Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 5 Live has announced Rachel Burden as the new co-presenter on 5 Live Breakfast alongside Nicky Campbell.

Rachel, who is currently the station's Weekend Breakfast co-presenter, will take over the reins from Shelagh Fogarty who moves to a new lunchtime slot in May, following a successful seven-year stretch on 5 Live Breakfast.

Rachel began her radio career as a reporter at Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Suffolk, before going on to present Radio Bristol's Breakfast show and joining 5 Live's Weekend Breakfast in November 2003.

Originally from Marlow, Buckinghamshire, Rachel is married and has three young children.

Commenting on her new role, Rachel said: "It's a brilliant opportunity to join what is already a hugely successful team.Β Shelagh is the mother of all breakfast broadcasters and I can only hope to match the impression she's made on the early mornings of millions of people."

She continued: "My family is already gearing up for the move to Salford and I am really excited about working alongside Nicky and the rest of 5 Live in our new home in Salford Quays."

Following the announcement of his new co-presenter, Nicky Campbell commented: "Rachel's a great broadcaster, a great journalist and a great friend. It's going to be great."

Radio 5 Live has recently celebrated record listener figures with last week's RAJARs including a 600,000 rise in its breakfast listenership alone. The total Radio 5 Live audience now stands at a record high of over 7 million.

Radio 5 Live's Controller, Adrian Van Klaveren, said: "Rachel is already hugely popular with our listeners and is a fantastic journalist who will be a wonderful addition to the 5 Live Breakfast team.

"She's someone who loves radio and instinctively understands 5 Live's audience. She and Nicky already know each other well and I'm sure they'll be a winning combination every morning."

Rachel will take up her new role on Tuesday 3 May.

Radio 5 Live breakfast is on weekdays from 6.00am to 10.00am.

Notes to Editors

Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 5 Live will now begin the search for a new voice on Weekend Breakfast (6-9am Saturdays and Sundays) to co-present the programme with Phil Williams.

You can listen to Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 5 Live and 5 Live Sports Extra via DAB radio, online at bbc.co.uk/5live, Digital Freeview, Sky, Freesat, Virgin Media and 909 & 693 AM.

AB