Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, says: “During the pandemic, Radio 2 provided invaluable companionship and continued to entertain our millions of listeners with a distinctive mix of speech and music entertainment, which I’m immensely proud of.

"In the next few weeks, we have a rich mix of programming to offer our audience, ranging from a new reggae series from Shaggy to commemorate Black History Month, new original works of poetry on National Poetry Day, plus our all-female playlist on National Album Day.”

Black History Month: Celebration of Reggae

For Black History Month Radio 2 puts the focus on reggae. Join multi-platinum reggae artist Shaggy as he presents a brand new four-part weekly series, Shaggy’s Reggae Hotshots (Saturday 2, 9, 16 and 23 October, 9pm-10pm). He’ll be guiding listeners through 60 years of music from his homeland island of Jamaica, celebrating everything from Ska to Rocksteady, Reggae to Dancehall, and bringing his favourite tracks to liven up Saturdays as the nights draw in this October. Artists featured include Bob Marley, Black Uhuru, Marcia Griffiths, Shabba Ranks, Lady G, Queen Ifrica, Gregory Isaacs, Jada Kingdom, Maxi Priest, Peter Tosh, Shenseea, Sean Paul and many more.

And on BBC Sounds, listen to Shaggy’s Reggae Playlist, two exclusive playlist shows featuring some of reggae’s biggest hits and most popular tracks. All produced by The Playmaker Group.

Shaggy say: “I’m looking forward to sharing some of the music that has helped shaped me and that I listened to growing up - some of the songs and artists that have represented my home, Jamaica, across the globe - only on BBC Radio 2.”

Continuing the network’s celebration of reggae, in his show on Monday 4 October (midnight-3am) OJ Borg features a specially themed Reggae One Hit Wonders. He’ll be talking to reggae star Joaquin ‘Quino’ McWhinney - frontman for American group Big Mountain - about their huge global hit Baby, I Love Your Way. OJ finds out how they came to cover the 1975 track by Peter Frampton, what it did for reggae music around the world, and how Quino feels about the song now.

In Vanessa Feltz’s Radio 2 show on Friday 8 October (4am-6.30am), her A Dance Through The Decades feature will have a reggae theme, showcasing great songs by timeless female vocalists. There will be tracks from each era from the 60s to the 10s, including music from Dawn Penn, Phyllis Dillon, Sophia George and Anthea & Donna. Listen to A Dance Through The Decades anytime on BBC Sounds.

And in The Craig Charles House Party (Saturdays, 10pm-midnight) his Mixtape will be dedicated to a different legendary black artist each week in October - Stevie Wonder (2 October), Beyoncé (9 October), Aretha Franklin (16 October), Prince (23 October) and Marvin Gaye (30 October). Craig will be playing the hits, but also digging deep to hear some of their best album tracks too.

Originally broadcast in 2011 to mark the anniversary of Bob Marley's death, in Knowing Bob Marley, five of his closest friends and colleagues share their personal experiences of the man they knew. It features intimate and revealing interviews that provide a revealing insight into the experiences that shaped the man who became a superstar.

Recorded exclusively for this programme, Island Records’ founder Chris Blackwell, Marley's former girlfriend Esther Anderson, lawyer Diane Jobson, backing singer Marcia Griffith and Wailers guitarist Junior Marvin all tell their story of the Bob Marley they knew best. It reveals how the Jamaica he grew up in, with high unemployment, plus race and class divides, shaped him. The show charts his musical rise, from follower of trends such as the Rude Boy movement, to a reluctant leader of fellow musicians as he spread his reggae rhythm and message across the world (12am, Friday 1 October). Made by TBI Media.

Also available on BBC Sounds from Saturday 2 October:

There’s another chance to hear Dennis Brown: The Crown Prince Of Reggae, presented by actor David Harewood and celebrating Brown's music and legacy. Dennis Brown wasn't just another reggae artist - he was nicknamed the Crown Prince Of Reggae by Bob Marley, who said he was his favourite singer. In his hometown of Jamaica, Dennis was even more popular than Marley, mainly because he started recording his first songs at just nine years old.

In a 30-year career, he recorded over 70 albums. During the late 1970s he enjoyed international success with Money In My Pocket, and much of his work is now considered classic material. His fan base and influence include artists such as Ali Campbell (UB40), Wyclef Jean (The Fugees), Shaggy, Sylvia Tella, Barrington Levy, Maxi Priest and many more. He also mentored and produced the artist Junior Delgado. Made by The Audio Café.

In Gregory Isaacs, The Godfather Of Reggae, actor Adrian Lester presents a profile of the reggae singer. Gregory Isaacs, best known for his hit single Night Nurse, was given the nickname 'The Cool Ruler' due to his relaxed delivery and laid-back stage presence. This programme is a celebration of his music and a candid look at his personal life.

