A major UK radio station faced an unexpected hurdle on Thursday as a fire alarm forced BBC Radio 2 off the air for the first time in decades. Host Jeremy Vine was in the midst of his show when news of the emergency broke, prompting a swift evacuation of the London studios.
Vine, taken aback by the sudden turn of events, informed his listeners of the situation and decided to play music as the evacuation unfolded. The station aired Gary Numan’s “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” as staff members hurriedly left the BBC Broadcasting House in central London.
The unplanned hiatus lasted approximately 15 minutes, during which the airwaves fell silent as fire crews assessed the situation. Vine later apologized to his audience for the interruption, explaining that it was a rare occurrence that hadn’t happened in 20 years. The fire alarm had triggered two different lights, indicating a potential fire, although it turned out to be a false alarm.
Following the chaotic evacuation, Vine announced the cancellation of a scheduled segment on cremations due to the unforeseen circumstances. Another show on the station, Radio 6 Music hosted by Lauren Laverne, was also briefly affected by the evacuation.
Despite the unexpected interruption, BBC Radio 2 resumed its regular programming after the all-clear was given. The incident served as a reminder of the importance of safety protocols in place to ensure the well-being of staff and guests at the broadcasting facility.
