Wow…so many wonderful, loving & hilarious stories written about Jonnie over the last 72 hours… like so many of you, we were lucky to have him in our lives, whether standing by his side presenting or on our screens day to day. We all knew him. We all adored him. He was our Jonnie ❤️ I’ve struggled & found it hard to accept that his battle is now over, one he fought so bravely wanting to spend each precious moment with Jess, his adorable boys and wider family & friends. The last few times we worked & laughed together will be with me forever. Our mischievous Jonnie will always be remembered for being the bravest of souls, the one with the best bants, always delivering the perfect hilarious line & showed us all what it is to have determination, passion, belief & that spirit that never left him. Jonnie & I were always in competition – who could screw up our links on Escape to the Country the most. How many takes??!? Jonnie, don’t worry, I’ll carry that title with pride matey ❤️ Love to Jess, the boys & their family & friends who I know have been so amazing these last three years or so xx As @cathymgriffin so beautifully said, Jonnie we’ll see you again at the ultimate wrap party ✨ And one last important thing: my thoughts & love to anyone going through something similar – past or present. I remember how kind & supportive Jonnie was a few years back when life for me looked pretty scary. Massive hugs if you are struggling at the moment 😘 i’m thinking of you too x @jonnieirwintv 💔❤️💔
Wind seems to be a theme on this trip 🙄 #tablemountain #capetown
Jonnie’s last Escape to the Country show went out yesterday afternoon on the Beeb. At the end of the programme, the team put together a wonderful montage of Jonnie on location. Just watch that click of the fingers by the electric doors… Yep Jonnie you’ve still got it It was a lovely episode & I managed to watch it with a smile. If you missed it, catch it again on @bbciplayer From all your beautiful messages, I know he meant the world to you as well… here’s the clip of Jonnie in action ❤️ @escape_country @jonnieirwintv
Heart broken 💔 Can’t believe the saddest of news. We all loved Wrighty MBE. An amazing broadcaster, always so passionate about music & his love of making brilliant radio shone through the decades. A kind, funny & generous man. Grew up listening to the one of only Steve on Radio 1. Was totally enchanted when I used to visit his studios with some of my bands (back in the old plugging days) & adored working with him at R2. Still in shock to be honest, as I’m sure you are… My thoughts go to his family, his many friends & work colleagues over the years, the BBC Radio 2 family & to all the lovely listeners who truly adored him. We will miss you Steve 💔
Back this weekend with the R2 Family 🧡 For the next few weeks, I’ll be looking after Sunday Love Songs on @bbcradio2 & would love to hear from you Is there a birthday, an anniversary or someone getting married that you know? Or maybe you just want to say thank you to someone very special. Send through your dedication by emailing [email protected] Join us Sunday morning from 9am on BBC Radio 2. Thank you xx
Shacky. My Forever Valentine ❤️ Sending my love & best wishes to you all. If Valentine’s isn’t for you (& it’s not for everyone) wishing you health & happiness on this Wednesday xx @shacky01
Pink perfection… well the hair is anyway, not so sure about me 😉 Some of you may have noticed, the berry red – selected by you lovely lot – hung on for dear life (didn’t fade at all) but it was time for a change. And you know how I love my pinky hues. Rose Quartz totally won me over. What do you think… right choice? Extensions by Sonia at Richard Ward (paid for) using @greatlengthsuk which work so well on my fine hair plus a few comb-line ones in my fringe. Super subtle & they give extra body to the barnet! Any questions fire away below… ⬇️ Thanks as ever to @soniajittlahairstylist @richardwardhair @greatlengthsuk
Only gone flippin’ early 🥞🤣
