New afternoon and drive show for BBC Radio 1Xtra as Reece Parkinson exits

1Xtra is to move its weekday afternoon show out of London and introduce a new host for Drive as Reece Parkinson leaves the station.

The new afternoon show will be hosted by Kaylee Golding and broadcast from The Mailbox in Birmingham Monday-Friday from 1pm till 4pm.

The move to the Midlands follows the launch of BBC 1Xtra’s first weekly show to come from outside of London. The 1Xtra Introducing Show with Theo Johnson, dedicated to showcasing undiscovered artists, launched last September and airs from Birmingham every Sunday night.

In other schedule changes, Remi Burgz will move into weekday drive. She began presenting the Weekend Breakfast Show before becoming the host of a weekday show just a year later.

Remi takes over from Reece Parkinson who is stepping down to focus on his new projects. Reece presented both the Weekend Breakfast Show and 1Xtra Talks – 1Xtra’s news and current affairs programme – before becoming the host of 1Xtra drive-time in 2020.

Joelah Noble will take over from Lady Leshurr on Saturday afternoons.

And BBC 1Xtra will also add its on demand music show – 1Xtra’s Throwback Party – into its live schedule every Monday to Thursday during drive-time with presenters Joelah and Keke.

All schedule changes will come into effect from 3rd April.

Faron McKenzie, Head of Station, BBC 1Xtra says: “BBC 1Xtra has ambitious plans for 2023 and this schedule shake up is just the start. We’ve said it before – 1Xtra are committed to increasing investment and supporting broadcasting talent across the UK. As a Birmingham native myself, I’m so proud to be delivering on that promise and bringing 1Xtra to such an amazing and diverse city. I’m excited to see Kaylee represent, connect with new audiences, and inject her fun, Brummy energy into 1Xtra afternoons.

“Remi has also forged an incredible relationship with our listeners in such a short space of time – proving her status as a broadcasting superstar. I know she’s going to deliver that huge energy she’s known for into the drive-time slot. Reece will be missed by all at the network and we wish him the best of luck in his exciting new projects.

“Topping it off, Joelah is ready to hit the ground running on her new show and her positive, warm and friendly vibes make her perfect for Saturday afternoons. She is also a highly experienced broadcaster and her work across TV, radio and the wider media industry speaks for itself.”