Strictly Come Dancing's Angela Scanlon returns to the BBC with major new role

Angela Scanlon – known for The One Show and being a former contestant on Strictly Come Dancing – is returning to the BBC with a big new role, it has been officially announced.

The star, who has also been presenting The Apprentice: Unfinished Business, has been confirmed as the new presenter of the prestigious Drivetime slot on BBC Radio 2.

From November, she'll be behind the microphone every weekday from 4pm until 7pm, accompanying listeners during their commute.

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"Taking over Radio 2 Drivetime is properly exciting," she said. "Millions of people, all having completely different days, piling into the same conversation for a few hours - what a strange and lovely thing!

"Every weekday, I'll be in your ears, your cars and your kitchens - on the school run, on the way home, or standing at the hob wondering what on earth to feed a small but hungry mob.

"I want all of it: the stories, the opinions, the chaos, the tiny triumphs and the things you probably shouldn’t admit on national radio.

"And to be wedged between Trevor Nelson and Jo Whiley - two absolute radio legends - is quite the sandwich. I cannot wait to get stuck in. We're going to have a lot of fun."

On Sara Cox's Breakfast show this morning, Angela revealed that she had kept the secret for "a few weeks", although a handful of people did know.

She added that she was in the baby section of John Lewis when she found out, and apparently that led to a few members of the public thinking that she was pregnant. She joked that she's not sure that would be something she'd come on to national radio to announce.

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Angela also said that she was "terrified" to get started because this is "a real job", but standing in and providing cover on the station over the summer did help.

She's got "some ideas bubbling away in my head" for possible features and quizzes for her show, but said the show is mostly a "blank page".

The head of Radio 2, Helen Thomas, said: "I couldn't be happier to welcome Angela back to the Radio 2 family on a full-time basis.

"She's incredibly warm and quick witted and proved to be extremely popular with the Radio 2 audience this summer. She's already well known to our listeners through her extensive work over many years across TV and Radio and I always knew she'd make a triumphant return here!

"Drivetime is such an important show in terms of ensuring people get home and start their evenings in a positive and upbeat mood, and I'm delighted Angela will be taking up the reins in November. I'd like to extend my thanks to all the hosts who have presented in this slot since our Sara moved on up to Breakfast."

Angela Scanlon will begin hosting Radio 2 Drivetime in November.

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Joe Anderton is a freelance news writer at Digital Spy, having worked there since 2016. In his time, he's covered a host of live events and interviewed celebrities big and small. A big fan of TV and movies both mainstream and obscure, Joe also enjoys video games and in particular PlayStation. Joe currently does not use Twitter, but he only ever used it to tell people to watch the film Help! I'm a Fish.