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BBC Radio 5 Live will bring listeners Premier League Kick-Off from 19:00 on Friday, 18 September 2026, with the programme available on BBC Radio 5 Live, the BBC Sounds app and BBC Sport Online as an audio stream. The Friday evening slot is part of the BBC’s expanded Premier League audio offering, and it gives British fans a straightforward way to follow the build-up to the weekend’s football without needing a television subscription.
The show will be presented by Rick Edwards, a familiar BBC broadcaster who has become one of the corporation’s regular live sport and features hosts. He is joined by a strong panel of ex-players in David James, Kevin Nolan and Phil Jagielka, giving the programme the sort of match insight and dressing-room experience that listeners expect from top-level football discussion.
David James, born in 1970, remains one of the most recognisable goalkeepers of the Premier League era. He made more than 500 league appearances across a long club career and won 53 England caps, so his views on tactics, goalkeeping and pressure moments carry obvious authority. His presence on the BBC’s football coverage continues a media career that has seen him work across analysis, punditry and football debate.
Kevin Nolan brings a different perspective, having built his reputation as a Premier League midfielder and later as a manager. Best known for his time with Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United and West Ham United, Nolan was admired for his goals from midfield and leadership qualities. That background usually makes him particularly sharp on team shape, dressing-room mentality and the demands placed on players during a long season.
Phil Jagielka also adds plenty of experience from the top flight, having spent the peak of his career with Sheffield United, Everton and Derby County. A former England international and Premier League captain, Jagielka is well placed to discuss defending, game management and the small details that often decide tight matches. Together, the panel offers a balanced mix of attacking, defensive and leadership experience.
The BBC’s radio rights are especially important for British audiences because BBC Radio 5 Live now holds a long-term audio deal for Premier League coverage through to the 2028/29 season, with live commentary and analysis available across the station and BBC Sounds. That means fans can follow key fixtures on the move, at work or at home, with the BBC’s digital platforms making the coverage easy to access throughout the weekend.
For listeners who want more background on the competition itself, the Premier League remains the top division of English football and one of the most followed sports leagues in the world. Friday night’s Premier League Kick-Off programme is designed to set the tone for the round ahead, offering early team talk, expert opinion and the sort of authoritative preview that remains a staple of British football broadcasting.
With Rick Edwards steering the conversation and three well-known former professionals supplying analysis, BBC Radio 5 Live’s Friday evening show should provide a useful and entertaining start to the weekend’s football coverage. For UK supporters, it is a simple reminder that some of the best Premier League build-up is still only a radio stream away.
Article generated: 18 September 2026, 19:00 GMT