BBC Radio 1Xtra has announced that another of its weekday shows is set to come from Birmingham, meaning that from January 2024 the network will broadcast entirely from outside of London from 10am-4pm every weekday. DJ Ace, who currently presents Monday-Thursday 10am-1pm, will step down on Thursday 18 January but will continue to host BBC 1Xtra’s flagship R&B Show.

The new show from Birmingham will take the 10am-1pm slot every weekday and launch in January 2024. This follows the launch of Kaylee Golding’s BBC 1Xtra show, which broadcasts from the Mailbox in Birmingham every weekday 1-4pm. The 1Xtra Introducing Show with Theo Johnson, dedicated to showcasing unsigned and undiscovered artists, also launched from Birmingham last September and broadcasts every Sunday.

DJ Ace, who currently presents Monday-Thursday 10am-1pm will step down on Thursday 18 January but will continue to host BBC 1Xtra’s flagship R&B Show every Saturday. Nick Bright, who currently presents Friday 10am-1pm, will step down on 19 January. Nick will continue to present his Saturday morning show on 1Xtra every weekend.

These moves are part of the BBC’s Across the UK plan, moving shows, talent, teams and content away from London to allow the BBC to better reflect, represent and serve all audiences. The BBC adds over £305m to the economic value of the West Midlands each year and is continuing to invest heavily in the region. BBC One’s latest Saturday-night drama Champion was filmed in Birmingham, and Steven Knight’s This Town is currently filming in the city. The BBC will move their main Birmingham base to Digbeth in 2026 and relocate two prime time shows to the West Midlands in 2024.

Details of the new show will be announced in the coming months.

Elsewhere on the network, Tazer, who co-hosts Saturdays 4-7pm with Sian Anderson, will be stepping down to focus on his numerous other projects. His last show will be this coming weekend. BBC 1Xtra will welcome a brand new presenter, Manga Saint Hilare, who will take over Tazer’s co-hosting duties with Sian from 29 July. Manga is a Mobo nominated, long-standing Grime MC and was a foundational member of the pioneering Grime crew, Roll Deep (who earned two UK number one hits). He has been involved in some of the genre’s most iconic tracks and is well-known on the scene for his consistent lyricism and high energy performances.

DJ Ace: “It’s been an honour and a pleasure to entertain the 1Xtra daytime audience for the last 21 years. They are an audience I’ve grown to know and love since I was a young man trying to make his mark in the world of broadcasting. It’s been an amazing journey and I am thankful to 1Xtra for giving me the opportunity to grow and develop as a broadcaster. I look forward now to continuing to fly the flag for R&B music globally and bring my passion for the music and the culture to other like-minded people."

Nick Bright: “Every time I step into the 1Xtra studio and fade the mic up it’s an immense privilege. Bringing new music to the listeners weekly on a Friday is something I’ll miss but luckily (or not!) I’m sticking around on a Saturday!”

Tazer Black: “I'm grateful for the opportunities I've had working with the amazing people at 1Xtra. I've learnt a lot in just over a year and I know you'll see me again at some point in the near future."

Manga Saint Hilare: "I can't believe I’m actually going to be a 1Xtra presenter. I can tell my Mum I’ve got a real job now. I'm so excited to get started on this new chapter. Now I just need to learn to fight the urge to reload every song we play!”

Faron McKenzie, Head of Station, BBC 1Xtra: “BBC 1Xtra committed to increasing investment and supporting broadcasting talent across the UK and I’m so proud to be delivering on that promise and expanding the 1Xtra family in such a creative and diverse city like Birmingham.

"It’s the end of an era for one of our award winning broadcasters, DJ Ace. He has kept the 1Xtra daytime listeners entertained with his big bold energy and fearless broadcasting. Ace has dedicated his career to championing R&B music and will continue to do just that as the host of the legendary 1Xtra R&B Show every Saturday night. I know Nick will also continue to bring his quick witted high energy and experienced broadcasting skills to his Saturday morning show.

"Tazer’s big debates and funny banter will truly be missed but he remains very much a part of the extended 1Xtra family. And we are very excited to be welcoming the Grime legend that is Manga Saint Hilare and I know he will bring a fresh, new broadcasting style to the network."