BBC Scotland's Shereen show comes to close after 17 years

The Herald Scotland

13 hours ago

'Shereen' launched in 2008 and featured the Scots broadcaster discussing the week's news and TV with a range of contributors.
Nanjiani, who was awarded an MBE in 2020 for services to broadcasting, said: 'I have loved being part of the BBC Radio Scotland weekend family for the past 17 years. I feel very lucky to have worked with brilliant producers committed to making the show the best it can be and to have such an entertaining and insightful group of people joining me every week for a blether over breakfast.
'I've made so many good friends on the show over the years- they made me laugh and they made me think and it's always been a joy to come to work in the morning.
'Finally, I'd like to thank our lovely listeners who've stayed with us throughout the years and joined in the conversation. I'll miss them all, but this feels like a good time in my life to get my weekends back again, have a lie in, and explore new adventures.'
Nanjiani is the latest high-profile departure at the broadcaster. Janice Forsyth, who worked for the BBC for more than 30 years, stepped down in February this year after being diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. Bryan Burnett is on leave from his nightly show, Get It On, while he has treatment for appendiceal cancer. Grant Stott is filling in until Burnett's return.
There have been major changes, too, in the BBC Scotland management team. The broadcaster's new director, Hayley Valentine, started in the job last November, replacing Steve Carson. A new head of audio and events, Victoria Easton Riley, has joined the corporation from Bauer Media UK, where she was praised for 'driving unprecedented growth' across flagship stations including Clyde 1 and Forth 1.
Recent decisions by BBC management, chief among them pulling the plug on the soap River City, have been criticised by viewers, the actors' union Equity, and MSPs. A petition to save the show has 12,000 signatures.
As revealed in The Herald last week, the broadcaster is also cutting its coverage of the Edinburgh festivals. Instead of broadcasting a fortnight of shows from its own pop-up venue, the BBC will stage five days of events with ticketed audiences in a space shared with the Pleasance Courtyard and the EICC.
Previous guests at the pop-up venue, which has operated for 14 years, have included authors Denise Mina, Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Andrew O'Hagan and the actor Brian Cox.
Born in Elderslie in 1961, Nanjiani began her broadcasting career in 1983 as a trainee journalist at STV, presenting her first live TV bulletin in 1987. She was a chief news anchor at STV, presenting the Scotland Today news programme from 1987 until leaving to go freelance in May 2006. While at STV she reported from Lockerbie, Dunblane, and on the setting up of the Scottish Parliament. Internationally, she reported from South Africa on the election of Nelson Mandela, and from Romania after the fall of Ceausescu. She began presenting Scotland Live for BBC Radio Scotland in August 2006, before moving on to her own weekend show in 2008.
Over the summer, the 10.00-11.30 am slot will be filled by Saturday Morning with Zara Janjua, which will feature a blend of entertainment and debate. A new Saturday morning format will launch in the autumn.
Heather Kane Darling, commissioning editor, BBC Radio Scotland, said: 'Shereen is one of Scotland's most experienced and respected broadcasters and it's been a pleasure to work with her over the last 19 years. I know our teams will miss working with her and we thank her for her professionalism and dedication during her time with us. Our studio door will always remain open to Shereen for future opportunities.'