BBC Scotland radio presenter Michelle McManus to leave Afternoons show in major shake-up

The star will step down from their role at BBC Radio Scotland at the end of May as the organisation prepares for a major shift in the station’s current line-up

BBC Scotland has confirmed that one of its high-profile presenters will be leaving the airways in the coming weeks. Michelle McManus, best known for winning Pop Idol in 2003, is set to step down from her role on BBC Radio Scotland’s Afternoons programme. Her final show will air on Friday, May 29.

Following her departure, River City star Grant Stott will take over hosting duties. His return comes five years after he previously left the show in 2021, bringing a familiar voice back to listeners. He will be on air presenting Afternoons from Monday to Thursday, with the programme continuing to air from 1:30 pm to 4 pm.

The 45-year-old singers exit is part of a broader reshuffle within the station, she has held the role since 2023 as well as presenting the Entertainment Mix. Alongside Michelle, presenters Len Pennie and Nicola Meighan will also leave their roles at the end of May. The trio’s departure signals a notable shift in the station’s current line-up.

Victoria Easton Riley, Head of Audio and Events at BBC Scotland, acknowledged the contributions of the three departing presenters. She said: “We’re enormously grateful to Michelle, Len and Nicola for the energy, creativity and passion they’ve brought to the programme.”

She added: “We wish them every success, and our door is open for future collaborations.”

Speaking about returning to the BBC and taking over for Michelle, Grant told the BBC: “I’m absolutely delighted to be returning to Afternoons. The Radio Scotland audience is a warm, curious and engaging bunch and I can’t wait to dive back in.

“We’ll be bringing listeners everything they need to stay plugged into Scotland’s buzzing arts and culture scene, all with the perfect soundtrack.”

The changes reflect a wider period of transition at BBC Radio Scotland, with Michelle becoming the latest recognisable name to move on. In recent months, several huge stars have also left the station as part of ongoing restructuring efforts.

In November BBC Radio Scotland confirmed it was dropping some of its longest-serving figures. Among those affected were Billy Sloan and Ian Anderson, both of who have worked at the Beeb since the 1980s.

Natasha Raskin Sharp and Roddy Hart were also included in the shake-up.

According to broadcasting executives, the aim of these changes are to reshape output in a big to achieve “broad mainstream appeal”.

There is also a clear intention to attract younger audiences, with new strategies introduced under the leadership of Ms Easton Riley.

However, the transformation is not limited to presenters. The BBC recently announced the plans for widespread job cuts across the organisation. More than 2,000 roles are expected to be affected, equating to roughly one in ten staff members.

This move represents the largest wave of redundancies at the corporation in nearly 15 years and forms part of a major cost cutting drive.