in the park to celebrate the festival taking place in his home county.
Rylan said: "I can't wait to welcome my Radio 2 family to Chelmsford and have this year's Radio 2 in the Park right on my doorstep! If there's one thing I know for certain, it's that an Essex crowd know how to party. See you all in Hylands Park!'
The station - which is the UK's most listened to radio station with a weekly audience of 13.1 million (RAJAR Q1, 2025) - will broadcast live from Hylands Park throughout the weekend in September, and all the action will be broadcast on Radio 2, BBC Sounds and iPlayer. Most of Radio 2's presenters will decamp to the city for the weekend and, back by popular demand and following its debut at Radio 2 in the Park in Preston last year, there will be a Friday night DJ party to kick things off ahead of a weekend packed with stellar live performances.
The artist line-up will be revealed in The Scott Mills Breakfast Show tomorrow (Tuesday 3 June, 6.30-9.30am) and tickets will go on sale on Wednesday 4 June at 8.30am - further details are available at bbc.co.uk/radio2inthepark.
Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2 says: "Radio 2 in the Park is our biggest party of the year, and we're delighted to be bringing a three-day music extravaganza to Chelmsford! We've been busy booking some of the world's most loved artists to perform to thousands of revellers in Hylands Park, as well as to millions of listeners and viewers at home or on the move. We can't wait to bring our family of Radio 2 presenters to Essex."
Councillor Stephen Robinson, Leader of Chelmsford City Council, says: 'Hylands Park is no stranger to music festivals, and we're thrilled to add another renowned music event to the list in 2025. BBC Radio 2 in the Park is a fantastic opportunity for Chelmsford – one that will lift our local economy and boost the city's position as a top events destination. We're looking forward to welcoming world-famous music acts and thousands of Radio 2 fans from across the UK to our brilliant city this summer, for this unrivalled three-day celebration of music. Our teams have years of experience and expertise in facilitating major music festivals at Hylands Park, so I'm confident that this latest partnership with the BBC will present a smooth-running and highly enjoyable weekend for all involved.'
Last year Radio 2 in the Park was held in Moor Park, Preston, and featured headliners Sting and the Pet Shop Boys. In 2023, Victoria Park in Leicester saw Tear for Fears and Kylie headline the main stage.
Radio 2 continues to serve audiences with a steady stream of world-class music performances.
In February this year, Radio 2's Piano Room month featured incredible performances from artists including Coldplay, Kiefer Sutherland, Elkie Brooks, Kate Hudson, Gary Barlow, 10cc and Teddy Swims – with a selection of performances still available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Country music fans were treated to a feast of Country music on BBC Sounds, following Radio 2's coverage of the Country 2 Country festival in London, Belfast and Glasgow in March. As the official broadcast partner of C2C since 2013, programming was led by Radio 2's Country Show presenter, Bob Harris. As well as presenting acts on stage at The O2 in London, Bob fronted shows during the weekend and was joined by musicians for live performances and key moments from the main stage from some of the world's most popular Country stars and the cream of emerging talent from Nashville and Europe. Bob previewed the festival on his Country Show on Thursday 13th March and reviewed the weekend on Thursday 20th March (9-10pm).
Jo Whiley's Sofa Sessions in her show (Monday to Thursday, 7-9pm) have included Maggie Rogers, Cast, English Teacher, Corinne Bailey Rae and The Vaccines.
On Sunday 4 May (8-10pm), Zoe Ball presented Elaine Paige: 60 Years in Showbusiness, a world exclusive concert honouring the extraordinary career of the station's host of Elaine Paige on Sunday (1-3pm). It was recorded in front of a packed audience at the London Palladium, where the cream of musical theatre - including Samantha Barks (Frozen, Les Misérables, Oliver!), Mazz Murray (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Chicago), Julian Ovenden (Bridgerton, Downton Abbey), Charlie Stemp (Half a Sixpence, Hello, Dolly), and Summer Strallen (The Sound of Music, Guys and Dolls) - performed some of Elaine's most adored songs.
Plus, in a Radio 2 and BBC TV special, Elaine was in conversation with Zoe, telling the story of her incredible life and career, sharing exclusive stories behind some of her best-known songs, as well as her tales from behind the red velvet curtains of London's glittering West End.
BBC Radio 2 is the UK's most listened to radio station, with a weekly audience of 13.1 million (RAJAR Q1, 2025) and The Scott Mills Breakfast Show is the most listened to Breakfast show in the UK with 6.5 million listeners (RAJAR Q1, 2025). Vernon Kay is the most listened to radio show in the UK with 7.2 million listeners (RAJAR Q1, 2025).
The network's presenters include Michael Ball, Zoe Ball, Rob Beckett, Tony Blackburn, OJ Borg, Revd. Kate Bottley, Rylan, Fearne Cotton, Sara Cox, Jamie Cullum, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Gary Davies, Paul Gambaccini, Mark Goodier, Angela Griffin, Bob Harris, Vernon Kay, Shaun Keaveny, Cerys Matthews, Paddy McGuinness, Scott Mills, Jason Mohammad, Trevor Nelson, Dermot O'Leary, Elaine Paige, Mark Radcliffe, Romesh Ranganathan, DJ Spoony, Liza Tarbuck, Jeremy Vine, Michelle Visage, Jo Whiley, Phil Williams and Owain Wyn Evans.
Listen to Radio 2 on BBC Sounds
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