Farewell, Liza Tarbuck – our Saturdays evenings have lost their light

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If you haven’t heard terms like ‘murmuration,’ ‘mohomes,’ ‘Top Bird Trumpingtons,’ or someone shouting ‘Pauline!’ on the radio, let me tell you, you’re missing out! It means you’ve never experienced the pure joy – and delightful weirdness – of listening to Radio 2 on Saturday evenings at 6pm. It’s honestly the most fun two hours on the air.

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to enjoy that experience anymore. Liza Tarbuck, the wonderful host of the BBC show, has decided not to return after taking some time off, as she wants her weekends free.

This isn’t meant to be a farewell, but her devoted listeners – known as the ‘murmuration’ – felt a real loss when they learned she wouldn’t be on the radio anymore. Before the news was official, and when people thought she was just taking a break, a coworker predicted a strong reaction if Radio 2 ever let Liza go. Now, there’s bound to be a lot of disappointment and sadness.

Since she started her show in 2012, and continuing until her last episode on January 17th of this year, she built a dedicated following who loved to share everything from funny family phrases and their grandparents’ mixed-up sayings, to stories about everyday mishaps and, most importantly, what they were having for dinner and where they were camping in their RV for the night.

The funniest stories had a wonderful effect on the radio, often sending Liza into uncontrollable giggles because of how absurd they were. She had a knack for finding humor in even the most awful situations, much like Mel Brooks’ idea that everyday mishaps are sad, but truly terrible accidents are funny. The more someone suffered in the story, the more laughter it seemed to inspire.

It wasn’t done out of anger or ill will; she genuinely loved her listeners and felt a connection with them. Beyond mentioning her father and Pauline, it was the people who wrote in, participated in the weekly fancy dress ice skating, or simply enjoyed her diverse music – everything from old jazz to Bruno Mars – who felt like family. It was a bit like a flock of birds, all moving together.

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Liza announced her departure from the radio station on Instagram, sharing how they’d created a close, community-like atmosphere during her two-hour shows. She expressed gratitude for the experience, saying it was a privilege to be a part of something where listeners felt like friends and enjoyed each other’s company.

In a 2022 article for TopMob celebrating the show’s tenth anniversary, Liza explained that its success was due to the strong connection with its listeners. She noted the show receives an incredible amount of feedback – around 50 texts and emails every minute – and credited the listeners’ stories with keeping the show going strong.

We just want to share funny stories and have a good time. I especially love the recent trend of people sharing things that have fallen on their heads. Someone emailed us about a squirrel falling from a tree onto his head, and the best part was that a bunch of kids saw it and started laughing – it was a hilarious situation!

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Though the show appeared chaotic, leading some to wonder if Liza was experiencing a hot flash or had a bit too much to drink, it was actually a well-planned two hours. Despite seeming genuinely surprised each time the ice skating music started, Liza showcased her extensive music knowledge with a playful touch, cheerfully introducing even songs with problematic lyrics with a lighthearted, “Listen to this!”

Liza Tarbuck was a unique presenter, and it’s unlikely anyone else at the BBC could have pulled off what she did. Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, announced her departure by saying Liza created a special and imaginative atmosphere every Saturday evening, and was loved by both the station’s staff and her many listeners. She added that Liza will always be welcome back at Radio 2. We can only hope she returns!

As Liza glides away, dressed in a dazzling gold jumpsuit covered with little bird decorations, a shimmering feather boa, and a unique fruit-and-nut hat created just for her, all we can do is describe her in six words or fewer.

Shine on you crazy diamond.

Authors

David Crawford

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2026-03-12 14:05