Liverpool born Leanne Campbell, who won Merseyside Woman of the Year in 2025, said she was driven by a love of “the buzz” of broadcasting and an affinity to her listeners.
“I don’t know where it comes from, I just work dead hard,” she said.
“I’m a Scouser, so I’m a grafter, and I don’t want anything I haven’t earned.”
She said she hoped she could show her audience that Radio Merseyside “is for everyone”.
Snell said he had been “trying to get Leanne to join Radio Merseyside for years”.
“Turns out the only way she’d come is if I gave her one of my shows,” he said.
On his decision to drop a day on air, he said: “I love being on the radio, but if you can believe it, I love not being on the radio too.
“Taking Friday back for me is something I’ve been thinking about for a while, and it’s the right time.”
BBC Radio Merseyside executive editor, Ben Anderson, added: “Radio Merseyside is going from strength to strength – we’re growing audiences and we’re bringing the big national awards back home.
” I think Leanne will help us to grow even more quickly, and she absolutely deserves her place on our line-up. This has always been the home of Merseyside’s best broadcasters, and Leanne undoubtedly fits the bill.”