BBC Radio 1 shifts Jo Whiley and Edith Bowman to weekend slots, with Fearne Cotton and Greg James moving up

Jo Whiley and Edith Bowman are to lose their weekday slots on BBC Radio 1 as part of a shakeup at the station that sees new daily shows given to younger presenters Fearne Cotton and Greg James.

Cotton will take over the morning slot from Whiley, who moves to weekends, while early breakfast presenter James moves to the early afternoon slot vacated by Bowman, who moves to weekend breakfast.

Whiley will present the weekend afternoon slot between 1pm and 4pm, replacing Nihal.

The Radio 1 controller, Andy Parfitt, said: “BBC Radio 1 must continue to change to connect with a new generation of audiences and this is a significant move, promoting three of our up and coming broadcasters into the heart of the schedule.”

Cotton, who presents a Saturday afternoon request show and the Sunday afternoon chart show, both with Reggie Yates, will also take over the Live Lounge slot currently presented by Whiley.

“I love being at Radio 1 and taking on a weekday show is a dream come true. Jo is leaving very big shoes for me to fill and it’s nerve-racking,” said Cotton.

The shake-up follows criticism that Radio 1′s presenting line-up had grown too old for its target audience of 15 to 29-year-olds.

While age is not referenced by any of the presenters – or BBC executives – in today’s announcement, the new weekday line-up is noticeably younger than the one it replaces.

James, who replaces the 35-year-old Bowman in the early afternoon slot, is 23, while Cotton, 27, is 17 years younger than Whiley.

But breakfast DJ Chris Moyles, whose future on the station has been the source of much speculation, is to remain with Radio 1 for another year.

“There was a lot of speculation about the show in the newspapers, a lot of false speculation, a few months ago saying we were going to be off by September or by the end of the year,” he told listeners to today’s show. “Well I’m pleased to announce I’ve signed a new contract and I’m not going anywhere for at least another year.”

Whiley said: “After eight wonderful years the time has come to move on and give someone else the privilege of entertaining the nation on a daily basis. I’ve had the most amazing time ever. The prospect of lie-ins, taking my kids to school and doing something new is, I confess, rather exciting.”

Bowman said: “I’ve loved doing the afternoon show, it has given me so many great experiences but after five years I believe I’ve taken the show as far as I can.”

Yates will continue to present the two weekend afternoon shows on his own. James’s early morning breakfast show will now be presented by Dev, who moves from weekend breakfast.

Nihal loses his weekend afternoon shows but the station said he would continue to present his specialist show. Scott Mills remains in the weekday drivetime slot.

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