Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

BBC Asian Network to launch first-ever Official British Asian Chart Show

Hosted by the station's Jasmine Takhar, the weekly show will celebrate the best of British Asian music.

BBC Asian Network to launch first-ever Official British Asian Chart Show

BBC Asian Network has announced the launch of the first-ever official British Asian Chart Show, coming to the station on Thursdays (9pm-10pm) from 18 April.

Hosted by the station’s Jasmine Takhar, the weekly show will celebrate the best of British Asian music, with a one-hour rundown of the top 20 biggest tracks - as compiled by the Official Charts Company based on sales and streams across the UK.


Jasmine currently hosts BBC Introducing on the Asian Network (Tuesdays, 8pm-10pm), where she champions new, unsigned, and under the radar artists.

Jasmine Takhar says: “I’m so gassed for the new show! This is a monumental moment not just for the station but for the scene. To be asked to host this at a time where the industry is celebrating and pushing British Asian music to the forefront is definitely something I’m proud of.”

The Official Asian Music Chart will continue on Fridays (3pm-6pm) with Nayha, celebrating Asian music from across the globe.

It was also announced that after an incredible 12 years, Noreen Khan, who currently presents Sunday 9pm-11pm, will leave the network.

Noreen’s last show will be 25 February and she will host the Asian Network Comedy Gala in Glasgow (29 February) before she hands the reigns over. The Sunday slot will be hosted by some exciting guest presenters over the next few months.

Noreen Khan says: “I’ve had such a brilliant time at the Asian Network! The years flew by and I built a real genuine connection with the listeners, who felt like extended family. It always felt like such a privilege to be in that studio daily doing something I loved.

“I felt the time was right to be able to go and just explore all the places and things I’ve always wanted to do. I’ll miss the listeners and all the people I worked with over the years and want to say thanks to everyone who’s been a part of this lovely, incredible radio journey!”.

In other changes, AJD Thursdays will move to a new time slot of 6pm-9pm, with an additional hour of the best and newest Punjabi sounds from across the world. DJ Nish will step down from her current Thursday evening show (8pm-10pm), her last show will be on 11 April.

Mehreen Baig (Saturdays, 1pm-3pm) will leave the network and Beyond Bollywood with Haroon (Saturdays, 11am-1pm) will come to an end from 24 February. Mehreen will host the third series of Not Even Water podcast, which will launch for Ramadan in March before leaving the station. Haroon will continue to champion Bollywood during his usual weekday shows (Monday-Friday, 11am-3pm).

Ahmed Hussain, Head of Asian Network, says: “The launch of The Official British Asian Chart has been a long time coming, and I’m really excited for the UK Asian music scene, with Asian Network at the forefront! This will give all of our artists a bigger chance to hit the top 10 and beyond!

“I also want to thank Noreen Khan for such an exceptional time at Asian Network, she is a dear friend to everyone at the station and our listeners, and I wish her all the best with her new ventures.

“A massive thank you to Mehreen and DJ Nish too, who have brought their own unique energy to the airwaves, they all remain part of the wider Asian Network family!”.

More For You

Henry Cavill

The remake is being directed by Chad Stahelski

Getty Images

Henry Cavill injury pushes back ‘Highlander’ remake to 2026

Highlights:

  • Actor Henry Cavill injured during training before filming began on Highlander.
  • The remake of the 1986 fantasy-action classic will now start production in 2026.
  • Cast includes Russell Crowe, Karen Gillan and Dave Bautista.
  • Film directed by Chad Stahelski for Amazon MGM Studios’ United Artists.

Injury delays production

British actor Henry Cavill has suffered an injury during pre-production training for the remake of Highlander. The incident occurred just days before filming was due to begin, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

As a result, production on the fantasy-action reboot has been pushed back and is now expected to begin in 2026.