And before you know it, it’s Sunday night Hope you’ve had a great weekend. Thanks to those who joined us today for Sunday Love Songs. So many kind & lovely messages – thank you x 🙏
Horsing around with a brand new Escape to the Country for you This delightful show in Oxfordshire is one of my favourites (am I allowed to admit that?). Our lovely buyer (who brought along her smashing mum) was looking for a country home for her & her young son close to their family. Beautiful homes in some stunning villages. We also visited a past Escapee who made the move from West London to this part of the world. And has never looked back ❤️ For all you horse lovers, we visited Olympic dressage silver medalist & trainers @spencerwiltondressage & @darrenhicksdressage at their new stables in Oxfordshire. Thank you Spencer, I was in my element! 😊🐴🧲 Enjoy. The show aired yesterday afternoon on @bbcone. Catch it on @bbciplayer & do let me know if you enjoyed it xxx @escape_country #Oxfordshire @_taylor_richardson @odp123
Girls on Tour : Photo dump #2 Got back last weekend but for personal reasons held back from posting these.. until now. Yep it’s pouring with rain & I feel a pang of regret coming home 😊🤣 Namibia 🇳🇦 ➡️ Cape Town 🇿🇦 the next part of our girls on tour tour. Franschhoek you stole our hearts (and our livers) with all that amazing wine & ‘champagne’ or club classic!! Our gorgeous friends Izak & Annamaria invited us to stay & gave us the best tour of the wine region. Never knew about this area & would thoroughly recommend a few days here at least. Add it onto your garden route tour… Truly stunning Camps Bay for incredible views & beach never disappoints. That open top tour bus was a must as is a visit to The Cod Father 🤣 more deets & where we stayed on stories to follow Thanks @ioosthuizen @hautecabriere – location @the_noellemason
Namibia ❤️ 🇳🇦 Left the ship in Walvis Bay to experience our first ever Desert Safari with @travelwithvictor @vision_tours_safaris – incredible. The Namib desert is the oldest in the world. Victory our guide showed us just some of its highlights ✨ mind blowing. It’s beauty, its expanse, its extremes, its heat! Stayed at Death Valley Lodge for some desert luxury, a shower & fabulous local food Dune 45 (took an hour to climb in the dark for that sunrise), a valley cut off by the ever growing dunes called DeadVlie & Sossusvlei Fabulous experience & would thoroughly recommend. We paid in full (not an ad) Victory is passionate about his beautiful stunning country & we felt we had the best experience with him by our side 🙏 Thank you Victory NB stayed @marriotthotels Protea in Walvis Bay. Great local hotel with excellent staff who looked after two travelling girls xx (paid for) @the_noellemason #namibia🇳🇦 #walvisbay #sossusvlei #deadvlietrees #dune45namibia #dune45sunrise #deadvalleylodge #memories #safari @solitairenamibia (squirrel home & best cakes) Not an ad
Reddy for anything Apart from this flippin’ rain… Happy Thursday. Take an umbrella ☔️ Suit @reiss Coat @lkbennettlondon Boots @russellandbromley Scarf should have its own Insta account. Worn so much … 😉
High kicking of sorts on the high seas Promise this is the last post from the Queen Mary 2 (for now 😊) as Krista & I say a sad farewell to the ship in Namibia 🇳🇦 Thank you to everyone we met & who came along to my talks. Favourite question I was asked – not about the Beckhams/Bowie/Escape/Radio or Take That but… ‘how long have you been married & does he make you laugh every day?’ Brilliant! 25 years & yes he does 😊 A joy to be part of the Cunard family cruising the South Atlantic & crossing the equator, meeting so many delightful & entertaining folk along the way. Special thanks to the Ent Director Amanda Reid & her team, to @jonudry & @glennmacnamara for the first class shows at night & the fellow travellers who make us so welcome – especially Richard & Barbara/Sue & Steve who we met by the sunbeds each morning 😉 Also Chief Engineer Will Robinson & Josip Franovic for the fascinating guided tour below decks – incredible stats about the ship I’m still getting my head around 🚢 👏 Until the next time … ❤️ @cunardline @the_noellemason #guestspeaker
