BBC Radio One has introduced two new hosts as they face another shake-up at their station.
Lauren Layfield, 36, and Shanequa Paris, 29, will take over the channel’s Life Hacks as they replace Vick Hope and Katie Thistleton.
Airing every Sunday from 4pm to 6pm, Life Hacks is a weekly show and podcast dedicated to open and candid discussions about issues affecting young people.
From April 7, listeners can expect the new duo to become the show’s regular hosts as they will continue to broadcast the episodes from Salford.
Vick, 34, and Katie, 34, who has fronted the show since it launched in 2017, both recently announced they are moving to Going Home with Jamie Laing.
Lauren Layfield, 36, and Shanequa Paris, 29, will take over BBC Radio One’s Life Hacks, replacing Vick Hope and Katie Thistleton
Vick, 34, and Katie, 34, who has led the show since it launched in 2017, both recently announced they are moving to Going Home with Jamie Laing
Vick and Katie’s final Life Hacks show is March 31.
Presenter and DJ Lauren hosted Capital FM’s Early Breakfast Show for four years, presenting The One Show and covering the Eurovision Song Contest 2023.
Earlier this year she also presented Radio 1’s Friday Early Breakfast slot in January.
Speaking about her huge career move, Lauren said: “I am absolutely over the moon to officially join the BBC Radio 1 family. I’ve listened to and enjoyed Radio 1 since I was a teenager, and it’s an absolute privilege to join its ranks.
‘Life Hacks is such an iconic show that discusses everything from health to careers and relationships; As a journalist, one of my favorite things is talking to people about their own stories and I know Radio 1 listeners are so wonderfully willing to share those. I can’t wait to host the chat!’
Shanequa presented CBBC’s news programme, Newsround, where she reported on key issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement.
She got a taste of the show last summer when she co-hosted Life Hacks with Katie as part of the channel’s summer 2023 schedule.
Speaking about her new permanent job, she said: ‘I can’t believe I get to perform on the most fantastic channel, on a show that is even more fantastic and speaks to so many people on a personal level.
Jordan North (pictured) has left the show – he will replace Roman Kemp on Capital Breakfast and will officially start in April 2024 alongside Chris Stark and Sian Welby
Jamie Laing, 35, has also made a huge career move as he will also co-host Going Home, which airs daily between 3.30pm and 6pm.
‘Life Hacks is that show to hold your hand and give you that hug when you need it! Sunday is the new Friday. We’ve got you covered, baby!’
Head of BBC Radio 1, Aled Haydn Jones, said: “I am so excited to welcome Lauren and Shanequa, two brilliant journalists and youth broadcasters, to Radio One.
‘Life Hacks is such an important show on Radio One’s schedule, providing invaluable content that only the BBC can deliver. I can’t wait to hear what Lauren and Shanequa bring to the show!’
Radio One has seen huge changes among its presenters in recent weeks, as it’s not just Vick and Katie who have left their usual resident roles.
Jamie Laing, 35, has joined Vick and Katie and has also made a huge career move as he will also co-host Going Home, which airs daily between 3.30pm and 6pm, following the departure of Jordan North.
Radio DJ Jordan, 34, will replace Roman Kemp, 31, on Capital Breakfast and will officially launch in April 2024 alongside Chris Stark, 36, and Sian Welby, 37.
Meanwhile, BBC also announced that Matt Edmondson, 38, and Mollie King, 36, who currently present Matt and Mollie on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons, will move to the weekday afternoon show.
The pair have been organizing Weekend Breakfast together since 2018 and will take place from Monday to Thursday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. from July.
“I can’t wait to spend more time with them and my best friend, Matt, during the week,” said Saturday star Mollie about co-hosting a brand new show.
Matt added: “I feel truly lucky to be playing this new show with my best friend, and I have no doubt that we will continue to champion great music, remain ridiculously competitive and laugh uncontrollably.”
The station’s big move comes after I, as Celeb runner-up Jordan, left Radio One earlier this month to take part in Capital’s Breakfast Show, replacing long-time presenter Roman.
But it was claimed that the news of him leaving the show was a ‘shock to him’ as information about the departure was ‘released in chaotic scenes without his knowledge’.
Who will replace them in their current slot, from Friday to Sunday afternoon, is yet to be confirmed.
The publication reports that he had already unknowingly presented his final episode of the show when his departure was announced.
Meanwhile, BBC also announced that Matt Edmondson, 38, and Mollie King, 36, who currently present Matt and Mollie on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons, will move to the weekday afternoon show.
Tensions had reportedly been high over his departure for ‘months’ after he told producers he wanted to leave.
The source said: ‘Conversations went back and forth between the people of Jordan and the top brass at the BBC for months, and over time they deteriorated.
“When he formally requested to leave, that was the case – he was off the air immediately.
“It’s a shame that it ended so badly after ten years.”