The new Going Home on Radio 1 starts on Monday 4 March
BBC Radio 1 has announced that Katie Thistleton will join Vick Hope and Jamie Laing to co-host the new Going Home on Radio 1 (15:30 – 18:00, Monday to Thursday), starting on Monday 4 March.
Manchester-born Katie Thistleton joined Radio 1 in 2017 following her work on CBBC and has since presented various shows on the network, as well as working at the station’s flagship event, Radio 1’s Big Weekend. Katie currently hosts her own show (10:30 – 13:00, Friday – Saturday), plus Life Hacks (16:00 – 18:00, Sunday), and The Official Chart: First Look on Radio 1 (18:00-19:00 Sunday).
Vick Hope says, “Here we go, a new era…! I’m so happy to welcome Katie and Jamie as my new co-hosts for Going Home. Katie is such a special, important broadcaster, and one of my favourite people in the world. I’ve absolutely loved presenting Life Hacks together every Sunday for the last three years and in that time not only have we built a really strong, beautiful relationship with our listeners through thick and thin, but we’ve become such close friends. I’m so excited to get to work – and hang out – with each other every day and so glad our on-air journey together continues. And as for Jamie… he’s so much fun to be around, a really brilliant broadcaster. I’ve found him laugh-out-loud hilarious radio when he’s hosted with Matt, and when we covered together last year he brought such great energy. As a trio, right from our first demo in studio we’ve all been in stitches! I know the Going Home listeners will absolutely love both Katie and Jamie – I can’t wait for us to get going.”
Katie Thistleton says, “I am beyond thrilled to be joining Vick and Jamie on Going Home, I have loved filling in on the show for the past couple of years, working with Vick is always dreamy and I’m such a big fan of Jamie. I can’t wait for lots of fun chaos and playing the best tunes for that amazing drivetime audience, this is beyond my wildest dreams! Pinch me!”
Jamie Laing says, “So excited to have Katie joining Going Home with Vick and I. It already feels like a dream to be a part of the Radio 1 family so to get to work alongside such incredible people like Katie and Vick is the icing on the cake. I can’t wait to kick off the show next week – get ready for an afternoon of fun and antics!”
Aled Haydn-Jones (Head of BBC Radio 1) says, “I’m so excited for audiences to hear the new Going Home team. Vick, Katie and Jamie are phenomenal broadcasters who are very funny and warm. I can’t wait to hear what they bring from Monday.”
It was also announced today that Matt Edmondson and Mollie King, who currently present Matt and Mollie (13:00 – 16:00, Friday, Saturday, Sunday) will be moving to the afternoon show (13:00 – 15:30, Monday to Thursday) from July.
Matt and Mollie have been hosting Weekend Breakfast together since 2018, when former Saturdays band member Mollie joined Matt, and created the iconic pair that listeners know and love today. Mollie will continue to host Radio 1’s Future Pop (20:00 – 22:00, Wednesday) and an announcement will be made soon with details of Matt and Mollie’s current schedule time (13:00 – 16:00, Friday-Sunday).
Mollie King says, “I am absolutely ecstatic to be hosting a brand new weekday show for Radio 1 with Matt Edmondson. It is a real dream come true! We’ve been so grateful to have such wonderful and loyal listeners for our weekend show, I can’t wait to spend more time with them and my best bud, Matt, during the week!”
Matt Edmondson says, “Getting to spend my weekdays with Mollie and the Radio 1 listeners is an absolute dream. I feel really lucky to be taking on this new show with my best friend, and I have no doubt that we will continue to champion amazing music, be ridiculously competitive and laugh uncontrollably. I can’t wait!”
Aled Haydn-Jones (Head of BBC Radio 1) says, “Listeners are going to love hearing Matt and Mollie bring their wonderful humour to daytime. They have so many ideas that three days just wasn’t enough to fit them all in!”
Dean McCullough will take on Early Breakfast on Radio 1 (05:00 – 07:00, Monday – Thursday) which will make a move from London, to be broadcast live from Salford, Manchester, in July.
Northern Ireland’s Dean, permanently joined Radio 1 in 2021 following his time at LGBTQ+ station Gaydio. Dean originally hosted a weekend show at Radio 1 before joining forces with Vicky Hawkesworth to host afternoons following the departure of Scott Mills.
Dean McCullough says, “I’m really excited to be taking over the reins from the amazing Arielle Free. The Early Breakfast crew are the best listeners at Radio 1. I’m really excited to get stuck in and wake up the nation every morning.”
Aled Haydn-Jones (Head of BBC Radio 1) says, “I’d like to thank Dean for his contribution to making the afternoon show such a success. I couldn’t be happier for him as he progresses to his own show on Early Breakfast and warms up the audiences for Greg from Salford from July.”
Vicky Hawkesworth will join Nat O’Leary to present new shows (10:30 – 13:00, Friday – Sunday) from July. Vicky & Nat will be taking listeners through Anthems, 00s, and 10s over the extended weekend, showcasing the best known tunes from recent years.
Vicky Hawkesworth, who hails from Bolton, presented regular shows for BBC Radio Manchester and Gaydio, and covering a range of shows across Radio 1, before combining with Dean McCullough in 2022.
Nat O’Leary started her presenting career interviewing a host of celebrity guests for Pretty Little Thing’s ‘Behind Closed Doors’ podcast and has been presenting Radio 1 Anthems from Salford since 2021.
Vicky Hawkesworth says, “I’m going to miss working with my partner in crime Dean McCullough every day, but I’m excited for a new adventure and chapter with the fabulous Nat O’Leary! I’m so happy to be part of an all female duo – girl power!”
Nat O’Leary says, “I’m beyond excited to be joining the weekend team in full with my babes Vicky Hawksworth! Hosting the 00s show for the past year has been a dream come true and I can’t wait to be spending more time doing the thing I love most! Two girls on air together, on a weekend?! Let’s ‘av it!!!!”
Aled Haydn-Jones (Head of BBC Radio 1) says, “Vicky has been hugely successful in daytime and I’m very grateful for the light hearted humour she brings to the station. Vicky and Nat will continue the fun as a new team on weekends when they start in July creating a real Northern powerhouse.”
Liverpool-born drag queen and winner of the fourth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, Danny Beard, will be taking on the hosting duties of Katie Thistleton’s weekend shows from 8 March until Vicky and Nat’s new show begins in July.
Danny Beard says, “Katie’s show is one of my favourites to listen to on Radio 1, and I can’t wait to get stuck in with the listeners and hear all about their weekend antics whilst keeping them entertained and plied with excellent music. Bringing some Danny Beard magic to the daylight hours and Radio 1 is a real honour for me and I cannot wait to get started!”
Aled Haydn-Jones (Head of BBC Radio 1) says, “I’m delighted to welcome Danny to the station, they’re a comedy and Drag Queen icon. Audiences are going to love their quick wit and humour while they keep the weekend seat warm over the next few months.”
After handing over the presenting reigns to Dean, Arielle Free, who currently presents Early Breakfast on Radio 1 (05:00 – 07:00, Monday – Thursday), will be stepping down from the show but will remain at Radio 1 to host a new Dance Show on Thursdays at 20:00 from the end of April.
Aled Haydn-Jones (Head of BBC Radio 1) says, “I’d like to thank Arielle for her dedication to helping the nation wake up every week. I’m thrilled for her that she’s moving into the Radio 1 dance family and I look forward to sharing more around some exciting next steps for Arielle with the station.”
Source
BBC Radio 1