And relax it’s the weekend… ❤️ Happy Saturday all Thanks for all your lovely messages this week as I’ve been sitting in for our Zo on R2. Spot the new studio (did I mention it at all…? 🤣) All your gorgeous comments, memories & texts have made a world of difference, especially this of all weeks. Thank you thank you Enjoy what ever you’re up to. Squeeze those close to you (if appropriate!) get outdoors if you can & I’ll see you soon at NBH (our new HQ). The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show with the Prod Squad returns Monday 6.30 am 😊👏😊⏰ @bbcradio2
Hope you’re having a good week It’s never too early to think about someone you love who deserves a little mention on Sunday Love Songs @bbcradio2 ❤️ Birthdays, anniversaries, thank yous or that special couple getting married that you know? Send through your dedication by emailing [email protected] or make someone’s day by leaving us a WhatsApp voicenote on 08000 288 291 ready for Sunday’s show. Fancy doing that? It’s super easy, open WhatsApp, hold down the mic button & record your message not forgetting to tell me who you are as well as your dedication. Thank you xx Sunday morning 9am @bbcradio2 @bbcsounds
The brilliant @kttunstall stopped by for Breakfast with Nicki Chapman! ✨ You can listen back in full by heading to BBC Sounds 🎧
Queen of our screens @lorrainekellysmith joined Nicki on Breakfast to share all about her debut novel, The Island Swimmer 💛 Just search ‘Nicki Chapman’ on @bbcsounds to listen in full!
Brand New!! Escaping to Cumbria: All the seasons in one day ☀️🌤️⛅️🌦️🌧️⛈️ New show for you today @escape_country finding our lovely couple a new home in Cumbria closer to their first grandchild. Plus I catch up with a nature loving young family who moved from Sheffield to a village in the glorious countryside. Gorgeous show, beautiful properties, amazing views (Ullwater alone!!) got soaked to the skin & bad hair days but who cares. So worth it ☔️🌂🌈🌤️ 🛶 @bbcone Today 3 pm Series 24 Episode 55 @bbciplayer Hopefully for our overseas viewers… coming soon! Thanks. Enjoy. Happy Monday
The mane attraction… Hurrah I hear you cry- the last post from the trip & perhaps I’ve left the best ‘til last 😌 Visited Aquila Game Reserve for the day in the midst of the southern Karoo semi-desert region & saw some of the big five… magnificent. Did spot 4 elephants but dots on the horizon! Great guides & organisation Goodbye South Africa. It’s been an absolute blast 🇿🇦 @aquilasafaris @the_noellemason Paid in full Track : Cat Janice Dance You Outta My Head @cat.janice You may have seen this brave lady in the news who has terminal cancer … she’s handed over the rights to this song to her 7 year old son so he gets the royalties for his future x
Brand new week. Brand new studios. Early alarm call… Breakfast Show with @bbcradio2 Thanks to the fab Prod Squad & S Ms today guiding me through the new tech & faders. Incredible new studios… what does this button do? 🤔🤣 Plus Ian who donated his breakfast bar when my tummy grumbled on air… classy Chappers @itsjordanhemingway Breakfast Producer @flooo_hatton @georgiasonair @thepatrickt @theelliebrennan #Maddog #Antony @paulscott85 See you bright & early tomorrow x
Surely Marti Pellow has to be the ultimate Valentine’s Day Guest on the Breakfast Show @bbcradio2 – Love Is All Around ❤️ He’s putting on a brave face, but I think I was squeezing him just a little bit too hard 🤣 Over keen Chappers Marti kicks off his Popped In Souled Out solo tour in March. Listen again to our chat on @bbcsounds @martipellowofficial 📸 @snappersass / @bbcradio2
This lovely lady joined us this morning on The Breakfast Show @bbcradio2 Alesha Dixon has more energy than most & the best laugh ever… Always impressed when someone walks into the studio singing! We chatted about the new series of BGT, Simon Cowell’s sleeping habits 🤣 the importance of world book day plus her brand new book Luna Wolf 2: Code Danger which is out now. Who knew this is her 8th book to be published 👏👏👏👏 Listen again @bbcsounds An absolute joy- thank you @aleshaofficial
