BBC Radio 1 announced today that Jamie Laing will join Matt Edmondson to host the 1pm-4pm weekend (Friday-Sunday) show on Radio 1, covering for Mollie King whilst she takes her maternity leave. Their first show together will be on Friday 28 October.

Jamie is a presenter, podcaster and entrepreneur who currently presents the hugely successful Radio 1 podcast ‘6 Degrees from Jamie and Spencer’ for BBC Sounds. As well as this, he can also be heard on popular podcasts ‘Private Parts’ and ‘NearlyWeds’. He is also a firm TV favourite, first making his debut on E4’s ‘Made in Chelsea’ and most recently hosting the BBC Three show ‘I Like The Way U Move’ and reaching the Grand Final of Strictly Come Dancing 2020.

Jamie Laing says: “Presenting on Radio 1 is honestly a dream come true!! I simply can’t wait to begin!!”

Matt Edmondson says: “I’m going to miss Mollie so much whilst she’s on ‘Matt Leave’, and although she is literally irreplaceable, we are going to temporarily replace her. All I asked for was someone funny, blonde, and a little bit posh, and the universe delivered in the shape of Jamie Laing! I’m a huge fan of Jamie’s and I’m so pleased he’s agreed to step in and co-host the show with me after several begging emails.”

In addition, Maia Beth will cover Mollie’s Radio 1 Future Pop show (Thursdays, 8pm-10pm). Maia was given her first opportunity to host on the station during the 2021 festive period as part of Radio 1’s Christmas Takeover - an initiative created by Head of BBC Radio 1, Aled Haydn Jones - which provides a valuable springboard for emerging presenters, giving them a once in a lifetime opportunity to broadcast on the UK’s biggest youth radio station. From there she has hosted special events for BBC Introducing and currently presents Radio 1’s Best New Pop Extra and Pop Right Now on BBC Sounds, where she has interviewed stars such as Mimi Webb and Tom Grennan. Maia’s first show will be on Thursday 3 November.

Maia Beth says: “This is such a dream!

“I am buzzing to be bringing you two hours of the very best new pop artists every week. How exciting that you can tune into me on Future Pop and hear a future stadium headliner for the first time!

“All my love to the original pop princess Mollie King in her maternity - pinky promise I’ll proper look after the show for you!”

Aled Haydn Jones, Head of BBC Radio 1, says: “I’m so excited to welcome Jamie and Maia to Radio 1, I know our audience will love them. I’d also like to wish Mollie the best of luck for this new and exciting chapter.”