Afternoon:
14°c
An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
NEW: Taxpayers have been handed a £143,000 bill for protecting BNP leader Nick Griffin during his appearance on Question Time, it has emerged
More...
Fearne Cotton replaces Jo Whiley in Radio 1 shake-up
Last updated at 11:54am on 16.07.09DJ Jo Whiley is to be dropped from her prime Radio 1 morning slot after eight years with Fearne Cotton taking over, it was announced today.
The 44-year-old presenter, who hosts the 10am mid-morning show, will leave in September and take up a new weekend programme.
Cotton gets her new role in the biggest shake-up at the station for five years.
New role: Fearne Cotton (left) takes over from Jo Whiley in September
She already co-hosts weekend shows with Reggie Yates, which he will now continue to present alone.
"Taking on a weekday show is a dream come true", Cotton said. "Jo is leaving very big shoes for me to fill and it's nerve-wracking."
Also leaving her weekday show is Edith Bowman, who vacates her 1pm show and heads to the weekend breakfast programme. She will be replaced by early morning presenter Greg James.
Whiley had previously hosted a lunchtime show for Radio 1, as well as the Evening Session with Steve Lamacq.
In an interview with this month's The Word magazine she spoke about what she would like to do if her daytime slot ended, saying she wanted to conduct "in-depth interviews".
Whiley said she wanted to host Desert Island Discs, but she added: "I don't have a grand plan, I just want to carry on broadcasting."
She said today: "After eight wonderful years the time has come to move on and give someone else the privilege of entertaining the nation on a daily basis. I've had the most amazing time ever.
"The prospect of lie-ins, taking my kids to school and doing something new is, I confess, rather exciting.
"I will, of course, be taking the keys to the Live Lounge (her live music spot) with me to my new weekend show - so the live music will continue - but I'll be leaving behind a spare set for Fearne."
Other changes announced today include weekend breakfast host Dev moving to the early breakfast show vacated by James.
He said: "It's an honour to keep the nation company in the morning and, of course, warm up for Mr Moyles."
Ben Cooper, Radio 1's deputy controller, said: "I feel it's the right time to make these changes in order to offer our listeners some exciting new programmes."
Radio 1 controller Andy Parfitt said: "BBC Radio 1 must continue to change to connect with a new generation of audiences and this is a significant move, promoting three of our up-and-coming broadcasters into the heart of the schedule."
The changes kick in on September 21.
Reader views (21)
WOW - alot of the comments I've just read are pretty harsh. You are in no way required to listen to radio 1. so why make pointless comments about DJ's you're not going to listen to. That's a further waste of your time, right?
Jo - not my favourite DJ but she is good at what she does.
Ferne - is sweet and intelligent and doing alot better than most of us
Good luck to them both - after all it's only radio
- Sarah Scott, Seaton Delaval. UK
Sara Cox should seriously take over from Jo! I've never been much of a fan of Jo, I dislike her taste in music and anyone who emails in to say they dislike a song gets shot down by Jo. Sara Cox on the other hand is hilarious and always provides a very entertaining 3 hours. She should broadcast more than once on a weekend! Greg James is absolutely awful, I dont understand why he is given any airtime. Most people I have spoken to on the issue agree on this.
- L Ryan, Cardiff, Wales
GUTTED - JO WHILEY IS MY FAVORITE SHOW - SHE IS A FANTASTIC INTERESTING RADIO PRESENTER WITH REAL DEPTH AND A BEAUTIFUL CHARACTER. I WILL MISS HER ON RADIO ONE BUT LOOK FORWARD TO WHATEVER SHE DOES NEXT.
- Rebecca, LONDON
Fearne "I have no back bone or opinion" Cotton. Not every song or band is perfectly wonderful but somehow in her little world it all seems to be.
