Victoria Easton Riley Returns to BBC Scotland as Head of Audio and Events

Image: BBC Press

By Jon Donnis

BBC Scotland has announced the appointment of Victoria Easton Riley as its new Head of Audio and Events. Currently Director of Content for Scotland and Northern Ireland at Bauer Media, Victoria will rejoin the BBC to lead the creative and editorial direction of BBC Radio Scotland. Her new responsibilities will include overseeing commissioning, managing production teams across speech, music, topical and entertainment, and guiding the station through a new phase of digital and on-demand development. She will also join the BBC Scotland Executive Team, where her strategic expertise will contribute to the wider vision for Scottish broadcasting.

Victoria began her career at the BBC, producing major radio programmes such as The Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw, The Official Chart, and Scott Mills, while also contributing to Absolute Radio, BBC Radio 5 Live and 1Xtra. Her move to Bauer in 2019 marked the beginning of a transformative era for the company's flagship Scottish stations, where she led content and brand strategy that resulted in record-breaking audience figures for Clyde 1 and Forth 1. Known for her innovative approach and audience-first mindset, Victoria also spearheaded initiatives promoting gender equality in broadcasting, including the Women in Programming scheme. She was made a Fellow of The Radio Academy in 2022, one of the UK radio industry's highest honours.

BBC Scotland Director Hayley Valentine welcomed the appointment, describing Victoria as "a brilliant creative leader with a deep understanding of the sector." Valentine highlighted her proven track record in both content creation and leadership, and noted that Victoria's experience would be invaluable in steering BBC Radio Scotland through a period of exciting transformation. "This is a key position as we continue to evolve our audio services and bring the broadest range of cultural content to our audiences. Victoria's passion for innovation, her commitment to audience engagement, and her talent for nurturing creative teams will help us achieve that."

Victoria Easton Riley expressed her enthusiasm for the role, calling her return to the BBC "an incredible opportunity" to help shape the future of Scottish audio. "It's been a privilege to work with some brilliant people and brands during my time at Bauer, but I'm absolutely thrilled to be coming back to the BBC. I'm passionate about creating bold, distinctive content that connects with audiences across the country, and I can't wait to get started." She will take up the post later this summer, joining at a time when BBC Scotland is placing a strong emphasis on innovation, on-demand content, and expanding its reach through digital platforms.

Her appointment comes as the BBC continues to evolve its radio and audio output in line with changing listener habits and new technologies. With an already impressive career that spans major stations, nationally recognised programmes, and industry accolades, Victoria is well-positioned to lead BBC Radio Scotland into its next chapter, one that promises to blend creativity with technology and tradition with innovation.