91Èȱ¬

It has been announced today that Welsh Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens , taking over from Jo Whiley.

Huw Stephens

His new show is from 1-4pm on Saturday afternoons, but he will carry on presenting his midnight-2am show on Wednesday nights. He said: "Taking over from Jo Whiley is a real honour. She's a brilliant broadcaster and an inspiration and I hope to continue with Jo's enthusiasm and love for music on the show.

"My current shows give me the chance to dig deep and champion exciting emerging music, so I look forward to adding new sounds to weekend afternoons."

Ben Cooper, deputy controller of 91Èȱ¬ Radio 1, said: "Huw is loved by artists and listeners alike. His ability to introduce you to new music, as well as make you smile, will make his new weekend show a must listen."

I first met Huw at 17 when he and Bethan Elfyn started the Evening Session in Wales - a show which broke off from Whiley and Steve Lamacq's Evening Show to cater for the local music scene. That show eventually morphed into Introducing In Wales, currently presented by Jen Long.

At 17, Huw's passion for music was amazing as I talked to them for Big Issue Cymru. He and Bethan were a great double act and when the pair stopped their partnership it was no surprise to see Huw spread himself over national Radio 1 with his natural, friendly and familiar style.

I'm sure he'd be too modest to agree with this, but I think he's in the mould of John Peel or Lamacq in that people take genuine notice of his music choices. He's a serious music aficionado (with his involvement in Boobytrap Records and Swn festival) and even though he plays tracks from the station's playlist his judgement isn't compromised by it. Very few DJs have that luxury.

Twelve years after that first foray into Wales-based music DJing, it's good luck to Huw for his first regular daytime Radio 1 gig.

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