Permanent shows for Steffan Powell and Rima Ahmed at 5 Live

BBC Radio 5 Live has appointed Steffan Powell as permanent Breakfast co-host on Fridays and Sundays, and Rima Ahmed joins from BBC Radio Leeds to co-host Fridays.

Former Newsbeat host Steffan will co-present Weekend Breakfast on Sundays alongside Jeanette Kwakye. The changes see him become a permanent member of the 5 Live presenting team, following regular stand-in appearances in recent years.

He arrives with eight years’ experience at BBC Radio 1’s Newsbeat, where he worked as a presenter and senior reporter. His career spans news, politics, current affairs, sport and factual entertainment across radio and television, developing a reputation for clear and accessible storytelling.

Speaking about the move, Steffan said: “Listening to the station as a student was the spark that got me hooked on radio. To be able to say that I now present Breakfast is a real pinch-me moment.” He added that the station already feels like home after working across the network in recent years.

Rima Ahmed also joins the 5 Live team ahead of the summer World Cup, co-hosting Friday Breakfast with Steffan. She moves across from BBC Radio Leeds, where she presents the Breakfast show, and is also known for the BBC Sounds podcast Strange But True Crime, as well as occasional presenting on BBC Radio 4’s Saturday PM.

She’ll stay on Radio Leeds, Monday to Thursday.

Rima said she was looking forward to joining a station that puts listeners at the heart of its output and described working alongside Steffan as “a real joy”.

Rick Edwards and Rachel Burden will continue to co-present 5 Live Breakfast Monday to Thursday, 6am – 9am.