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Friction leaves BBC Radio 1; Nihal goes solo

The BBC has announced a shakeup to its specialist shows, which will result in Bobby Friction departing from Radio 1 and Nihal going solo.

Starting from Monday 21st September, Nihal will front the late-night weekly Asian music show single-handingly. It will continue airing at midnight on Tuesdays. Friction will remain as presenter on the BBC Asian Network’s self-titled weeknight show.

Furthermore, Nihal will host a new weekly strand on Tuesday nights between 21:00 – 22:00, hosting a four-way battle of wits and fury as a journalist, a musician and a DJ discuss the qualities (or lack of) of the biggest records, films and games released that week in Radio 1’s new review programme. The show is a part of the station’s move of ‘In New DJs We Trust’ into the heart of the weeknight schedule.

Nihal says, “Nine pm has just become the go-to time for anyone who has an inquisitive, opinionated or musically voracious mind.

“For me, refereeing a show that will strip away any agenda-laden niceties and big up the deserving, while smacking down the unnecessary, films, games, books or tracks released that week is a dream come true.

“It will have you shouting at the radio and scrambling for your mobile. Let verbal combat commence.”

Also a part of the changes, Radio 1 bids farewell to Steve Lamacq after 16 fantastic years. Steve remains in the BBC radio family with his weekday show on BBC 6 Music and his weekly show on BBC Radio 2.

Andy Parfitt, Controller, Radio 1, adds, “Taken together with our recent revamp of the core daytime schedule, this represents one of the most significant shake-ups of the whole schedule in recent times and will help us focus on a new generation of Radio 1 listeners.”