Why is Adele Roberts leaving BBC Radio 1? Who will replace her?

Adele Roberts has announced that she will be leaving BBC Radio 1 after eight years with the station.

The presenter, 44, had been hosting the Weekend Breakfast Show since 2020 and previously fronted the channel’s Early Morning Breakfast Show.

But on Wednesday June 21, the BBC announced that Adele would be leaving her show.

But why exactly is she leaving BBC Radio 1? Who could replace her vacant slot on the Weekend Breakfast Show? 

Read on below for Roberts’ potential list of replacements. 

Leaving: The presenter is leaving the station after fronting its Weekend Breakfast Show in 2020, but will carry on fronting programmes for BBC Radio 2

Why is Adele Roberts leaving BBC Radio 1? 

Commenting on her departure, the BBC announced that Roberts would be leaving her show to pursue other projects. 

Bosses added that listeners will ‘continue to hear Adele’s voice across the radio as she continues to be part of the BBC family.’

Adele first joined the BBC in 2012 as a presenter on BBC Radio 1Xtra before joining Radio 1 in 2015 as the station’s Early Breakfast show host.

She then assumed the reins as host of the Weekend Breakfast Show in November 2020 as part of a big presenting shake-up, and has already recorded her final show for Radio 1.

Aled Haydn Jones, Head of Radio 1, said: ‘Adele is thoroughly loved by the Radio 1 family and audience.

‘She always puts others first; whether it’s key workers during the pandemic on her show, other people’s health during her own diagnosis of cancer, or supporting her fellow colleagues at the station.

‘Adele ended her run of shows at Radio 1 while continuing to do all of this. She continually goes above and beyond for others and I want to say a huge thank you to her for everything she has done over the last eight years for the station.’

Adele was diagnosed with stage two bowel cancer in October 2021 and received the all clear from doctors last June.

In April she went onto break the world record time for completing the London Marathon with a stoma bag.

It comes after Adele said receiving early treatment for bowel cancer ‘saved her life’.

She’s off! Adele Roberts has announced she’s leaving BBC Radio 1 after eight years

Who will replace Adele Roberts at BBC Radio 1? 

Sam McGregor and Danni Diston will join forces to co-host BBC Radio 1’s new Weekend Breakfast show, which will move from London to Cardiff as part of the BBC’s Across The UK plans.

The pair will combine for their first weekend show, which will be broadcast on Saturday September 9.

They said: ‘We are SO excited to officially be joining the Radio 1 family! Having our own show is something we’ve both dreamed of since we can remember!

‘Weekend Breakfast is always a great laugh, the listeners are brilliant and we can’t wait to get started!

Sam and Danni began presenting together at university, during which time Danni won the award for Best Entertainment Show and Sam won Best Male Radio Presenter at the Student Radio Awards in 2019. 

The pair then continued to present together after leaving university, landing their BBC Radio 1 debut only a year later.