Students from the University’s student radio station Smoke Radio have been asked to host and produce radio shows on BBC Radio 1 over the Christmas period.
From 26 December to 31 December, BBC Radio 1 is going to be taken over by 30 new guest presenters. The recent graduates were selected to broadcast the shows as a result of their win for Best Station at the Student Radio Association Awards.
Rhys Gunter and Holly Palmer will be broadcasting the Early Breakfast show on Radio 1 on 29 December from 5am. Holly currently works at the BBC as a Studio Manager and has previously worked at talkRADIO and Love Sport Radio. Rhys currently works at talkRADIO and has worked at Wessex FM, AIR 107.2 and Love Sport Radio. The show will be produced by Sara Hebil-Motie, a current student on the Radio and Digital Production BA Honours course.
Gabriel Green and Joe Pilbrow, who hosted ‘Thursday Breakfast with Gabriel and Joe’ on Smoke Radio, will be broadcasting the Early Breakfast show on 31 December from 4am. Their show will be produced by alumnus Matthew Sanders.
Green said about the opportunity: "It’s totally a dream come true. 14-year-old me would not believe that this has become a reality, and neither can 23-year-old me to be honest! This totally would have never happened if I hadn’t joined Westminster and Smoke Radio, though. It also wouldn’t have been possible without the very talented Joe Pilbrow, our Producer Matthew Sanders, and former Smoke Radio Station Manager Pulama Kaufman. For anyone considering joining student radio, my advice is do it, not just because of the incredible experience, but the amazing people you meet."
The final show will be hosted by Kaylee Golding, whose show ‘Gyal From Brum’ won three different awards at the Student Radio Awards. She will be broadcasting the Early Breakfast show on 30 December from 4am. Golding currently presents Saturday Drivetime on The Beat London 103.6FM and has interviewed Krept & Konan, Afro B and Young T and Bugsey to name a few. Golding’s show will be produced by Pulama Kaufman, the previous Station Manager of Smoke Radio.
Golding said: “I am so thrilled to be presenting a show on Radio 1. This has been by dream since I was 14, so to see it finally coming together it unbelievable. So, thank you to Radio 1 for putting their faith in me and thank you to Smoke Radio and the radio and digital course for preparing me for this.”
