From Boxing Day until New Year’s Eve, Radio 1 is welcoming new presenters and DJs for the chance of a lifetime
Published: December 11, 2024 — From Boxing Day until New Year’s Eve, BBC Radio 1 is giving 27 new presenters and DJs the chance of a lifetime, to broadcast on the UK’s biggest youth radio station as part of its hugely popular Radio 1 Christmas Takeover.
Created by Radio 1’s Head of Station, Aled Haydn Jones, in 2019, the initiative continues to offer fresh voices and emerging talent the unique opportunity to broadcast during one of the most exciting times of the year and has been extremely successful in showcasing and supporting the next generation of presenting talent.
This year’s takeover features a broad range of talent from across the UK, many of whom have started their journeys in student, hospital, local or community radio including; Orla Dunne who has presented on student radio station Queen’s in Belfast, Beth Wallace who presents on Scottish-based local station Northsound 1, Amelia Poamz who has presented shows on BBC Radio London and Daryl Jenkins Dixon who presents on community station Spark Sunderland.
Also among the new presenters is University of Salford student, Matt Hallsworth, who will be presenting an Early Breakfast Playlist. Matt is currently a presenter on student station Shock Radio and won big at this year’s Student Radio Awards being crowned winner of ‘Best Presenter’ and ‘Best Chart Show’. Nathan X, who hails from North London, will be taking over Radio 1’s Drum & Bass Show. Nathan X is often known to DJ Drum & Bass in drag and created the UK’s first queer Drum & Bass rave, Unorthodox. He has also hosted shows on Kool FM. The 2024 line-up also includes 25-year-old trans presenter, Megan Percival from Scotland. Megan currently presents on Spark Sunderland and won ‘Best Entertainment Programme’ at this year’s Student Radio Awards for her show ‘All Things Alt’, she’ll be hosting a special Eurovision Playlist.
Matt Hallsworth says: “It’s still a pinch-me moment that I’ll be on Radio 1 this year for the Christmas Takeover – I’m just a lad from Norfolk who loves listening to the radio! I can’t wait to tell stories, champion great music and spend the festive period with the nation!”
Nathan X says: “I’ve always dreamed of being a BBC presenter – I’ve listened to the music shows on Radio 1 and 1Xtra since I can remember; to be able to bring together my knowledge as a Drum & Base artist, with my presenting skills, in this format is special. I didn’t think this dream was possible.”
Megan Percival says: “To be selected as part of Radio 1’s Christmas Presenter Takeover is an honour for me. I’m absolutely buzzing to have the chance at representing the mighty Kingdom of Fife and sharing the pure Euphoria of Eurovision. Can’t wait to bring you some of my all-time favourite songs from the contest which all deserve your 12 points.”
Aled Haydn Jones, Head of Radio 1, says: “Radio 1’s Christmas Takeover is not just about giving new presenters a platform, but about shaping the future of radio itself and it has been incredibly rewarding to see this initiative thrive over the past five years and see the successes it has created.
“I’m excited to welcome our 2024 cohort and can’t wait to listen to the creativity and energy I know they’ll bring to the airwaves this holiday season.”
Since its launch in 2019, Radio 1’s Christmas Takeover has given this rare opportunity to over 150 emerging presenters with many going on to achieve major successes across the industry. To date, thirteen of the former guest presenters have landed permanent slots on Radio 1 including Vicky Hawkesworth, Nat O’Leary, Sian Eleri and Sam and Danni.
The full list of Christmas Takeover presenters (in alphabetical order):
Alice Hopkins, 29, from Edinburgh (Radio 1 Anthems)
Amelia Poamz, 31, from Hackney (Radio 1’s Future Soul)
Amie Fretter, 27, from Leicester and Tskenya-Sarah Frazer, 30, from Hackney (Radio 1’s Life Hacks)
Anayah Richards, 22, from London (Radio 1 Anthems)
Beth Wallace, 28, from Aberdeen (Radio 1 Anthems)
Christian Carlisle, 39, from Doncaster (BBC Introducing and BBC Introducing Rock)
Cloe Lee, 24, from Brentwood (Radio 1 Anthems)
Cushlá Rice, 26, Belfast (Radio 1’s Future Pop)
Dan Draper, 34, from Harlow (Radio 1 Anthems)
Dan Jones, 27, from Clevedon (Radio 1 Anthems)
Daryl Jenkins Dixon, 26, from Skegness (Radio 1’s Indie Show)
Eazy, 27, from London (Radio 1’s Rap Show)
Hannah Scherrer, 29, from London (Radio 1 Anthems)
Jade Burns, 29, from Liverpool (Radio 1’s Chillest Show)
January Winters, 32, from Dublin (Radio 1’s New Music Show)
Jordan Blyth, 27, Stockton-on-Tees (Radio 1’s Rock Show)
Kitty Perrin, 24, from Brighton (Radio 1’s Future Artists)
Leanne Louise, 31, from Chelmsford (Radio 1’s Dance Anthems)
Lucy K, 30, from Brighton (Radio 1’s Rave-Up Show)
Mars, 27, from Manchester (Radio 1’s Soundsystem Party)
Matt Hallsworth, 20, from Harleston (Early Breakfast Playlist)
Megan Percival, 25, from Rosyth (Eurovision Playlist)
Nathan X, 27, from London (Radio 1’s Drum & Bass Show)
Orla Dunne, 22, from Devizes (Radio 1 Anthems)
Scarlett O’Malley, 32, from West London (Radio 1 Dance)
Shana Gujral, 29, from Epping (Radio 1 Dance)
Source
BBC Radio 1
