Media

Jo Whiley leaves Radio 1, kick starts game of radio presenter musical chairs

By | Published on Wednesday 2 February 2011

Jo Whiley

It’s all go at the BBC’s pop music radio stations this week, the Corporation has just announced changes to it presenter positions on Radio 1, Radio 2 and 6music which will come into effect in the spring. Jo Whiley has finally outgrown Radio 1 after seventeen years and will be shunted off the Radio 2, Huw Stephens will take over her weekend slot on Radio 1 and in turn Matt Edmondson will take over his Wednesday evening show.

Meanwhile, Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie will see their Radio 2 evening show shift over to 6music at lunchtime, though both will also launch new solo shows on Radio 2. Nemone, who loses her daily show on 6, will take over the station’s weekend breakfast show.

From 4 Apr, Whiley will present a new hour and a half evening show on Radio 2 from 8pm from Monday to Wednesday. The show will see her recommending new music and unearthing tracks rarely heard elsewhere on the station. She will also continue to host the ‘In Concert’ show on Thursday evenings.

Whiley said of her departure from Radio 1: “I’ve loved working at Radio 1 for the past seventeen years. It’s given me opportunities I could only have dreamt of – Coldplay’s first Live Lounge, Arctic Monkeys covering Girls Aloud’s ‘Love Machine’, Jay-Z performing live in my own lounge – I’ve even measured the distance between Bono’s nipples live on air… don’t ask. As well as supporting my love of music, Radio 1 have also supported and accommodated me bringing three further children into the world, something, as a woman, I will always be grateful for”.

Huw Stephens said of his new position on Radio 1: “I love presenting on Radio 1 and can’t wait to present my own weekend show. Taking over from Jo Whiley is a real honour. She’s a brilliant broadcaster and an inspiration and I hope to continue with Jo’s enthusiasm and love for music on the show. My current shows give me the chance to dig deep and champion exciting emerging music, so I look forward to adding new sounds to weekend afternoons”.

On the same day Whiley joins Radio 2, ‘The Radcliffe And Maconie Show’, which has graced the evening schedule on Radio 2, will move to the 1-4pm slot on 6music. Stuart Maconie will continue to present ‘Freak Zone’ on 6, which is good news. Both will also remain on Radio 2 as solo presenters, with Mark Radcliffe launching a new late night show on Tuesday evenings from 11pm to midnight, and Maconie broadcasting a series of documentaries in 2012.

Radcliffe said of the move to 6music: “Moving to 6music is a wonderful opportunity for Stuart and I to be part of the digital radio revolution and also the establishment of MediaCityUK in Salford. We feel like we have signed up to the future in a big way. The music policy of 6 is right up our street with its blend of heritage tracks and emerging new talent”.

Maconie added: “6music provides a priceless service to its legions of fans and I’m happy to be joining the merry bandwagon of joy. The usual inane banter will remain, the only difference will be the hour – let there be light!”

I think that’s everything.



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