David Hamilton responds to BBC Radio’s decision to the launch of Radio Two Extra

Well, well, well—what a turnaround. Not so long ago, the BBC decided that its older audience was no longer part of its grand vision. It let go of its most seasoned presenters, revamped Radio 2 to chase a younger demographic, and effectively told millions of loyal listeners: we don’t need you anymore.

Enter Boom Radio—born out of necessity. A station created by people who recognised that older audiences still wanted a home, a place where music, memories, and stories mattered. And now, after four years of Boom’s remarkable success, the BBC has decided it wants a slice of the action.

The newly announced Radio 2 Extra is a blatant attempt to lure back the very listeners the BBC abandoned. They say it will celebrate musical anniversaries and tell the stories behind the songs—well, excuse me, but that’s exactly what Boom Radio has been doing from day one! It’s not just similar; it’s a direct copy.

But let’s be clear—this is not a fair fight. Boom Radio is a small, independent station. Most of us, myself included, broadcast from home studios, running on passion and love for the industry. The BBC, meanwhile, is cushioned by the £3.7 billion licence fee, meaning it can afford to advertise its new station on television, radio, and online, giving it an enormous advantage that Boom and Greatest Hits Radio could only dream of.

And here’s what really gets me: the BBC has been pleading poverty. It has slashed its local radio services to the bone, turning what used to be genuinely local stations into regional broadcasts. We were told there wasn’t enough money to keep local presenters in their jobs—so where is the funding coming from for this new venture?

This is a classic case of David versus Goliath. Boom Radio is a small but mighty station that grew because listeners were desperate for something the BBC no longer offered. And now, rather than admitting it got it wrong and making amends fairly, the BBC is trying to muscle in and push out the very stations that stepped up to serve the audience it abandoned.

At 86, I’m still doing what I love. Boom Radio offered me—and my listeners—a home when the BBC shut the door. And let me tell you, the response has been overwhelming. People don’t want a watered-down BBC imitation of what we’re already doing. They want authenticity, experience, and a station that genuinely values them.

The BBC had its chance. It made its choice. And now, after throwing away a loyal audience, it wants them back. But the listeners aren’t stupid. They remember who was there for them—and it wasn’t the BBC.

What’s more, it’s about respect. The BBC discarded some of its most experienced broadcasters in pursuit of youth. Now, it suddenly realises that older audiences still matter. Well, that’s not how trust works. You can’t treat people as an afterthought and expect them to come running back.
Boom Radio, Greatest Hits Radio, and stations like them exist because they fill a need the BBC abandoned. That’s the reality. And no amount of BBC-funded imitation is going to change that.