Across a 40-year career he released hundreds of albums and, although he died of lung cancer in 2010, he battled for years with drug abuse which had a major impact on his voice. All who knew Gregory loved him and his music, and artists such as Maxi Priest, Jazzie B, Mick Hucknall, The Rolling Stones and UB40 were some of his biggest fans. He was nominated for four Grammy Awards, and in 2016 the Jamaican government posthumously awarded Gregory the Order Of Distinction (Officer Class) in recognition of his contribution to the country's music. The programme will feature a cast full of contributors, from family, friends to ex-band mates and celebrity fans. First Broadcast in 2017. Made by The Audio Café.

Also for Black History Month, Good Morning Sunday, presented Reverend Kate Bottley and Jason Mohammad, welcomes Bernadine Evaristo MBE, the writer and Booker Prize winner for Girl, Woman, Other. She won the feted prize for literature aged 60, the first time a Black woman had received the honour and talks to Kate and Jason about her work ethic, the challenges she has overcome and where she finds her positivity (6am-9am, Sunday 3 October).

Their guest the following week is Samm Henshaw, a British soul singer who’s 2019 track Church has now had 17 million views online. He’ll be chatting about his musical inspirations from soul, to gospel and hip hop, and the artists we should all be adding to our playlists for Black History Month. Plus he shares the role spirituality plays in his life and what we can expect from his long-awaited debut album (Sunday 10 October).

National Poetry Day: Poems For Thought

On National Poetry Day (Thursday 7 October), Poems For Thought features six much-loved UK poets who will be composing and performing original works especially for Radio 2. They’ll be read out across each of the daytime shows, from Vanessa Feltz through to Sara Cox. Poems For Thought is produced by Spiritland Productions.

Vanessa Feltz says: "Poems For Thought is an uplifting, illuminating idea. Listening to poetry is such a wonderful experience - it can make us think more deeply about the world around us and our own experiences within it. By taking just a couple of minutes to pause and listen to a poem, we are not only opening our ears, but also our minds and hearts."

Vanessa Feltz (4am-6.30am) welcomes Salena Godden, an English poet, author, broadcaster and essayist who has written a poem of hope which celebrates the joy and wonderment of nature.
The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show (6.30am-9.30am) features Michael Rosen, author, poet and former Children’s Laurette who has written a mock-Shakespearian poem about his toes, in iambic pentameter.

Ken Bruce (9.30am-12pm) introduces Scottish poet and playwright Jackie Kay, and former Makar - the Poet Laureate of Scotland – who’s poem cleverly weaves musical references and lyrics throughout, while telling the story of an old table in a house.

Jeremy Vine (12pm-2pm) hosts Hollie McNish, the poet and spoken word artist who won the 2009 UK Slam Poetry Championship, with a poem about friendship and forgiveness.

Steve Wright (2-5pm) is joined by Brian Bilston, a mystery persona who has garnered a loyal following on social media and is known as the ‘Poet Laureate of Twitter’, who’s poem takes a wry look at all the things one says they want to achieve, but probably won’t.

Sara Cox (5pm-7pm) rounds off the day with a poem from Liz Berry, an award-winning poet from the Black Country, about driving home to family and the love that is felt upon returning.
National Album Day

For this year’s National Album Day (Saturday 16 October), which has the theme Celebrating Women In Music, Radio 2 is dedicating the whole day to album tracks by women. From 6am to midnight, there will be an all-female playlist from Sounds Of The 60s all the way through to Craig Charles’ House Party, with guests on the shows, plus a special show - The Official All-Time Female Artists Album Chart, presented by Jo Whiley.

Jo Whiley says: “What better theme could there be than to celebrate women in music for this year’s National Album Day! That means, of course, that I’ll get to play some of the best music ever made when I count down the UK’s top 30 best-selling albums by women.”

Sounds Of The 60s with Tony Blackburn (6am-8am) features the decade's best loved hit singles, classic album tracks and songs by female writers.

Dermot O’Leary (8am-10am) welcomes Emeli Sandé to the show.

Claudia Winkleman (10am-1pm) has guests including National Album Day ambassador Sharlene Spiteri.

The Official All-Time Female Artists Album Chart (1pm-3pm) presented by Jo Whiley counting down the top 30 best-selling albums by women based on UK sales and downloads (compiled by the Official Charts Company).

Rylan (3pm-6pm) selects his perfect pick of fab female artists to play during the show.

The Rock Show with Johnnie Walker (8pm-9pm) continues the all-female playlist featuring tracks from across the decades from the best women in rock, from the 60s to now, including Grace Slick from Jefferson Airplane, Heart, Girlschool, Patti Smith, Courtney Love, Lzzy Hale from Halestorm and many more, with My Rock God selected by Mollie Marriott.

Shaggy’s Reggae Hotshots (9pm-10pm) has a show devoted to an all-female reggae playlist for tonight’s episode 3. Standby for tunes from Millie Small, Phyllis Dillon, Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths, Janet Kay, Dawn Penn and Koffee.

The Craig Charles House Party (10pm-midnight) continues the celebration and features an Aretha Franklin Mixtape to round off National Album Day.