Richard Rees retires from BBC after 50 years – end date set for BBC Radio Cymru programme

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Radio presenter Richard Rees has announced he is retiring after 50 years at the BBC.

He shared the news on his BBC Radio Cymru program this morning, a show he’s hosted for more than 20 years.

Throughout his career, Rees has hosted several radio shows for the BBC, including Sosban and Ar Hyd y Nos on BBC Radio Cymru, and Rockpile and Get Set on BBC Radio Wales. His last show will air on April 11th.

I first started following his work back in 1974 when he was doing freelance presenting and producing for Swansea Sound. Before joining the BBC in 1976, he was also a researcher for HTV, working on news and current affairs programs. It was clear even then he had a real talent!

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I’ve been incredibly lucky to work with the BBC in Wales for fifty years – it’s truly been a privilege and an honour. I feel so fortunate to have been welcomed into people’s homes through the radio and to have connected with audiences and individuals all over the country. Representing such a famous and respected broadcasting service has been a real honour too.

I’ve truly enjoyed working with the amazingly talented people at the BBC – the producers, technicians, contributors, and other presenters. Many have become close, lifelong friends. I’ll always remember the BBC as a wonderful place to work, where the teams felt like family, and creativity and friendship thrived.

I remember when Huw Rees really came into his own at BBC Cymru. It wasn’t long after he started – just two years, actually – and suddenly he was the main presenter, handling all their evening news programs. He quickly became the face of their nightly broadcasts, and it was impressive to watch!

Dafydd Meredydd, editor at BBC Radio Cymru, praised Richard for his many years of dedication. He said Richard was one of the first voices on the station and has been a comforting presence for listeners for generations, all while being a strong supporter of Welsh music.

Huw Stephens’ passion and commitment to music have greatly benefited Welsh culture and been central to the unique sound of BBC Radio Cymru since its start. We’re thrilled to have Huw join us on Saturday mornings, and we extend our heartfelt thanks and best wishes to Richard as he begins his well-deserved retirement.

From mid-April, Huw Stephens will take over with a new Saturday morning show from 5:30 to 7am.

He expressed his excitement about launching a new weekly show on BBC Sounds and Saturday mornings on BBC Radio Cymru. After a quarter-century of late-night Welsh broadcasting, he described the program as a lively musical exploration of artists he loves.

It’s a real honor to be on Radio Cymru, and I’d love for you to tune in each week to hear a curated selection of music. Sending best wishes and gratitude to Richard Rees for all the great music he’s shared with us over the years.

Authors

Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

As a huge fan of all things entertainment, I’ve been following Katelyn Mensah’s work for a while now. She’s the Senior Entertainment Writer over at TopMob, and she really covers it all – from the biggest shows and reality TV to those incredibly powerful documentaries that stick with you. Before TopMob, she was writing about reality TV and showbiz for The Tab, and she’s got a solid journalism background with a BA (Hons) degree, so she clearly knows her stuff!

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2026-04-04 13:10