The backbone of many successful shows – How do you build a benchmark?
Benchmarks, or regular features, form the backbone of many successful shows, providing consistency and quality entertainment every single day. Some benchmarks even become the main reason listeners tune into a show!
Helen Thomas has been Head of BBC Radio 2, the UK’s biggest radio station, since August 2020, previously holding the role of Head of Content Commissioning and the station’s Network Editor, she has also spoken at Radiodays Europe in Lausanne, she is one of our favourite speakers! Hear her in this great session on Benchmarks!
Growing up in Hull, Helen started her career in News working at BBC 5 Live, The Today Programme on BBC Radio 4 and then Newsbeat at Radio 1 before moving into music programming at BBC World Service, before returning to Radio 4 to produce Front Row.
In 2003 she joined Radio 2 to produce the Johnnie Walker Drivetime Show, subsequently launching the Chris Evans Drivetime Show in 2006 and Breakfast Show in 2010, when Chris took over from Sir Terry Wogan.
Helen led the first ever BBC Music Pop Up digital radio station (Radio 2 Eurovision) and has also brokered major partnerships with the likes of the RHS, The Space and Art Fund. Helen was Creative Director of the Radio Academy’s Radio Festival in 2016 and is a founder member of the Young Audio Awards (formerly Young ARIAS) steering committee. In 2018, she was nominated as Individual Of The Year at the Arias. She was appointed Chair of the Radio Academy in December 2020 and is a Trustee of Raw Material – a music, media and arts charity based in South London.
