Anneka Rice to replace Zoe Ball on Radio 2

Anneka Rice is to replace Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2's weekend breakfast show, confirming that the former Treasure Hunt presenter's star is well and truly back in the ascendant. Rice has been a regular stand-in on Radio 2 but begins presenting the show in her own right later this month. The presenter will also front two new peak-time shows on BBC TV after she was singled out by director general Mark Thompson as evidence of its commitment to put more older women on screen. Rice, 53, 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 any more." BBC1 controller Danny Cohen has confirmed plans are in hand to put Rice back on the small screen but has not released further details. Radio 2 listeners have heard Rice standing in on Alan Carr and Melanie Sykes's Saturday evening show Going Out, alongside Patrick Kielty. Rice, who became a household name on Channel 4's Treasure Hunt in the 1980s, and also presented BBC1's Challenge Anneka, starts her two-hour early breakfast show at 6am on 25 February. Theguardian .