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´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 2 welcomes Zoe Ball, Richard Allinson and Emma Forbes to the weekend as they host new shows on the network.

Zoe Ball will present the Saturday morning early breakfast show from 6 June 2009 between 6.00 and 8.00am, before handing over the reins to Brian Matthew.

Richard Allinson will present a new overnight show on weekend mornings from 6 June (Saturday 3.00-6.00am; Sunday 2.00-5.00am), produced by the independent production company Somethin' Else.

Emma Forbes will launch her Sunday morning early breakfast show on 7 June between 5.00 and 7.00am, warming up the audience for Aled Jones.

Zoe, Richard and Emma join Radio 2's recently refreshed weekend schedule, which includes Paul O'Grady's new Sunday afternoon show, and the indispensable guide to everyone's Saturday night, Going Out With Alan Carr, where Alan is joined each week by Emma.

Bob Shennan, Controller, Radio 2, says: "Zoe, Richard and Emma are fantastic additions to the Radio 2 weekend schedule.

"They are warm, entertaining presenters who have many years of broadcasting experience between them, and I look forward to their shows becoming essential listening for all early risers."

Zoe had the honour of becoming the first female DJ to present the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 1 breakfast show in 1998.

Her TV presenting successes include Live And Kicking with Jamie Theakston, The Priory, The Brits 2002 with Frank Skinner and The Big Breakfast.

After giving birth to son Woody, Zoe bounced back into broadcasting by joining XFM in 2002, and came third in series three of ´óÏó´«Ã½ One's Strictly Come Dancing.

Zoe is familiar to Radio 2 listeners most recently for covering for Dermot O'Leary and Ken Bruce.

Richard is passionate about radio. His first broadcasts were at university, the perfect distraction from his Honours degree in Law.

After establishing himself at Capital Radio Richard also appeared on ´óÏó´«Ã½ One, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two, Channel 4, VH-1, ´óÏó´«Ã½ World Service and Sky.

Radio 2 invited him to join in 1997 for late nights and Saturday afternoons.

His Allinson's Albums show for the ´óÏó´«Ã½ ensures he now enjoys very short weekends.

Richard is a director of Magnum Opus Broadcasting, creating specialist documentaries for Radio 2 (including The Record Producers and Third Reich & Roll with Stephen Fry).

Richard has a brace of Gold Sony radio awards and, as a judge for the Ivor Novello music writing and the Olivier theatre awards, finds very little time for messing about with boats, playing piano, cooking and tormenting his three sons.

Emma first appeared on Live And Kicking in the early Nineties as the resident cook, later being given a prize presenting role with Andi Peters from 1993 to 1996.

Emma then turned to radio, enjoying stints at Heart 106.2 and Capital 95.8.

Mother of two, Emma also presented ITV's Talking Telephone Numbers with Phillip Schofield.

Radio 2 listeners have enjoyed Emma co-hosting the Steve Wright show with Mark Radcliffe in 2007, 2008 and earlier this year.

Emma bravely co-hosts Going Out With Alan Carr on Saturdays between 6.00 and 8.00pm as part of the new Radio 2 weekend schedule.

Zoe says: "I'm absolutely bowled over to be joining Radio 2 with my own show. We're huge fans of the station in the Ball/Cook household. My son is most impressed I'm going to be working at the same station as Sir Terry!

"I've loved filling in for Ken and Dermot recently and now I'm thrilled to have the chance to get to know the Radio 2 listeners a little better by getting up close and personal with them early on a Saturday morning.

"It's funny to be back on the early shift after almost ten years since Radio 1 but, after becoming a mum, I'm much more of a morning person these days! I promise!"

Richard says: "We want to try something completely new at the weekends with lots of interactive stuff, both for the early risers and also for the growing audience who prefer to hear us through the ´óÏó´«Ã½Â iPlayer.

"This is a whole new time for me and I'm really looking forward to it."

Emma says: "I'm so happy to be given my very own gig on Radio 2. After presenting with Alan Carr on a Saturday evening, I'll be ready for a relaxing time on a Sunday morning!"

SM3/Radio 2 Publicity