Time to go XFM
- Woodbine, London, UK
Jo Whiley used to bug the hell out of me now I think she's alright, she is certainly better than Fearne Cotton. I have to agree with a lot of you why not Sara Cox, she has an annoying sucking in thing going on but very funny and did a great job while Jo was on maternity. Maybe Fearne will grow on me like Jo did but right now I'm not amused!!! As for Greg James well he's alright standing in for Scott every now and then but daily seriously he's gonna bore the tits off us all. I do wonder if this just means I am (or we) are getting too old for Radio 1 but too young for Radio 2 or 4.... don't want to go to local crappy radio so I guess I'm going back to albums when I', not listening to Chris and Scott
- Jentie, Andover, Wilts
Jo is awful and won't be missed, but Fearne instead, not sure which is worse? Bring on the Cox, she does entertain unlike the other two who use the radio as a vessel to promote how hip they are...NOT!
- Sophie, Huddersfield
What about Sara Cox??? it was great with her on replacing jo actually haveing a laugh and a joke, Ferne Cottons no where near as good - but then again anythings better than Jo Whiley....
- Rosie, swansea
Oh well, good bye Jo & Edith. At least I'm at work in the day so I won't have to listen to the banal and the boring who are replacing you!
- Liz, Swansea
Greg James 
He's already a blight to radio, I already have to turn it off whenever he comes online, this will have to be more frequent now!
- Chris, Telford, UK
Greg James & Fearne Cotton - that will be the end of me listening to Radio 1 then.......there are fab DJs that are not used often enough - Sarah Cox, Nihal, Hugh Stevens, Annie Mac.......
- Lynn Wills, Brighton, UK
They should have given it to Sara Cox, much funnier than Ferne Cotton.
- Sarah, Wokingham, Berks
We are the only country in the World whose government charges us to watch television and listen to radio. If we don't pay we can get sent to prison. The BBC is run by the government regardless of the corporation's constant insistance that it is independant it still extolls the PC policies of this ultra liberal but midly facist party.
The BBC is an unregulalted Monopoly(ITV and C4 are dead in the water) that takes £4 bn a year's worth of tax and re-sells the programs ans services made with our money in order to make money abroad for private individuals on the board of the BBC.
Regardless of ageism, it's time for change.
- Hansel, London
Its about time wiley was moved on, for someone who can't do her job properly its taken the BBC ages to realise this. She has to be the worst dj ever, can't interview and the best part of her show is the live lounge which will carry on anyway. Well done BBC on the best excutive decision since you screened Jerry Springer. I may even go back to listening to R1 now The Cotton is on. Jo Wally you won't be missed, good luck in your dinosaur shift on the week end, not long now to R2 and then total obscurity, yippeee.
- Bazza, London
Who cares? It's just one public sector jobsworth replaced by another. Why are we forced (on pain of imprisonment) to pay for any of them?
- Steve, London, UK
Does Darius need to use questions marks in his sentences? Yes.
- Dagenhampstead, London
Jay - spot on
- Alan, London
Never heard of these people not one household name amongst them.
Radio One will just continue it's journey into the abys!
- Mike Adams, Taunton
I guess there must be some people who think Fearne has some ability although she often comes across as a bit dim to me.The BBC has lost a great number listeners to commercial stations and this will help the process to continue.
- Mike M, Bedford England
Yet more ageism from the Beeb - and yet again it only applies to women
- Jn, London, UK
Well it`s a start..
the BBC should focus on excellence rather than competing with trashy makeover/DIY/”property ladder/propertysnake/cookery whilst naked/how to dress like a hooker when your 65” types of drivel - leave that Sky.
Another question is - do we need 24 hour rolling/ repeated ad nausium news - do we need two newsreaders (or is the male / female mix so that yet more PC boxes to be ticked?) - No we don`t.
Do we need daytime TV on the BBC - not really.
Do we need hundreds of reporters sent off to "cover" sporting events - NO.
Do we need all the radio stations we have currently -NO.
Do all these issues need to be debated - YES, we DO want a BBC, if only to keep bl**dy adverts interrupting our viewing, but we demand QUALITY over QUANTITY, and as the management have PROVE time and time again that they can`t be fully trusted, WE, the LICENSE PAYER demand MORE CONTROL - and A LICENSE PAYERS panel WITH TEETH is probably the right way to go about it.
- Darius Midwinter, London UK
Please say that means Fearne Cotton is leaving the Culture Show - which she ruins with her dim banality.
- Jay, London, UK.
