coffeeandgin

Even by usual standards, this coming Friday seems cover central by Radio 1 (what with James Cusack covering the Chart too for Jack). And this is during June, who knows what we'll get when August hits.

Yep while I can see the point said poster was making I guess the argument is if R1 make celeb hires you're just aping what commerical stations are doing then and it weakens the argument for what makes R1 unique from the commercial sector when future discussions about the BBC and BBC radio come up. Commercial stations I get more as they have ratings/RAJAR pressure but while there's still that pressure to an extent for Radio 1 should it really be what you're chasing above all else? In this situation at least the spells Jamie and his wife and GK Barry are limited but it makes you wonder will it stay that way? I think that's the concern more than anything - you don't want the floodgates to open and a future Greg James or Scott Mills to lose out as a result. But then again Mollie King was probably a bit of a celeb hire and she's now as good as any DJ on Radio 1. But for every Mollie King, there's a Kelly Osbourne on The Sunday Surgery (whoooo) or a Maya Jama, Jameela Jamil.

Going Home often gets the attention but that Group Chat show seems to really struggle for a consistent line-up week to week at the moment - particularly on a Friday. Lauren (Redfern) seems to be on there just as much as if Vicky and Nat these days and Ore isn't far behind either.

At least it only seems to be a summer thing (for now). That's the only positive I can find. The more time goes the more I'm convinced Jamie will be part of the next breakfast team post Greg. He seems to have a hold on Aled and be indulged in a way no other Radio 1 DJ is.

That Friday (6th June) seems a proper Lauren bonanza given Lauren Redfern is also on Friday Early Breakfast that month. And as mentioned a few posts before Lauren Layfield is in for Sam & Danni.

They do seem to be listed together for that weekend at the end of May but given Ore is already listed to be covering for Vicky that Friday you wonder if the schedule might change.

Wouldn't shock me if (as seems to be the case) Vick is pregnant that when Katie gets back and Vick goes on leave, we get an announced 'maternity leave' line-up (perhaps including Jerry or Emil) to give a bit of consistency to Going Home. Plus it could act as succession if a) Vick were to decide post maternity leave she doesn't want to return to a full-time role on Radio 1 or b) Jamie decides to leave at some stage.

I sort of presumed Katie wouldn't be back until Autumn anyway. But yep even by Going Home standards (and excluding Monday as it was a bank holiday) this past week was a proper 'Spin The Roulette' in terms of the line-up with 5 presenters used across only 3 days. I do wonder how much longer Vick will be around - even ignoring the pregnancy (which hasn't been officially announced by her but seems an open secret) she has so many other commitments I'm surprised she's continued on Radio 1 as long as she has. Certainly of the original Going Home team if I was expecting one to leave it was Vick not Jordan.

Nice to see James Cusack getting a run out on weekday daytimes for a few days. Does seem to be a lot more unpredictability when it comes to cover these days - in the last few years it used to be that you'd have Nat cover Dean or Vicky on afternoons and Katie cover Going Home (then Sam & Danni once Katie got the Going Home role full-time) and that was as exciting as it would get most of the time when it came to weekday cover. For Going Home alone you now could have any of Emil, Jerry or Sam & Danni covering.

I seem to recall Vick and Jordan mentioning once on the 'At Home' podcast that they prefer presenting in a pairing/group these days. So while Vick might host solo sometimes it's only on rare occasions. And with Going Home it's very much treated as a multi-person show. So while you can do the odd solo edition those in charge probably think you wouldn't want a week of it. Plus I guess it's a good chance to get Sam & Danni weekday practice and exposure (and same with Emil). Because otherwise yep as you say Vick and Katie are both certainly capable of doing shows solo.

Have to say am really enjoying Emil on the show on the occasions he gets to cover. He & Vick seem to have that Vick & Jordan spark which is impressive given they've only done a handful of shows together. Between Going Home or covering Matt Edmondson you end up hearing Emil at some point most weeks at the moment.

Fair play to Chris in being so open about his cancer experience and it's great that it was caught early. Him being so pen about it says it all about the type of bloke he is and why so many of us on here are supporters of his.

Yep the Jamie Laing and Danny Beard changes have meant that recently when you the words 'Changes at Radio 1' you do sometimes fear the worst. While I applaud Aled for making the move to put Matt & Mollie on weekdays, their show on weekends was so strong it sort of made the decision for him. If they'd never reached weekdays it would've probably been one of the strongest shows to never make weekdays.

Certainly compare now to around this stage a year ago and things look a lot more rosy. For a few weeks back then it looked like it may be an afternoon line-up of Dean & Vicky followed by Jamie Laing & Vick. Meanwhile Matt & Mollie and Katie would still be stuck on weekends. Thankfully of course the further changes announced later that month fixed those issues.

Yep am back to enjoying the station - albeit maybe not listening as much as I might have say 5 or so years so. The Matt & Mollie/Jerry afternoon show to me is the standout and a worthy successor to Scott's old show in that slot in a way that Dean & Vicky never were. Always fun and flies by and packed with content. Do think the show slightly misses Mollie as her & Matt are such a strong and natural pairing. However, Jerry has done a very solid job as maternity cover. Greg is Radio 1's chief presenter and yep Radio 1 for now will be happy to have him on Breakfast as long as he wants it. He & Callum are a great pairing and the show does seem to have a new leash of life since Amy joined as producer. That said I don't have it as a much-listen the way i do say Matt & Mollie - some of the features like Yesterday's Quiz or All the Latest Things lost me long ago and Jan Slam as a competition really drags as the month goes on. Going Home - I just can't be doing with because of Jamie even though I like Vick & Katie. By all accounts though the show isn't necessarily hitting the way Vick & Jordan's stint did and the line-up is incredibly inconsistent in terms of presenters to the extent that either Lorraine is probably silently tutting. It feels like the only guarantee is that it'd won't be all of Vick, Katie and Jamie on together from Monday to Thursday. With Dean fair to say IAC didn't work out quite how he might've hoped and following that and the changes last year him getting Breakfast post Greg look a lot more of a long shot now. Weekends wise - James Cusack and Sam & Danni have settled in their new shows very quickly. James is perfect for that type of day and you can tell why Sam & Danni are seen as the future of Radio 1. S&D both have that sort of mischief and fun that Scott very much had on Radio 1 One great these last few months has been having more of Emil Franchi and James Cusack. Both always a great listen and fit Radio 1 like a glove. James finally on Radio 1 in a regular slot which so many of us called for for so long. Emil hadn't been on Radio 1 for ages before October but has been on loads since and even getting weekday daytime cover presenting alongside Jerry when Matt is away - long may it continue. The only thing I struggle with sometimes is the playlist. It's not always for me and if you listen to multiple shows then you can very quickly tire of tracks. So Scott going to Radio 2 Breakfast works perfectly for me.