Anneka Rice to join BBC Radio 2

Anneka Rice is to join BBC Radio 2 after landing a regular weekly show.

The presenter, famed for TV shows such as Treasure Hunt and Challenge Anneka, will take over from Zoe Ball on the early Saturday morning show.

Rice, 53, has been a regular stand-in on R2 but begins presenting the show in her own right later this month.

Listeners recently heard her standing in on Alan Carr and Melanie Sykes's Saturday evening show Going Out, alongside Patrick Kielty.

Rice, who became a household name after breathlessly running around in a jumpsuit on Channel 4's Treasure Hunt, starts her two-hour early breakfast show at 6am on February 25.

Rice said: "I started my career in BBC radio so I'm thrilled to be going full circle and back to my roots. Unbelievably, I'm even looking forward to the early starts as I'm missing not having a young family anymore."

She is also being lined up for a TV role on BBC1 later this year. Station controller Danny Cohen has confirmed plans are in hand but has not released further details.

PA