LONDON — Ben Earle, one half of country duo The Shires, is taking over BBC Radio 2’s weekly Country Show, adding another established artist-broadcaster to the network’s lineup.
Earle will host the Thursday evening program from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. He succeeds Bob Harris, who stepped away from the show earlier this year because of health issues after presenting it since 1999.
Earle is not new to radio. He previously filled in for Harris on Radio 2 and has spent the past five years presenting a Sunday morning program on Absolute Radio Country.
The move was announced alongside Angela Scanlon’s appointment as the new weekday Drivetime host on Radio 2. Earle said he was honored to take over a program with such a long history in country music broadcasting.
Source: BBC Radio 2 announcement reported September 28, 2026.