Mollie King is pregnant with her first child and will be taking maternity leave
(Picture: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)Ex-Saturdays girl group singer Mollie King is temporarily leaving BBC Radio 1 to take maternity leave.
In 2018, King joined Matt Edmondson to co-host the weekend shows.
In June, she announced that she is pregnant with her and fiancé Stuart Broad's first child, with the exact due date not yet confirmed to the public. Stuart and Mollie recently hinted that the baby is due “later this year”.
King isn’t the only presenter to leave the radio station. Chris Stark recently chose to leave, alongside his co-host Scott Mills.
But who is replacing Mollie King while she is on maternity leave? Here is everything you need to know about the Radio 1 shake-up.
Who is replacing Mollie King on BBC Radio 1?
BBC Radio 1 has announced that Jamie Laing will join Matt Edmondson to host the 1pm to 4pm weekend (Friday-Sunday) show on Radio 1, taking Mollie King’s place while she takes maternity leave.
Their first show together will be on Friday, October 28.
On the news, Laing said, “Presenting on Radio 1 is honestly a dream come true!! I simply can’t wait to begin!!”
The presenter, podcaster, and entrepreneur is best known for starring in E4’s Made In Chelsea, since the second series in 2011.
He has since become a TV favourite, moving on to appear in other shows such as Hollyoaks, Murder In Successville, and Drunk History.
He is also the founder of the confectionery company Candy Kittens and runs and hosts two podcasts, Private Parts and a BBC Radio 1 podcast, 6 Degrees from Jamie and Spencer.
Matt Edmondson, King’s co host, says: “I’m going to miss Mollie so much whilst she’s on ‘Matt Leave’, and although she is literally irreplaceable, we are going to temporarily replace her.
“All I asked for was someone funny, blonde, and a little bit posh, and the universe delivered in the shape of Jamie Laing!
“I’m a huge fan of Jamie’s and I’m so pleased he’s agreed to step in and co-host the show with me after several begging emails.”
The TV and radio presenter is best known for his work with BBC Radio 1 and ITV2. Over the years, he has presented a number of other Radio 1 shows, including filling in for Sara Cox while she was on maternity leave back in 2010.
Maia Beth, who was given her first opportunity to host on the station during the 2021 festive period, will cover Mollie’s Radio 1 Future Pop show (8pm-10pm on Thursdays). Maia was part of Radio 1’s Christmas Takeover, an initiative created by the head of BBC Radio 1.
On the announcement, she said: “This is such a dream!
“I am buzzing to be bringing you two hours of the very best new pop artists every week. How exciting that you can tune into me on Future Pop and hear a future stadium headliner for the first time!
“All my love to the original pop princess Mollie King in her maternity - pinky promise I’ll proper look after the show for you!”
