BBC Radio 1 Relax is a British online-only radio stream, owned and operated by the BBC and run as a spin-off from BBC Radio 1. The station plays a selection of relaxation and well-being focused shows, and broadcasts exclusively on BBC Sounds.[1]
The stream is due to close in 2024, three years after launching.
History and launch
Previous 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 4-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, in line 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] A closure date for the stream was not reported.
Programming
Programming on the stream is repeated wellbeing and relaxation shows from BBC Radio 1 and BBC Sounds.[7]
Radio 1 Relax will occasionally simulcast with Radio 1 on a Bank Holiday where Stuart Sandeman, Jess Iszatt and Sian Eleri will present the daytime shows (7 am to 6 pm).[8]
Radio 1 regularly adjusts the scheduled programming based on current series across BBC Sounds. Previous series repeated on Radio 1 Relax include Radio 1's Motivate Me Mix, Radio 1 Relax & Chill, Radio 1's Movie Mixtapes with Ali Plumb,[9]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).
