Vernon and Reggie to leave BBC Radio 1

Vernon Kay and Reggie Yates are to leave Radio 1 as part of major changes to the station’s weekend schedule.

Jameela Jamil will take over from Reggie as the first ever solo female to host the Chart Show, while Matt Edmondson moves into the weekend 10am-1pm slot.

Reggie leaves the station after 10 years, five of them on breakfast. Vernon has been on the weekend line-up at Radio 1 for nine and a half years. Both depart at the end of the year, with the schedule changes coming into place from January.

Vernon said: “I’ve had an incredible nine-and-a-half years at Radio 1 that has exceeded all of my expectations, it has been a fabulous experience and I’ve loved the weekends I have spent with my listeners. However, when I was offered a contract extension I thought long and hard, but after 12 years of working weekends with CBBC, T4 and Radio 1, I felt it was the right time to leave as the girls are now both in school so weekends are more precious than ever.”

Reggie said: “I have absolutely loved my time hosting the Chart Show. It’s been a privilege to deliver to the nation the weekly No.1 song, but after 10 years at Radio 1/1Xtra I am looking forward to focusing on other projects and new challenges.”

Edmondson will do Vernon’s old show as well as the Sunday morning programme which is currently presented by Sara Cox. She’s moving to weekday mornings to cover Fearne Cotton’s maternity leave from the New Year.

Jameela Jamil, who has only been at Radio 1 since earlier this year, said of her new show: “I am absolutely delighted and honoured. I’m fully aware that I have big shoes to fill and am so excited to get started… I’ve grown up listening to the official chart so I cannot thank Radio 1 enough for the amazing opportunity.”

Jameela’s current Sunday night Request Show (7-9pm) will be taken over by YouTubers Dan and Phil. They’ve previously done one-off shows for Radio 1 and have 100m views on YouTube for their work. Dan and Phil said: “We are extremely excited to start this new show! We think it’s really changing the idea of a request show and bringing it into the internet generation. It’s going to be an explosive two hours of great music, lols and interactive content that’s completely visualised on the Radio 1 website and we want it to stand out as one of the highlights of the week!”

Completing the new schedule is comedian Tom Deacon, who will present a brand new Wednesday night comedy show at 9pm each week. “I’m really excited about this new show,” he said. “I’ve been doing stand-up comedy for six years and presenting on Radio 1 for the last three, so I’m delighted to be bringing these things together. Expect awesome comedians live in the studio, great music, and lots of laughs… I can’t wait to get started.”

Ben Cooper, Controller BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra, said: “I’d like to thank Vernon and Reggie who have both been excellent ambassadors for Radio 1 and Radio 1Xtra during their ten years with us. I wish them all the very best. I’m excited by our brand new shows, which will appeal to the smartphone generation with our audience able to listen, watch and share Radio 1’s great content.”