Pet Shop Boys confirmed to play Radio 2 Piano Month

Pet Shop Boys will perform live for Radio 2’s Piano Room Month on Friday 23 February

Pet Shop Boys will be the final act performing on Friday 23rd February for BBC Radio 2’s Piano Room month, live from Maida Vale studios and accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra.

The duo will perform a new song, a classic track, and a cover version of David Bowie track (but one which was made famous by another artist!).

From Monday 29th January to Friday 23rd February in Vernon Kay’s mid-morning show – the most listened to radio programme in the UK (Monday to Friday, 9.30am-12pm) – a month of Piano Room performances takes place, featuring 20 of pop’s most loved artists singing live. As well as being on BBC Sounds, each performance will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer from later that day.

Pet Shop Boys said: “We’re delighted to be the final act announced for the Piano Room month on BBC Radio 2. We’re looking forward to performing with our old friends the BBC Concert Orchestra at Maida Vale Studios on February 23rd . As well as performing our new single and an old song, we will also be covering a David Bowie song, but a Bowie song made famous by someone else…”

Vernon said: “I thought it couldn’t get any better, but to have Pet Shop Boys joining the bill for Piano Room month is just the icing on the cake!”

Here is the full line-up for Piano Room Month:

Monday 29th January: Bruce Hornsby, performing a Don Henley cover version

Tuesday 30th January: Beverley Knight, performing a Radiohead cover version

Wednesday 31st January: The Libertines, performing a Love cover version

Thursday 1st February: PP Arnold, performing a Miley Cyrus cover version

Friday 2nd February: Gabrielle, performing a Lionel Richie cover version

Monday 5th February: Anastacia, performing a Whitesnake cover version

Tuesday 6th February: Olivia Dean, performing a Leonard Cohen cover version

Wednesday 7th February: Johnny Marr, performing an Iggy Pop cover version

Thursday 8th February: Shaznay, performing a No Doubt cover version

Friday 9th February: Rick Astley, performing an Olivia Rodrigo cover version

Monday 12th February: Texas, performing a Charles and Eddie cover version

Tuesday 13th February: Jalen Ngonda, performing a Beach Boys cover version

Wednesday 14th February: Valentine’s Day Special with Lisa Stansfield, performing a Lou Rawls cover version

Thursday 15th February: Crowded House, performing a Petula Clark cover version

Friday 16th February: Jess Glynne, performing a Fleetwood Mac cover version

Monday 19th February: Paloma Faith, performing a Tracy Chapman cover version

Tuesday 20th February: Delta Goodrem featuring special guest Gary Barlow, performing a Take That cover version

Wednesday 21st February: Elbow, performing a Louis Armstrong cover version

Thursday 22nd February: Rod Stewart with Jools Holland, performing a Billie Holiday cover version

Friday 23rd February: Pet Shop Boys, performing a David Bowie cover version

Pet Shop Boys, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, are listed in The Guinness Book of Records as the most successful duo in UK music history. Since releasing their last studio album, Hotspot, four years ago, they have toured the UK, Europe and Latin America with their acclaimed greatest hits show, Dreamworld, and toured arenas in North America with New Order in the Unity tour. Their latest album, produced by James Ford, will be released in 2024 and marks 40 years since the first Pet Shop Boys record was released.

Jeff Smith, Radio 2’s Head of Music, said: “I always aim to have a rich mix of new artists as well as established performers in the Radio 2 Piano Room, so to have Pet Shop Boys confirmed as our final brilliant act to round off the month is fantastic. Radio 2’s listeners love the duo – they delighted the crowd at Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park in 2019 and Neil Tennant was a special guest accompanying Jake Shears on ‘Rent’ for his Piano Room month cover last year, so to welcome Pet Shop Boys back for this unique session is a pleasure.”

BBC Radio 2 is the UK’s most listened to radio station, with a weekly audience of 13.5 million (RAJAR Q3, 2023). The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show is most listened to breakfast show in the UK with an audience of 6.5 million (RAJAR Q3, 2023). The network’s presenters include Michael Ball, Zoe Ball, Rob Beckett, Tony Blackburn, OJ Borg, Rev. Kate Bottley, Rylan, Fearne Cotton, Sara Cox, Jamie Cullum, Gary Davies, Paul Gambaccini, Angela Griffin, Bob Harris, Vernon Kay, Cerys Matthews, Scott Mills, Jason Mohammad, Trevor Nelson, Dermot O’Leary, Elaine Paige, Mark Radcliffe, Romesh Ranganathan, DJ Spoony, Liza Tarbuck, Jeremy Vine, Michelle Visage, Johnnie Walker, Jo Whiley, Phil Williams, Claudia Winkleman, Steve Wright and Owain Wyn Evans.