Timeline of Magic


A timeline of notable events relating to Magic 105.4, a commercial radio station operated by Bauer Radio, and the former Magic Network broadcast on AM stations in the north of England.

1990s

1990

2000s

2000
  • *No events.2001
  • *13 September – Magic launches a spin-off television channel.
  • *December – EMAP decides that it is more economical for north of England Magic stations to share off-peak programmes and begins networking with the London station Magic 105.4 between 10am-2pm, and 7pm-6am, although there are local commercial breaks, and local news on the hour. During these hours the station is simply known as Magic.
  • 2002
  • *No events.
  • 2003
  • *January – Due to a sharp decline in listening, Emap ends the networking of London station Magic 105.4 on the north of England Magic stations and a regional northern network is created with programmes broadcast from Magic 1152 in Newcastle. During networked hours, local adverts are aired, as well as local news on the hour.
  • *September –
  • **Live evening programmes on Magic 105.4 are replaced by automated output.
  • **Richard Skinner leaves for a while. He had been mid-morning presenter for Magic since 1997.
  • 2004
  • *No events.
  • 2005
  • *12 September – Neil Fox joins Magic 105.4 as the station's breakfast presenter.2006
  • *July – The Magic AM network is revamped to appeal to an older audience. The changes see the introduction of more networking with only the 4 hour breakfast show remaining local. As part of the revamp, Dave Lee Travis and Eamonn Holmes join the station to present weekend shows.2007
  • *September – After a year with the station, Graham Dene leaves Magic 105.4. He is replaced as drivetime host by Steve Priestley.2008
  • * 29 JanuaryBauer completes the purchase of EMAPs radio, television and consumer media businesses, purchasing the assets for £1.14bn.
  • * September – Singer Kim Wilde joins the station to present a Sunday lunchtime show.
  • 2009
  • *Steve Priestley leaves.

2010s

  • 2010
  • *9 January – Boyzone singer Ronan Keating joins the station to present a Sunday afternoon show.
  • 2011
  • *No events.
  • 2012
  • *23 March – Tony Blackburn and Mike Read are signed to appear on Magic Network.
  • *April – The weekend breakfast show on the north of England Magic Network stations stops being a local show and is replaced by a networked programme. Consequently, only the weekday breakfast show remains locally produced.
  • *16 November – Magic Network presenter Dave Lee Travis is taken off air with immediate effect after he was arrested as part of an investigation into sexual offences.
  • 2013
  • *15 April – Bauer increases networking on its Yorkshire Magic stations with a networked breakfast show coming from Magic 828 in Leeds. The other local Magic breakfast shows become regional programmes at around the same time.
  • *August – Richard Skinner rejoins the station to provide cover for holidaying presenters. He continues in this role throughout 2014.
  • 2014
  • *30 September – Neil Fox presents Magic 105.4's breakfast show for the final time. since Fox was arrested at the Magic 105.4 Studios on sex assault charges.
  • *27 October – Richard Allinson joins Magic 105.4 to present the drivetime show.
  • 2015
  • *5 January –
  • **Magic 105.4 launches nationally on Digital One.
  • **The north of England Magic Network stations are rebranded as Bauer City 2.
  • *January–March – Christine Bleakley presents an hour-long Sunday afternoon programme called Sunday Lunch.
  • 2016
  • *March - Lynn Parsons joins.
  • *15 March – Mellow Magic begins broadcasting, and Fran Godfrey joins.
  • *28 March – Magic Chilled begins broadcasting.
  • *16 April – Mel Giedroyc joins the station to present the Saturday lunchtime show.
  • *Spring – Magic broadcasts a temporary pop-up service called Magic ABBA, run as a commercial partnership with Mamma Mia!: the Musical
  • *Following the ending of Magic Abba, ‘’Magic Summer Soul’’ is launched. Initially intended as another short-term pop-up, the station becomes permanent in the autumn and is renamed Magic Soul.
  • *October – Tom Price joins the station to present the weekend afternoon show, replacing Martin Collins who leaves after seven years of broadcasting at Magic 105.4.
  • 2017
  • *Alan Dedicoat joins Mellow Magic
  • *April – The station sound is repositioned to play more 80s and 90s along with a new tag line "More of the songs you love."
  • *September – Ronan Keating and Harriet Scott become presenters of the breakfast show. Other changes see Tom Price replaces Harriet as weekend breakfast presenter and Matt Brown take over weekend afternoons.
  • 2018
  • *30 November – The station flips to a format of 100% Christmas music. Previously, its sister station Magic Soul would change to a Christmas music only playlist but this year its main station flipped. This is the first time a major UK radio station has done so. Bauer says listeners can expect "festive editorial content and a selection of much-loved Christmas pop hits from the last fifty years".
  • 2019
  • *21 November – Bauer launches Magic at the Musicals on DAB+ in and around London. Presenters include Ruthie Henshall and Jonathan Bailey.

2020s

  • 2020
  • *31 August – Magic Radio begins broadcasting on MW in East Yorkshire, Hull and North Lincolnshire.
  • 2021
  • *30 April – Magic Radio stops broadcasting on MW across East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire following the switching off of the Goxhill transmitter.
  • 2022
  • *No events.
  • 2023
  • * Autumn – Mellow Magic will move to the DAB+ format, and will start broadcasting in stereo. This gives Bauer the space on the SDL multiplex to bring seven more stations via the semi-national SDL multiplex, of which three will be other Magic spin-offs - Magic Chilled, Magic Soul, and Magic at the Musicals.
  • * 9 October – Schedule changes at Magic Radio include new drivetime presenters, with Tom Price and Kat Shoob taking over the show from Simon Phillips, while Neev Spencer joins to present afternoons.
  • * 13 October – Singer Lemar joins Magic for seven weeks to present a Friday evening show.
  • * 14 OctoberAngellica Bell joins Magic to present Saturday breakfast, while Nicole Appleton joins to present a weekend afternoon show from 4pm to 7pm.
  • * 16 October – Magic's four spin-off stations - Magic at the Musicals, Magic Chilled, Magic Soul and Mellow Magic - launch on the semi-national SDL multiplex. Magic's flagship station continues to broadcast on the Digital One multiplex.
  • * 13 December – Magic is removed from Sky and Virgin Media TV platforms.
  • 2024
  • * 2 April – Magic stops broadcasting on the Freeview TV platform.
  • * 16 September – Magic Classical replaces Scala Radio and Magic Chilled becomes Hits Radio Chilled.
  • 2025
  • * 31 March – Magic Radio begins broadcasting via DAB+, and in stereo.