Keep ReadingShow less
Coldplay Wembley record

Coldplay light up Wembley with a record 10-night run

Instagram/coldplay

Coldplay break Wembley Stadium record overtaking Taylor Swift as Chris Martin signals world tour pause

Highlights:

  • Coldplay end their record-breaking 10-night run at Wembley Stadium
  • The shows are part of their global Music of the Spheres Tour
  • The tour has now sold over 12 million tickets worldwide
  • Friday’s show was rescheduled after a transport strike in London

Coldplay have celebrated their record-breaking achievement at Wembley Stadium with a dazzling finale, making headlines as they set a new benchmark for live music. The British band’s 10-night stint marked the longest run of concerts ever at the venue, cementing their legacy while also driving massive global interest in their Wembley Stadium record. The marathon shows form part of their ongoing Music of the Spheres Tour, which has already sold more than 12 million tickets worldwide.

Coldplay light up Wembley with a record 10-night run Instagram/coldplay

Keep ReadingShow less
Sarm Heslop

Friends describe Sarm, 41, as a “free spirit” who embraced adventure

MissingSarmHeslop

Sarm Heslop: BBC documentary explores the mystery around disappearance of British woman

Highlights:

  • CCTV footage released to the BBC shows Sarm Heslop boarding a dinghy with boyfriend Ryan Bane on the night she vanished.
  • Six hours later, she was reported missing from his yacht in the US Virgin Islands.
  • Her body has never been found, and her disappearance remains unsolved.
  • Police say the timeline provided by Bane is inconsistent with verified CCTV evidence.
  • Friends and family continue to press for answers, calling for a murder investigation.

The last sighting

Newly released CCTV footage shows British woman Sarm Heslop and her boyfriend Ryan Bane leaving a bar in St John, US Virgin Islands, on 7 March 2021. The couple can be seen boarding a dinghy and motoring into the Caribbean night, heading for Bane’s yacht, Siren Song.

Six hours later, Sarm was reported missing. Despite an extensive search, she has never been found.

Keep ReadingShow less
Steven Spielberg Jaws career

Steven Spielberg revisits the turbulent shoot of Jaws five decades later

Getty Images

Steven Spielberg reveals ‘Jaws’ nearly sank his career as ocean shoot spiralled into chaos

Highlights:

  • Director marks 50 years of Jaws with new exhibition in Los Angeles
  • Reveals how shooting at sea left crew seasick and production over budget
  • Says he feared being fired during delays caused by malfunctioning mechanical sharks
  • Jaws went on to earn £192 million (₹2,301 crore as of 12 Sep 2025) and redefine the summer blockbuster

As the 50th anniversary of Jaws is celebrated, director Steven Spielberg has reflected on the chaotic making of the thriller, describing how the troubled shoot pushed him to the brink of thinking his career was finished. Speaking at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, where a new exhibition is opening to mark the milestone, Spielberg said the filming of the mechanical shark epic left him convinced he would “never get hired again”.

Steven Spielberg Jaws career Steven Spielberg revisits the turbulent shoot of Jaws five decades later Getty Images

Keep ReadingShow less
Margot Robbie thong look

Margot Robbie’s thong and Dakota Johnson’s sheer Gucci prove naked dressing is ruling 2025 red carpets

Getty Images

Margot Robbie bares all in thong look while Dakota Johnson stuns in sheer Gucci as naked dressing takes over

Highlights:

  • Margot Robbie revealed a bedazzled thong beneath a sheer Armani Privé gown at a London premiere.
  • Dakota Johnson attended Kering’s Caring for Women gala in New York in a floral-embroidered sheer Gucci dress.
  • The two separate outings in different cities fuelled the naked dressing conversation across red carpets.
  • The trend of sheer, lingerie-inspired couture continues to dominate major events in 2025.

Margot Robbie bares her butt in one high-profile moment while Dakota Johnson made headlines for a separate sheer Gucci look, but the two were not at the same event. Robbie returned to the red carpet in London wearing a sheer Armani Privé couture gown that exposed a bedazzled thong, while Johnson attended Kering’s Caring for Women gala in New York in a see-through Gucci dress embroidered with floral motifs. Together, the appearances proved how naked dressing like sheer fabrics and lingerie silhouettes is shaping this year’s red carpet conversations across different cities.

Margot Robbie thong look Margot Robbie’s thong and Dakota Johnson’s sheer Gucci prove naked dressing is ruling 2025 red carpets Getty Images

Keep ReadingShow less