BBC Radio Cymru 2 is a

Welsh language Welsh ( or ) is a Celtic languages, Celtic language of the Brittonic languages, Brittonic subgroup that is native to the Welsh people. Welsh is spoken natively in Wales by about 18% of the population, by some in England, and in (the Welsh c ...

radio station owned and operated by

BBC Cymru Wales BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the BBC and the main public broadcasting, public broadcaster in Wales. It is one of the four BBC national regions, alongside the BBC English Regions, BBC Northern Ireland and BBC Scotland. Established in 1964, ...

, a division of the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

. It broadcasts across Wales on DAB, digital TV and

BBC Sounds BBC Sounds is an Over-the-top media service, over-the-top audio streaming media, streaming and download service from the BBC that includes live radio broadcasts, Streaming media, audio on demand, and podcasts. The service is available on a wide ...

. Radio Cymru 2 broadcasts music-led programming for up to 60 hours a week, as an opt-out from the main

BBC Radio Cymru BBC Radio Cymru is a Welsh language radio station owned and operated by BBC Cymru Wales, a division of the BBC. It broadcasts across Wales on FM, DAB, digital TV and BBC Sounds. The station broadcasts general factual and entertainment pro ...

service, which provides shared programming at certain hours of the day. The station also simulcasts overnight programming from

BBC Radio 2 BBC Radio 2 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It is the List of most-listened-to radio programs, most popular station in the United Kingdom with over 14 million weekly listeners. Since launching in 1967, the sta ...

after closedown. The managing editor of BBC Radio Cymru is Dafydd Meredydd, a former presenter and producer for both stations.

History

On 19 September 2016, BBC Cymru launched a pop-up radio station, (Radio Cymru More), broadcasting for three months in the run-up to Radio Cymru's 40th anniversary. Consisting of five hours of music-led entertainment programming each weekday, Radio Cymru Mwy was available on DAB in south east Wales and online. Six months after the station closed, BBC Cymru announced it would launch a permanent second station, Radio Cymru 2. The new service would air breakfast programming every morning on digital and online platforms, as a music and entertainment alternative to the main network, which aired the news programme, ''Post Cyntaf'' (later ''Dros Frecwast''). BBC Radio Cymru 2 began broadcasting at 6.30am on 29 January 2018, initially offering a separate daily breakfast show. The service was later expanded to carry regular additional sports commentaries - particularly on football and rugby - on midweek nights and at weekends, as well as occasional music-led special programming. Sports coverage on Radio Cymru 2 has since been discontinued. On 4 August 2022, at the

National Eisteddfod The National Eisteddfod of Wales ( Welsh: ') is the largest of several eisteddfodau that are held annually, mostly in Wales. Its eight days of competitions and performances are considered the largest music and poetry festival in Europe. Competito ...

Tregaron Tregaron ( "town of St Caron") is an ancient market town in Ceredigion, Wales. It is sited astride the River Brenig, a tributary of the River Teifi, and is north-east of Lampeter. According to the United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011 Census, the po ...

, the BBC announced plans to expand Radio Cymru 2's programming from 15 to 60 hours a week, offering "a Welsh language music-based schedule". From 3 October 2022, Radio Cymru 2 aired an additional two-hour mid-morning show each weekday, presented from the BBC's Bangor studios by Lisa Gwilym on Monday - Thursday from 9-11am and from Cardiff by Dom James on Fridays from 11am-1pm. Upon the initial expansion of the station's schedule, Radio Cymru 2 has altered its music policy and now plays a greater proportion of English-language music, compared to the Welsh-led playlist on the main network. The operating licence for Radio Cymru 2, as drawn up by the broadcast regulator Ofcom, requires the station to play at least 50% of Welsh language music, compared to a minimum of 66% on the main Radio Cymru service. On 18 January 2024, and following a consultation, Ofcom gave approval for BBC Radio Cymru 2 to become a fully fledged radio station. The station launched its expanded schedule on 4 March 2024. In October 2024, the station began simulcasting overnight programming from

, including the weekday early show with

Owain Wyn Evans Owain Wyn Evans (born 9 March 1984) is a Welsh broadcaster and drummer. He hosts BBC Radio 2's early breakfast show and previously presented weather bulletins on ''BBC Look North'', ''North West Tonight'' and ''BBC Breakfast''. Evans is also a ...

, broadcast from BBC Cymru's headquarters in Cardiff.

Transmission

BBC Radio Cymru 2 is broadcast across Wales on DAB. It is also available on Freeview in Wales, throughout the UK on Freesat, Sky, Virgin Media and online.

Programming

BBC Radio Cymru 2 airs live, presenter-led programming from its Cardiff and Bangor studios at the following times: * 7am to 2pm on Mondays to Thursdays * 7–9am on Fridays and Saturdays * 11am to 2pm on Fridays * 7–10am on Sundays The station airs a mix of automated non-stop music and pre-recorded 'curated' hours with guest presenters from 5–7pm on Mondays to Thursdays, 5–6pm on Fridays, 2–5pm on Saturdays and 10am to 9pm on Sundays. Outside of these hours, Radio Cymru 2 simulcasts programming from

Radio Cymru BBC Radio Cymru is a Welsh language radio station owned and operated by BBC Cymru Wales, a division of the BBC. It broadcasts across Wales on FM, DAB, digital TV and BBC Sounds. The station broadcasts general factual and entertainment pro ...

during its transmission hours and

overnight. The station also airs hourly news bulletins, simulcast with

, throughout the day. In addition, Radio Cymru 2 also airs regularly scheduled programming if additional sports coverage is broadcast on the main network.

Notable presenters

* Lisa Gwilym (Monday - Thursday daytime)

Notable past presenters

Caryl Parry Jones Caryl Parry Jones (born 16 April 1958) is a Welsh singer, actress and presenter. She was born in the Flintshire village of Ffynnongroyw and attended Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St. Asaph, but now lives in Cowbridge, in the Vale of Glamorgan. Career ...

Huw Stephens Huw Meredydd Stephens (born 25 May 1981) is a Welsh radio and television presenter, currently broadcasting on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 6 Music. Stephens founded the Sŵn music festival with John Rostron and the yearly s ...

References

External links

*
BBC Radio Cymru 2
on

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BBC Radio Cymru 2
on

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{{Media in Cardiff 2018 establishments in Wales BBC Cymru Wales BBC regional radio stations Radio stations established in 2018 Radio stations in Wales Indigenous radio Welsh-language mass media