BBC Radio 1 hires first DJ with hearing loss as it unveils 33 new hosts

BBC Radio 1 is shaking up its presenting line-up over the festive period.

The station is planning to have 33 guest presenters take over – from Boxing Day until New Year’s Day – and one of the up and coming stars will be Radio 1’s first deaf or hard of hearing DJ.

Will Kirk, 22, from Sheffield – who is making station history – has severe to profound hearing loss in both ears and wears hearing aids.

He’ll be fronting the Guest mix for Radio 1’s Drum & Bass Show.

Will – who was diagnosed with hearing loss at the age of seven months – revealed he is excited for the once in a lifetime opportunity as he said: “I am beyond thrilled! It is amazing to be able to share my Drum and Bass mix on such a powerhouse of music, broadcasting to the UK and beyond!”

Speaking about his hearing loss and how he likes to joke about it, he shared: “Hurdles do present themselves, and as you can imagine being involved with music and nightlife, a few of these were encountered along the way.

“Let’s not forgot also my disability does very much have its benefits: I can probably get a better night’s sleep than most people. Anyone that knows me well knows I often make light of my hearing loss, as if I can’t do anything to change the circumstances, I may as well make a joke about it.”

A number of the hosts have taken an unconventional route to their first slot on Radio 1.

Jevanni Letford qualified as a lawyer before moving into a career in radio and music and is now the official tour DJ for KSI, and she will be covering Rickie, Melvin and Charlie’s show.

Danni Diston, originally from Cornwall, currently works as a teaching assistant at a school for children with special educational needs and will be fronting Radio 1’s Life Hacks.

Several of the presenters began their presenting journeys in student, local, community or hospital radio, including 24 year old Nels Hylton, who has previously volunteered at the University of Portsmouth’s Pure FM and at community station Transmission Roundhouse.

This Christmas, Nels will become the first Black presenter to host Radio 1’s Rock Show.

Also hailing from student and community radio are presenter, DJ and YouTuber Shay Sade, from Reprezent and No Signal Radio; Dean McCullough, who volunteered at Wandsworth Radio before landing a slot on Gaydio; and Ellen Macleod, who started volunteering at Bolton FM in 2017 before heading to university.

Ellen, who was born with mobility difficulties and uses a wheelchair, is a current student at the University of Salford where she manages student station Utter Radio, as well as co-hosting a podcast with two friends.

Radio 1 put out the call for presenters out back in October, asking for submissions from anyone with previous radio experience, be it in community, hospital, student or local radio.

The new roster have the chance to follow in the footsteps of the station’s current DJs including Greg James and Nick Grimshaw, who both started out presenting on student stations, Strictly Come Dancing star Clara Amfo, who began her career as a radio intern, and Annie Mac, who previously worked as assistant producer to Zane Lowe.

Aled Haydn Jones, head of BBC Radio 1, said: “We introduced this initiative in 2019 as a way of giving some new young presenters a chance to showcase their talent on a national level.

“One year on, it’s proven to be a fantastic springboard, with many of the presenters landing follow up gigs on Radio 1 and beyond. I can’t wait to hear our latest batch of presenters on-air over the festive period, and I look forward to seeing what 2021 has in store for them all.”

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