Six beloved BBC Radio 1 hosts axed in huge shakeup as I'm A Celeb star takes their place

Showbiz

Six beloved BBC Radio 1 hosts axed in huge shakeup as I'm A Celeb star takes their placeA series of new shows and schedule changes are being introduced as part of the huge reshuffle

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Six BBC Radio 1 hosts have been axed from the station in a huge shake-up.

Melvin Odoom - who has been with the station for seven years - as well as stars like Rickie Haywood-Williams, Dean McCullough, Nat O’Leary, James Cusack and Swarzy are all making way for fresh faces.

Announcing the news on Instagram, the station said: “We thank them for their passion, creativity and dedication and wish them all the very best for whatever comes next.”

YouTube influencer GK Barry - who became a fan favourite on I’m A Celebrity in 2024 - will present a series of Radio 1 programmes during the year, beginning with a six-week run from September 10 at 1pm.

Charley Marlowe will co-host Group Chat with Vicky Hawkesworth, Mylo & Rosie are taking on Early Breakfast, and Emil Franchi is the new face of Weekend Breakfast.

Jeremiah Asiamah and Charlie Hedges are the new hosts of Radio 1’s Live Lounge, while Lauren Layfield will launch the brand-new The Official Chart: First Look from Birmingham.

Melvin Odoom has been axed from Radio 1 Getty

Shanequa Paris and Oré Olukoga are taking over Life Hacks at 7pm. Sian Eleri’s The Chillest Show is moving to 9pm, while Alyx Holcombe’s Indie Show is heading to Tuesday nights at 11pm.

Odoom wrote on Instagram: “We are so proud of everything we’ve achieved here and so excited to share what’s coming next!

“Our last show is the end of August and don’t forget you can catch me covering for my brother DJ Spoony on Radio 2 for the next few months.”

Haywood-Williams posted: “The biggest thank you goes to the listeners. You amazing bunch have been the best part of the job — making us laugh every single day and reminding me why radio is so special.

“When I think back to being a young broadcast assistant at Radio 1 & 1Xtra after uni, leaving to host The Kiss Breakfast Show and then finding my way back to the BBC all those years later… I’m genuinely so proud of this amazing journey.”

Dean McCullough said it was ‘time for a change’Getty

Odoom joined Radio 1 in 2019, moving over to the station from the Kiss Breakfast Show with his longtime broadcasting partners Rickie Haywood-Williams and Charlie Hedges.

They initially hosted the late-night slot from 9pm until 11pm, before moving to the mid-morning Live Lounge slot in 2021.

McCullough started out at Radio 1 covering various other presenters in 2020 and 2021, before he took over Scott Mills’ former Afternoon Show in 2022, along with Vicky Hawkesworth.

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He then moved to the Early Breakfast slot in July 2024, as well as fronting the hour-long Pop Anthems show.

The presenter said on Wednesday morning: “A huge thank you to the brilliant Radio 1 listeners who have been with me from Christmas cover to weekends to afternoons and for the last 2 years of early breakfast.

“It’s been an absolute pleasure. I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with some of the best people in the business and I’ll cherish the amazing times we’ve had making radio together. Thank you – you’re all stars.

“It’s time for a change, I’m so ready and vvvv excited for the future.”

Both Odoom and McCullough appeared on I’m A Celebrity in 2024 alongside GK Barry.

The Radio 1 schedule changes are set to come into effect in September, the BBC revealed.

Discussing their new role on Early Breakfast, Mylo and Rosie said: “It’s really hard to put this feeling into words. Elated doesn’t quite cover it.

“We are two best friends who have shared a childhood dream of one day working at Radio 1 and we can’t quite believe it’s become a reality. We don’t think it’s sunk in yet, will it ever?

“The listeners of Radio 1 have welcomed us to the family with open arms and to have our own show and be able to talk to them every morning on Early Breakfast means more to us than they will ever know.”

Discussing their new Live Lounge role, Hedges said she and Asiamah will make the perfect chaotic pairing, while also sending “love and respect” to Haywood-Williams and Odoom.

Asiamah described it as a full circle moment after listening to the Live Lounge while travelling home from college in 2017.