BBC Radio 1 Relax
| Name | BBC Radio 1 Relax |
| Logo |  |
| 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 | 2021-04-22 |
| Last Airdate | 2024-07-24 |
| 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 |
| 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. The stream closed on 24 July 2024, three years after launching.
History and launch
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.
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".
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.
In 2024, the BBC announced the launch of three new digital stations on BBC Sounds and the BBC's existing DAB+ allocation. 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".
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 July. End of an era." Eleri hosted the final show on that day alongside Jess Iszatt on the stream.
Programming
Programming on the stream was repeated wellbeing and relaxation shows from BBC Radio 1 and BBC Sounds.
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).
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, 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
References
- Introducing Radio 1 Relax, 2021-04-22, BBC Rewind
- Radio 1 Dance stream to launch this October, 2020-09-18, BBC Media Centre
- BBC Annual Plan 2021/22, 2021-04-22, BBC Downloads
- Brand new wellbeing stream Radio 1 Relax launches on BBC Sounds, 2021-04-22, BBC Media Centre
- Plans announced for new, distinctive digital music stations as extensions for BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 3, 2024-02-07, BBC Media Centre
- BBC Sounds to Stop Curating Content for Radio 1 Relax, 2024-02-07, BBC Media Centre
- Radio 1's Chillest Show with Sian Eleri: berlioz brings soothing selections to the Chill Mix, 2024-07-21, BBC, 51:00, en-GB, Radio 1 Relax is coming to an end this Wednesday , July, .
- 2024-07-24, Sian Eleri and Jess Iszatt present the final ever show on Radio 1 Relax!, 2024-07-21, BBC, en-GB
- Radio 1 Relax Schedule, 2021-04-22, BBC
- Radio 1 Schedule 18/04/22, 2022-04-23, BBC
- mosheim, tas, Ali Plumb: No one wants to see me “suck up” to a series of celebrities, Palatinate, 24 June 2023, 7 February 2020
- RAW 1251AM, Ali Plumb - RAW Interviews, youtube, 24 June 2023, en, February 6, 2017
- From the Boar to the BBC: an interview with Ali Plumb, 24 June 2023, The Boar.org, June 2023
- Ali Plumb, United Agents, 24 June 2023, 24 June 2023, dead
- Cinemagic: The Film Review - A Masterclass with Ali Plumb, Queen's Film Theatre, 24 June 2023, Belfast
- Ali Plumb, Digital Spy, 24 June 2023
- Ali Plumb to become new film critic for Radio 1 and 1Xtra, Pressparty, 24 June 2023, en, December 18, 2015
- Going Home with Vick and Jordan, BBC Radio 1, BBC, 24 June 2023
- interview-with-bbc-radio-1s-ali-plumb, bookishmag.co.uk, 24 June 2023
- BBC Radio 1, Movies With Ali Plumb, YouTube, 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, 24 June 2023, en, 16 January 2023
- Movie Mixtapes, BBC Radio 1, BBC, 24 June 2023
Relax
Category:Digital-only radio stations
1 Relax
Category:Radio stations established in 2021
Category:Radio stations disestablished in 2024
Category:2021 establishments in the United Kingdom
Category:2024 disestablishments in the United Kingdom