BBC Radio 1 Relax

BBC Radio 1 Relax

Second and final logo, used from 2022 to 2024
London
Broadcast area	United Kingdom and internationally via BBC Sounds
Frequency	BBC Sounds
Programming
Language(s)	English
Format	Meditation music
Network	BBC Radio
Ownership
Owner	BBC
Sister stations	BBC Radio 1 BBC Radio 1Xtra BBC Radio 1 Dance
History
First air date	22 April 2021 (2021-04-22)
Last air date	24 July 2024 (2024-07-24) (−3 years, 93 days)
Technical information
Licensing authority	Ofcom
Links
Website	Radio 1 Relax Homepage

BBC Radio 1 Relax was a British online-only radio stream, owned and operated by the BBC and ran as a spin-off from BBC Radio 1. The station played a selection of relaxation and well-being focused shows, and broadcast exclusively on BBC Sounds.^[1] The stream closed on 24 July 2024, three years after launching.

History and launch

First BBC Radio 1 Relax logo

In September 2020, the BBC announced that a new stream named Radio 1 Dance would launch on BBC Sounds on 9 October 2020, with a four-hour simulcast on Radio 1 and Radio 1 Dance.^[2]

As part of the BBC's Annual Plan 2021/22 released in March 2021, the corporation announced plans to launch "a new stream of content to help young audiences, in particular, to manage stress and wellbeing through music and speech content".^[3]

Following this, on 22 April 2021, the BBC announced that Radio 1 Relax would launch that evening, coinciding with Earth Day 2021, from 17:00, with Annie Mac and Nick Grimshaw hosting the first hour together, followed by Radio 1's Power Down Playlist at 18:00 and Radio 1's Chillest Show with Sian Eleri at 20:00.^[4]

In 2024, the BBC announced the launch of three new digital stations on BBC Sounds and the BBC's existing DAB+ allocation.^[5] These include the expansion of sister station Radio 1 Dance which will launch on DAB+, along with new expanded stations for Radio 1, Radio 2 and Radio 3. As part of this announcement, the BBC said it will "stop curating content for its second existing music stream, Radio 1 Relax, which was launched during the pandemic".^[6]

As part of Radio 1's Chillest Show on 21 July 2024, Sian Eleri announced that Radio 1 Relax would close on 24 July. She said "it's been a real safe space that we set up in lockdown, [...] it is coming to an end this Wednesday [24 July]. End of an era."^[7] Eleri hosted the final show on that day alongside Jess Iszatt on the stream.^[8]

Programming

Programming on the stream was repeated wellbeing and relaxation shows from BBC Radio 1 and BBC Sounds.^[9]

Radio 1 Relax occasionally simulcasted with Radio 1 on a bank holiday where Stuart Sandeman, Jess Iszatt and Sian Eleri presented the daytime shows (7 am to 6 pm).^[10]

Radio 1 regularly adjusted the scheduled programming based on current series across BBC Sounds. Previous series repeated on Radio 1 Relax included Radio 1's Motivate Me Mix, Radio 1 Relax & Chill, Radio 1's Movie Mixtapes with Ali Plumb,^[11] Get Set with Radio 1 with Adrienne Adhami, 1Xtra's R&B Chill Mix with Nadia Jae, Gameplay with Baby Queen (from BBC Radio 3) and Tearjerker with Sigrid (from BBC Radio 3).

See also

• BBC Radio 1 Dance

References

1. "Introducing Radio 1 Relax". BBC Rewind. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
2. "Radio 1 Dance stream to launch this October". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
3. "BBC Annual Plan 2021/22" (PDF). BBC Downloads. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
4. "Brand new wellbeing stream Radio 1 Relax launches on BBC Sounds". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
5. "Plans announced for new, distinctive digital music stations as extensions for BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 3". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
6. "BBC Sounds to Stop Curating Content for Radio 1 Relax". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
7. "Radio 1's Chillest Show with Sian Eleri: berlioz brings soothing selections to the Chill Mix". BBC. 51:00. Retrieved 21 July 2024. Radio 1 Relax is coming to an end this Wednesday [24th July].
8. "Sian Eleri and Jess Iszatt present the final ever show on Radio 1 Relax!". BBC. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
9. "Radio 1 Relax Schedule". BBC. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
10. "Radio 1 Schedule 18/04/22". BBC. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
11. • mosheim, tas (7 February 2020). "Ali Plumb: No one wants to see me "suck up" to a series of celebrities". Palatinate. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
    • RAW 1251AM (6 February 2017). "Ali Plumb - RAW Interviews". youtube. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
    • "From the Boar to the BBC: an interview with Ali Plumb". The Boar.org. June 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
    • "Ali Plumb". United Agents. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
    • "Cinemagic: The Film Review - A Masterclass with Ali Plumb". Queen's Film Theatre. Belfast. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
    • "Ali Plumb". Digital Spy. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
    • "Ali Plumb to become new film critic for Radio 1 and 1Xtra". Pressparty. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
    • "Going Home with Vick and Jordan". BBC Radio 1. BBC. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
    • "interview-with-bbc-radio-1s-ali-plumb". bookishmag.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
    • BBC Radio 1. "Movies With Ali Plumb". YouTube. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
    • "BAFTA announces hosting line-up for the 2023 EE BAFTA Film Awards featuring Richard E. Grant, Alison Hammond, Ali Plumb and Vick Hope". BAFTA. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
    • "Movie Mixtapes". BBC Radio 1. BBC. Retrieved 24 June 2023.