Kate Thornton and Richard Allinson join our presenter line-up with exciting new shows

Hear them on Greatest Hits Radio every Saturday

Author: Hazel ScottPublished 27th Feb 2022
Last updated 9th Sep 2022

Two exciting new shows have been added to Greatest Hits Radio, as we welcomed presenters Kate Thornton and Richard Allinson to our Weekend Schedule on 26th February. We're thrilled to have Kate and Richard join our incredible line-up of presenters, and you can hear them on-air every Saturday.

From 7pm, Kate Thornton has the best 70s, 80s & 90s pop soundtrack for your Saturday night, and she loves these songs having been the youngest ever editor of Smash Hits magazine. She's also a familiar face from your TV screen as the host of The X-Factor, Loose Women and This Morning.

Speaking about joining us on-air, Kate said: "The music that Greatest Hits Radio is famous for has been pretty central to both my personal and professional life and, let’s face it, when it comes to great music, the 70s, 80s and 90s are hard to beat!

"I’m so excited to be able to share the music I love and do Saturday nights right because as we all know, nights in are the new nights out!”

We're also joined by much-loved broadcaster Richard Allinson. From 1-5pm, Richard plays the biggest songs of the 70s, 80s & 90s, in a live show full of listener interaction providing the perfect Saturday soundtrack on the best day of the week - including a whole hour of weekend Anthems at 4pm!

Richard shared his excitement about returning to Greatest Hits Radio, saying: "I’m delighted to be returning to Saturday afternoons on Greatest Hits Radio and the best thing about this is when I was a kid growing up listening to Paul Gambaccini, and all my other favourite DJ’s on a Saturday afternoon, it’s where I wanted to be!

"And now I’m back on the best day of the week and as Greatest Hits Radio is all about the good times that is exactly what we are going to be celebrating every Saturday.”

How can I listen to Greatest Hits Radio?

You can find Greatest Hits Radio on your good old traditional radio - we're on FM & DAB in lots of places.

You can listen here on our website, download our free app for iPhone or Android, on Freeview channel 716 or ask your Smart Speaker to 'play Greatest Hits Radio'.

How can I download the Greatest Hits Radio App?

Download the Greatest Hits Radio App on Android.

Download the Greatest Hits Radio App on iOS.

When can I listen to Kate Thornton on Greatest Hits Radio?

Kate Thornton hosts a show every Saturday from 7pm on Greatest Hits Radio.

When can I listen to Richard Allinson on Greatest Hits Radio?

Richard Allinson is on Greatest Hits Radio every Saturday from 1-5pm.

Get to know our other shows on Greatest Hits Radio:

Ken Bruce

Greatest Hits Radio is the home of the legend that is Ken Bruce, weekdays 10am-1pm - including PopMaster, the UK's biggest music quiz for 25 years and counting.
Find out more about Ken and PopMaster.

Simon Mayo

Simon Mayo hosts Drivetime every weekday at 4pm and The Album Show on Sundays from 1pm.


Simon said of his Drivetime show: "I think the thing about Drivetime is that it is like the flip side of breakfast. You kind of know what an awful lot of people are doing, it's the end of most people's day, they're doing some final bits of work, they're shutting the laptop, they're doing a bit of food preparation, they're driving home. I think it is that sense of camaraderie, it's the end of the day, people want to be cheered up and they want to spend some time with some decent folk on the radio!"


Find out more about Simon Mayo here.

Paul Gambaccini

Paul brings us his famous America's Greatest Hits programme every Saturday between 5pm-7pm, featuring two hours of the Greatest Hits that made it big in America.


Sharing some of the things he loves about his show, Paul said: "Radio is the perfect form of one-to-one communication. TV can be direct, too, but the camera operator is always in your line of vision! I enjoy sharing my favourite music, and my admittedly freakish knowledge of it, with people who care about that music. I love the opportunity for challenging talk overs, too!"


Find out more about Paul Gambaccini here.

Alex Lester

The Dark Lord keeps you company in the small hours. Join him for the Music Marathon from 1am and the Best Time Of The Day Show 4-6am weekdays.


