Bishops want religious content on Radio 1

Catholic and Anglican church leaders are urging the BBC to add religious output to Radio 1's programming schedule.

The Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch, the Bishop of Manchester, and John Arnold, the Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster have told the BBC Trust that they wanted religion to be included on Radio 1 in the same way as on Radios 2, 3 and 4.

The group says the station's target audience has a "thirst for spiritual input" that is greater than in older age-groups.

A Church of England spokesman said "There seems to be a sort of closed door. What there needs to be is a sense that these are not questions that are off-limits, these are questions that can be addressed...There are places in Radio 1 output where it would be possible to reflect people's spiritual needs, desires and concerns."

Elsewhere, DJ Jo Whiley apologised earlier this week after she accidentally swore live on air. The DJ, 41, made the slip when she read out a text, trying to say the words "East Kent Cup" and accidentally saying "East **** Cup."