BBC Radio 1 Relax
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2022}}
{{short description|British national radio station}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name = BBC Radio 1 Relax
| logo = File:BBC Radio 1 Relax 2022.svg
| city = London
| logo_caption = Second and final logo, used from 2022 to 2024
| area = United Kingdom and internationally via BBC Sounds
| frequency = BBC Sounds
| airdate = {{start date|2021|04|22|df=y}}
| last_airdate = {{end date|2024|07|24|df=y}} ({{age in years and days|2021|04|22|2024|07|24|df=y}})
| language = English
| format = Meditation music
| network = BBC Radio
| owner = BBC
| licensing_authority = Ofcom
| sister_stations = BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1Xtra
BBC Radio 1 Dance
| coordinates =
| website = [https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1relax 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.{{Cite web|title=Introducing Radio 1 Relax|url=https://canvas-story.bbcrewind.co.uk/radio1relax/|access-date=2021-04-22|website=BBC Rewind}} The stream closed on 24 July 2024, three years after launching.
History and launch
File:BBC Radio 1 relax logo.png
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.{{Cite web|title=Radio 1 Dance stream to launch this October |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2020/radio-1-dance-stream|access-date=2020-09-18|website=BBC Media Centre}}
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".{{Cite web|title=BBC Annual Plan 2021/22|url=http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/reports/annualplan/annual-plan-2021-22.pdf|access-date=2021-04-22|website=BBC Downloads}}
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.{{Cite web|title=Brand new wellbeing stream Radio 1 Relax launches on BBC Sounds |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2021/radio-1-relax|access-date=2021-04-22|website=BBC Media Centre}}
In 2024, the BBC announced the launch of three new digital stations on BBC Sounds and the BBC's existing DAB+ allocation.{{Cite web|title=Plans announced for new, distinctive digital music stations as extensions for BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 3 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2024/plans-digital-music-stations-extensions-bbc-radio-1-bbc-radio-2-bbc-radio-3|access-date=2024-02-07|website=BBC Media Centre}} 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".{{Cite web|title=BBC Sounds to Stop Curating Content for Radio 1 Relax |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2024/plans-digital-music-stations-extensions-bbc-radio-1-bbc-radio-2-bbc-radio-3#:~:text=BBC%20Sounds%20will%20stop%20curating%20content%20for%20its%20second%20existing%20music%20stream%2C%20BBC%20Radio%201%20Relax%2C%20which%20was%20launched%20during%20the%20pandemic.|access-date=2024-02-07|website=BBC Media Centre}}
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."{{Cite web |title=Radio 1's Chillest Show with Sian Eleri: berlioz brings soothing selections to the Chill Mix |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00212m6 |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=BBC |at=51:00 |language=en-GB |quote=Radio 1 Relax is coming to an end this Wednesday [24th July].}} Eleri hosted the final show on that day alongside Jess Iszatt on the stream.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-24 |title=Sian Eleri and Jess Iszatt present the final ever show on Radio 1 Relax! |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0021cm3 |access-date=2024-07-21 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}
Programming
Programming on the stream was repeated wellbeing and relaxation shows from BBC Radio 1 and BBC Sounds.{{Cite web|title=Radio 1 Relax Schedule|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p093xs25|access-date=2021-04-22|website=BBC}}
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).{{Cite web|title=Radio 1 Schedule 18/04/22|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/schedules/p00fzl86/2022/04/18|access-date=2022-04-23|website=BBC}}
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,
- {{cite web|last1=mosheim|first1=tas|title=Ali Plumb: No one wants to see me “suck up” to a series of celebrities|url=https://www.palatinate.org.uk/ali-plumb-no-one-wants-to-see-me-suck-up-to-a-series-of-celebrities/|website=Palatinate|access-date=24 June 2023|date=7 February 2020}}
- {{cite web|author1=RAW 1251AM|title=Ali Plumb - RAW Interviews|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjIwremCi1w|website=youtube|access-date=24 June 2023|language=en|date=February 6, 2017}}
- {{cite news|title=From the Boar to the BBC: an interview with Ali Plumb|url=https://theboar.org/2023/06/from-the-boar-to-the-bbc-an-interview-with-ali-plumb/|access-date=24 June 2023|work=The Boar.org|date=June 2023}}
- {{cite web|title=Ali Plumb|url=https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/ali-plumb|website=United Agents|access-date=24 June 2023}}
- {{cite web|title=Cinemagic: The Film Review - A Masterclass with Ali Plumb|url=https://queensfilmtheatre.com/Whats-on/Ali-Plumb|website=Queen's Film Theatre|access-date=24 June 2023|location=Belfast}}
- {{cite web|title=Ali Plumb|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/author/13919/ali-plumb/|website=Digital Spy|access-date=24 June 2023}}
- {{cite web|title=Ali Plumb to become new film critic for Radio 1 and 1Xtra|url=https://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/BBCRadio1/view/138659/|website=Pressparty|access-date=24 June 2023|language=en|date=December 18, 2015}}
- {{cite web|title=Going Home with Vick and Jordan|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000zc11|website=BBC Radio 1|publisher=BBC|access-date=24 June 2023}}
- {{cite web|title=interview-with-bbc-radio-1s-ali-plumb|url=https://bookishmag.co.uk/blog/interview-with-bbc-radio-1s-ali-plumb|website=bookishmag.co.uk|access-date=24 June 2023}}
- {{cite web|author1=BBC Radio 1|title=Movies With Ali Plumb|url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7RLE4ANZ0lXKLCu3ROXFwzpRlIZ4OJnT|website=YouTube|access-date=24 June 2023}}
- {{cite web|title=BAFTA announces hosting line-up for the 2023 EE BAFTA Film Awards featuring Richard E. Grant, Alison Hammond, Ali Plumb and Vick Hope|url=https://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/2023-ee-bafta-film-awards-hosts-announced|website=BAFTA|access-date=24 June 2023|language=en|date=16 January 2023}}
- {{cite web|title=Movie Mixtapes|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000f5ql|website=BBC Radio 1|publisher=BBC|access-date=24 June 2023}}
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).