Liza Tarbuck swaps Radio 2 for a potter's wheel in new TV role
After leaving her beloved 14-year Radio 2 show, broadcaster Liza Tarbuck now hosts a celebrity pottery competition on Channel 4, while hinting at a possible return to radio in a new form.
British broadcaster and actor Liza Tarbuck stepped away from her long-running Radio 2 Saturday evening show earlier this year, ending a 14-year run that had built a devoted following. The show, known for its freewheeling mix of chat and eclectic music spanning decades, drew around two million listeners and received roughly 50 messages per minute, more than any other programme on the station. Its final episode aired in January, though Tarbuck's departure wasn't publicly confirmed until March, when she posted a handwritten farewell note on social media.
Tarbuck has dismissed speculation that illness prompted her exit, explaining that after 36 years on and off with Radio 2, it simply felt like the right time to move on. She joins a string of well-known presenters who have left the station in recent years. Asked about a possible comeback, she says she has no firm plans yet, but is open to exploring platforms such as YouTube or Patreon for future audio projects.
New television venture
Tarbuck is now returning to screens as host of The Great Celebrity Pottery Throw Down, a celebrity spin on Channel 4's ceramics competition. Over five weeks, six contestants, including comedians and a former footballer, learn to work the potter's wheel under the guidance of the show's judges.
Tarbuck notes that for several contestants, the process became unexpectedly therapeutic, helping them process experiences ranging from ADHD diagnoses to recovery from addiction. She describes herself as more of a ceramics collector than a maker, but says she enjoys hands-on hobbies like gardening and painting. Looking ahead, she is also developing other project ideas, including a concept for a history-focused programme.