Alex brings: "Your favourite songs. Bizarre insights and unusual thoughts," to his show and told us that he loves that during his show: "It's just the two of us. You and me. (Against the world)."


Find out more about Alex Lester here.

Jenny Powell

Jenny plays the biggest songs of the 70s, 80s and 90s on Greatest Hits Radio to kickstart your weekend, every Saturday and Sunday from 6am.


On Jenny's show, listeners can look forward to The Breakfast Club, which she says is: "A warm-up for the weekend, full of positive vibes and feel-good factor when you wake up on Saturdays and Sundays. I insist you have a dance with me on the Kitchen Disco, I share some fun news stories from the previous week on The Headliners and get you smiling no matter what, sharing some of my favourite tracks from the 70s, 80, and 90s."


Find out more about Jenny Powell here.

Andy Crane

Join Andy's late-night community of music and company, Sunday-Thursday at 10pm.


Andy has three hours of the biggest songs from the 70s, 80s and 90s as well as The Top 10 at 10 and Midnight Music Marathon. His show is full of: "Great music and plenty of laughing."


Find out more about Andy Crane here.

Martin Kemp

Join Martin Kemp with The Mix Tape every Friday from 7pm!


Martin has got "the perfect soundtrack to start your weekend," and his show includes: "All the biggest songs of the 70s 80s and 90s that we grew up listening to on full volume. I'll give you TV recommendations for your weekend, there's always a slow dance at the end, and I turn the decks over to you to pick your favourite songs. Plus plenty of stories from my career in music, film and TV. We always have a good laugh and the music is absolutely popping."


Find out more about Martin Kemp here.

Jackie Brambles

Jackie Brambles hosts The Evening Show every Monday to Thursday from 7pm - 10pm.


Jackie promises to deliver: "Great music and great conversations! Every night we're joined by one of your favourite artists of the 70s, 80s and 90s for an in-depth chat about the highs and lows of their careers and their musical influences over the years."


Find out more about Jackie Brambles here.

Kate Thornton

Catch Kate Thornton on Saturdays from 7pm! It's the best night of the week - so if it's a kitchen disco you're after, Kate will make it fun and have you dancing and laughing with her perfect blend of playlist and good times chat.


Kate explained what listeners can expect from her show: "It's the kind of show that lets you know it's Saturday night, no matter where you're listening in from and no matter who you're with. Three hours of songs that make a night in feel like a night out if you're with friends, or offers up the soundtrack for the perfect party for one if you're tuning in alone."


Find out more about Kate Thornton here.

Richard Allinson

Richard Allinson is live on Greatest Hits Radio on Saturday afternoons from 1pm with the perfect Soundtrack of the biggest songs of the 70s, 80s and 90s and weekend anthems.


Speaking about his show, Richard said: "The idea is to recreate all those great memories I have of Saturday afternoons growing up, a bunch of us meeting up to buy clothes, records, maybe sort a date…everything happened on a Saturday and we remember the records we played at that time."


Find out more about Richard Allinson here.

Des Paul

Join Des for Rhythm Of The Night every Friday and Saturday night from 10pm, where he plays all the greatest soul, funk, disco and Motown hits to start your weekend.


Des explained what he loves the most about his show: "The favourite bit of presenting Rhythm of the Night is when listeners contact me to say how much they've loved hearing a particular track and then tell us all about when and where they used to hear it."


Find out more about Des Paul here.

Read More:

Everything you need to know about Drivetime with Simon Mayo on Greatest Hits Radio

Kitchen Greatest Hits: All the recipes from the Simon Mayo Drivetime Show

The Mix Tape with Martin Kemp: Everything you need to know

How to listen to Greatest Hits Radio:

You can listen on DAB digital radio, online at www.greatesthitsradio.co.uk, or via the Greatest Hits Radio app. You can also listen on your smart speaker by saying 'Play Greatest Hits Radio' on Alexa, or 'Play Greatest Hits Radio on tune-in' on Google Home.