Radio 1 has announced that 33 new presenter guests will take over the radio station from Boxing Day until New Years Day. The call for DJ’s and presenters was put out in October to give emerging talent the chance of a lifetime to take over the station hosting one-off programmes over the festive period. BBC News reported Head of Radio 1, Aled Hayden Jones to of said, “I can’t wait to hear our latest batch of presenters on air over the festive period, and I look forward to seeing what 2021 has in store for them all.”
Introducing all 33 of Radio 1’s new Christmas Presenters Class of 2020!
Congratulations to all of you!
Thank you to everyone who submitted a demo, we again had 1,100 entries. I’m sorry if this year wasn’t yours but let’s see what 2021 brings! https://t.co/XWtbtajS2X
— Aled Haydn Jones (@ahj) December 3, 2020
Will Kirk, who works in marketing from Sheffield, is amongst the lucky 33 to be chosen for this exciting opportunity. Will, 22 has a profound hearing loss in both ears and wears hearing aids. He will be fronting the Radio 1 Drum and bass show and will be radio 1’s first hard-of-hearing DJ. He told BBC News, “I got my first hearing aid at 11 months old. It’s something I’ve always known, that’s always been a part of me. I like to make a good joke because I can’t change it so I might as well make people laugh about it.”
Will intends to inspire others with hearing difficulties to follow in his footsteps. He talks to BBC News about his hobby and encourages other’s to do the same by saying, “To come up and have DJing as a hobby when you are deaf just seems like a ridiculous combination – but just go for it. I’m sure anybody that’s disabled will say you can find a way to get things done and don’t let anything pull you down – including yourself. Don’t pull yourself down about anything, just go out there and do it.”
Jevanni Letford, a previous lawyer from East London, moved into a career in radio and music and is now the official tour DJ for KSI . She will cover Rickie, Melvin and Charlie’s show. Danny Diston from Cornwall, works as a teaching assistant in a school for special educational needs and will front Radio 1’s life hacks. Metro reported Nels Hylton, who will be the first black presenter to host Radio 1’s Rock Show to of said, “It’s really humbling to be selected as part of Radio 1’s Christmas line-up, even more so to be the first Black broadcaster to present the Radio 1 Rock Show. I can’t wait to host the show and prove that rock music is for everybody.”
The presenters that have been chose from the student and community radio include DJ and YouTuber Shay Sade, from no signal radio Dean McCullough and previous volunteer for Wandsworth radio, Bolton FM and Gaydio, Ellen Macleod. Ellen is currently at the University of Salford and has mobility difficulties. She manages the student radio and co-hosts a podcast with two friends. There are sure to be many tuning in to the emerging talent, who will be entertaining us with their talent over the festive period.
List of presenters
Alex West, 22, from Reading, and Numi Gildert, 26, from Macclesfield (The Official Chart on Radio 1)
Cal Carthy, 25, from Hertfordshire (Radio 1 Dance)
Connor Coates, 27, from Belfast (Radio 1’s Dance Anthems)
Dan Alani, 29, from Birmingham (Radio 1’s Future Sounds)
Danni Diston, 23, from Cornwall, and Sam MacGregor, 22, from Maidenhead (Radio 1’s Life Hacks)
Darcy Kelly, 20, from Jersey (Radio 1 Anthems)
Dave Treacy, 39, from Dublin (Danny Howard)
Dean McCullough, 28, from Belfast (Radio 1 Anthems)
DJ Davda, 21, from London (Radio 1’s Soundsystem)
DJ Nate, 31, from Ealing (Boxing Day afternoon on 1Xtra)
Ellen Macleod, 20, from Bolton (The Happy Hour from Radio 1)
Emily Pilbeam, 23, from Leeds (BBC Introducing on Radio 1)
James Cusack, 33, from Manchester (Radio 1 Anthems)
Jess Iszatt, 29, from Hertfordshire (Radio 1’s Chillest Show)
Jevanni Letford, 31, from London (Rickie, Melvin and Charlie)
Kerrie Cosh, 29, from Northamptonshire (Radio 1 Anthems)
Laurie Charlesworth, 27, from Leicester (Radio 1’s Drum & Bass Show)
Mo Ayoub, 26, from London (Benji B)
Nels Hylton, 24, from London (Radio 1’s Rock Show)
Nikki Tesla, 26, from Birmingham (Annie Nightingale)
Rakeem Omar, 28, from Birmingham (Radio 1 Anthems)
Rebekah Walker, 26, from London (Radio 1 Anthems)
Robyn Richford, 28, from Glasgow (Radio 1 Anthems)
Sarah Gosling, 27, from Devon (Radio 1’s Future Artists)
Sarah Story, 31, from Carlisle (Radio 1’s Dance Party)
Shay Sade, 26, from Kingston (Radio 1’s Future Sounds)
Shivani Dave, 25, from Swindon (Radio 1 Anthems)
Spin-Milz, 20, from Chingford (The 1Xtra Takeover)
Vicky Hawkesworth, 24, from Bolton (Radio 1 Anthems)
Victoria Jane, 22, from Manchester (The 1Xtra Takeover)
Will Kirk, 22, from Sheffield (Guest mix for Radio 1’s Drum & Bass Show)
