Latest news about BBC Radio 1

Greg James sends message to teenage hospital radio host

Greg James has recorded a special video message for a 15 year old hospital radio presenter who’s broadcasting shows to patients from a gazebo in her garden. The Radio 1 breakfast show presenter has also invited Amy Cardno from Forth Valley Royal Hospital’s Radio Royal in central Scotland to sit in on his show once the lockdown has finished. Amy – better known to her listeners as ‘Wee Amy’ – featured in an STV News report, with Greg sending the programme a video message to Amy to be included. Greg told her: “I wanted to send you a message because I heard all about your extraordinary work on your hospital radio station"...

Radio 1 makes Stay Home Live Lounge to raise money

BBC Radio 1 is to record its biggest ever Live Lounge for charity amid the coronavirus crisis, featuring Dua Lipa, Chris Martin, AJ Tracey, Rita Ora, Ellie Goulding and more. The Stay Home Live Lounge will be broadcast for the first time across Radio 1, Radio 2, 1Xtra, 6Music and Asian Network from midday on Thursday 23 April and will see some of the music industry’s biggest stars collaborate on a cover of Foo Fighters’ ‘Times Like These’ to raise money for charities, with the accompanying video to receive its world exclusive premiere during BBC One’s The Big Night In...

Europe’s Biggest Dance Show returns to Radio 1

Europe’s Biggest Dance Show returns with seven radio stations from seven different countries coming together for another seven-hour dance music simulcast. BBC Radio 1 will be partnering with stations from across the European Broadcasting Union to broadcast the dance marathon. Annie Mac will kick the show off at 7pm on Friday 8 May 2020 with an hour of exclusive mixes and interviews from UK acts before handing over to the next country. Annie says: “When we did this last year it was unprecedented and the reaction was huge. It felt genuinely special. This event is about harnessing the collective listening experience of radio, it’s about togetherness and I look forward to sharing my show with millions more listeners and six more radio stations.”...

Danny Howard takes Pete Tong’s slot at BBC Radio 1

BBC Radio 1 is launching a new Friday night schedule which will see presenter Danny Howard take over Pete Tong’s show. In return, Pete Tong will move to the 11pm till 1am show whilst Annie Mac continues to host 7pm till 9pm. Danny says: “The last two-and-a-half years on the late-night Friday slot have been the best years of my radio career so far and definitely some of the most fun! From co-hosts with the world’s biggest DJ’s to nurturing new talent from the ground up has been incredibly fulfilling and something I’m super proud of...

BBC Radio stations unite for Great British Singalong

The BBC’s national music stations are uniting on Thursday for the Great British Singalong designed to lift the nation’s spirits. BBC Radio 1, Radio 2, 6 Music, 1Xtra and the Asian Network will come together at 9am this Thursday, with each station bringing along one song that they think the public will love to join in with, wherever they are. Greg James will be leading the singalong on Radio 1 with Dermot O’Leary (who is covering for Zoe Ball) on Radio 2, Lauren Laverne on 6 Music, Dotty on 1Xtra, and Harpz Kaur on the Asian Network. Ahead of Thursday morning, each station will be asking their listeners which track they should bring to the singalong, but the final song choices will lie with each of the presenters...

Audio: Radio industry unites to thank the NHS

Radio stations all over the UK came together to thank NHS workers during the coronavirus pandemic. A mass applause, coordinated under the #clapforourcarers hashtag on social media, showed the country’s gratitude to all the nurses, doctors, GPs, carers and many others working tirelessly to help fight the virus. Industry body Radiocentre encouraged stations from every corner of the UK to take part, with stations including Heart, Capital, LBC, Hits Radio, Absolute Radio, BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2 and 5 Live, and Nation Radio, encouraged their millions of listeners to join the applause at their windows, front doors and balconies...

Radio 1 changes schedule during coronavirus crisis

BBC Radio 1 is making changes to its schedule during the coronavirus crisis so it can continue its output while helping presenters and staff protect themselves and others. The duration of daytime shows will increase, meaning fewer presenters will be in the studio throughout the day. Instead of five shows across the day 4am until 7pm, there will now only be four. A small number of presenters will therefore rotate each week. The new schedule will come into effect from Monday 30 March and will remain under review for the foreseeable future. Outside of daytimes the schedule will remain unchanged...

Temporary weekend schedule for Radio 6 Music

BBC Radio 6 Music will operate with an amended, streamlined weekend schedule, with longer shows starting this Saturday. The BBC says it is having to make temporary changes in order to keep schedules and stations going whilst dealing with unprecedented pressure on our resources, as a result of COVID-19. BBC Radio 1 and BBC Local Radio stations have already announced measures to streamline their schedules, whilst 5 Live is sharing programmes overnight...

Radio stations to unite with You’ll Never Walk Alone

You’ll Never Walk Alone will be played out simultaneously on a number of radio stations this Friday morning. NPO 3FM presenter Sander Hoogendoorn had the idea to bring all radio stations in the Netherlands together during the corona crisis, but now BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2 and dozens more across Europe are joining in. Bauer’s Greatest Hits Radio will play the tune during Breakfast with Simon Ross from Liverpool, along with the Breakfast shows on Hits Radio stations in England, plus Country Hits Radio...

The Young Audio Awards event has been postponed

The upcoming Young Audio Awards event at the BBC Radio Theatre has been postponed following the latest government advice on the coronavirus. The awards for young people in radio and audio was scheduled to take place on Match 27th in London. The ceremony would have been hosted by awards’ ambassadors Matt Edmondson and Mollie King from BBC Radio 1, and KISS FM’s Swarzy and Tyler West...