BBC Radio 1 star Nat O’Leary has bid an emotional farewell to her show after five years on air, as bosses confirm plans to replace established presenters with influencers.
Six stars from the station were axed in July – including Dean McCullough and Melvin Odoom – paving the way for new talent as bosses tried to revamp the show.
Now Ms O’Leary has said goodbye to the channel for the final time, taking to Instagram to confirm her final show would be on Saturday at 10.30am.
In a photo with the caption ‘I have news…’, the radio star wrote: ‘After 5 great years at @bbcradio1 I’m leaving.
“To those of you who listened, messaged, and supported me along the way, thank YOU. This ‘job’ made my dream come true and I will be forever grateful for all the memories.
‘I can’t wait to show you what will happen next’
Ms O’Leary also posted a series of videos and photos to her Instagram Story documenting her final day on air, with co-host Vicky Hawkesworth, 30, and producer Luciano Domenico.
She then thanked fans for ‘everything’, including their ‘beautiful messages’, before signing off: ‘I had the time of my life on Radio 1.’
Weekend host Nat O’Leary has said an emotional farewell to her show after five years on air
She took to Instagram to post an emotional message saying goodbye to BBC Radio 1
Ms O’Leary joined BBC Radio 1 permanently, after doing cover work and appearing on the channel’s Christmas Presenter Scheme in late 2021.
Her departure comes as presenters including Swarzy, Rickie Haywood-Williams and James Cusack also leave the show – with I’m A Celebrity star GK Barry and influencer Charley Marlowe among their replacements.
Plans have also been made for a series of new shows and hosting reshuffles.
Social media influencer GK Barry has been given a two-hour BBC Radio 1 slot starting at 1pm each weekday, launching later this month.
GK – whose real name is Grace Eleanor Keeling – has previously acted as an assistant presenter for the station over the past year and although she has little live radio experience, her podcast Saving Grace, which she launched in 2022, has been a huge hit, attracting high-profile guests and thousands of weekly streams.
Previously, the Loose Women panellist said of the gig: ‘I’m really excited to be hosting another series of my own BBC Radio 1 shows from September.
‘You’ll hear my favorite songs, we’ll speak to some really exciting guests and, as always, in true GK Barry style, I promise plenty of humour, mayhem and embarrassing stories along the way!’
Influencer Charley Marlowe – who narrated BBC Three dating series I Kissed A Girl and briefly presented Radio 1’s early morning breakfast show – has also been cast in the show.
Internet personality, podcaster and I’m A Celeb star GK Barry will present a series of Radio 1 programs throughout the year, starting with a six-week run from September 10 at 1pm
Content creator Charley Marlowe – who narrated BBC Three dating series I Kissed A Girl – has also been appointed to the BBC Radio 1 team
Station boss Aled Haydn Jones (pictured with Mollie King and Matt Edmondson, right) is said to believe bringing in content creators will mean more listeners and more engagement
She accompanies Vicky Hawkesworth from Friday to Sunday between 10:30 am and 1:00 pm.
Earlier this week, 34-year-old presenter Dean McCullough was photographed smiling as he left work at the radio station for the final time after claiming he had ‘sacrificed his public views and part of his voice’ for his BBC career.
He began his tenure at Radio 1 six years ago as a stand-in presenter before moving into mid-morning weekend roles, followed by Scott Mills’ former Afternoon Show in 2022 and then Early Breakfast in 2024.
Taking to Instagram on the eve of his final show, the former Early Breakfast presenter admitted he was struggling to meet the BBC’s strict impartiality guidelines after years of being branded an ‘out and proud gay man’ in his former role on LGBTQ+ channel Gaydio.
Alongside a video montage and voiceover from his penultimate show, Mr McCullough spoke out on the BBC after six years, noting it was ‘not easy’ and he had to advocate for his community ‘in the shadows’.
Dean wrote: ‘I wanted to speak openly about my feelings when I arrived at BBC Radio 1 six years ago, when I was already broadcasting as out and proud as a gay man.
‘I spent three and a half years at LGBTQ+ channel Gaydio, where I was outspoken and opinionated on air. Moving to the BBC meant sacrificing my public views and with it some of my voice. It hasn’t been easy and I’ve had to do a lot of my advocacy in the shadows.
“But this chapter was full of lessons and I wanted to take a moment to thank my listeners and producers, the people who matter, for just letting me be me. You have no idea how much that means to me and to other queer people in this space.”
Early Breakfast presenter Dean McCullough was one of six DJs to lose their jobs as a result of the massive BBC schedule shake-up
Mr. McCullough smiled as he left work at the radio station for the last time
He admitted on Instagram that he was struggling to adhere to the BBC’s strict impartiality guidelines
Earlier this month, Melvin Odoom revealed that he is becoming a father for the first time, as his girlfriend Hannah Holland is pregnant
He continued: “And look, it’s not my story to ‘fit in’ and ‘be everyone’s cup of tea’, I find that extremely boring. If I’ve learned anything in my 16 years as a presenter, it’s ‘speak from your heart and the right people will hear you’.
Award-winning duo Mylo & Rosie will take over from Mr McCullough, following a ten-year spell at Hits Radio West Yorkshire, where they won multiple ARIAs.
Meanwhile, James Cusack’s Weekend Breakfast is now presented by Emil Franchi, 33, from Durham, who broke into the industry through college radio.
Charlie Hedges remains frontman of the popular Live Lounge, but is joined by Jeremiah Asiamah, who replaces 46-year-old Melvin Odoom, and Rickie Haywood-Williams, who joined in 2019. Asiamah, 28, is known for his energetic music sets and appeared at Glastonbury last year.
Earlier this month, Odoom announced that he is becoming a father in an Instagram post with his pregnant girlfriend Hannah Holland.
The former I’m A Celebrity star captioned his post simply: ‘Mum & Dad’ with a gray love heart.
Lauren Layfield, 28, will host The Official Chart: First Look from Birmingham every Sunday between 4pm and 7pm. It will be the first Radio 1 program of its kind to come live from the city.
On Sunday evening, Shanequa Paris and Oré Olukoga can be seen on Life Hacks, followed by Sian Eleri’s Chillest Show. Alyx Holcombe’s Indie Show moves to Tuesdays at 11 p.m.
The station’s new presenter showcase moves from early Friday breakfasts to weekend mornings between 6am and 7am.
