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BBC Radio 1 is the home of broadcasting legends Greg James, Annie Mac and Nick Grimshaw - and now Demon FM will be featured on its airwaves.

Next week, De Montfort Students’ Union (DSU)’s student radio station will be featured on BBC Radio 1 - one of just 12 UK student radio stations to have an hour-long themed playlist of their choice.


On the air: Ollie, right, with Radio 1 producer Roushan Alam, who came to 51Âþ»­ to record the session

DemonFM’s playlist, titled ‘This One Time On My Gap Yah’, is based around the gap year - the cliché trip you do as a student to "find yourself" - and features a diverse mix of music from Coldplay to Temper Trap. It was curated after suggestions from DemonFM’s membership of 51Âþ»­ students and community members.

DemonFM’s Incoming Head of Programming Ollie McGrath will be hosting the show. Ollie, who coordinated the project. Ollie said: “Recording the show was really good fun! Having the chance to work with BBC Radio 1’s Producers was quite daunting but also an honour. I can’t wait for people to hear the show now!

“Although the show is predominantly focussed on the music and our theme (This One Time On My Gap Yah), I hope I managed to be a little funny, with an added tinge of sarcasm and to get my personality across.  

“This has been a massive opportunity for me but also DemonFM! It shows that the possibilities are endless when you’re involved with Demon Media.”

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The show’s provisional date to air is 9pm on Monday 18th July. Ollie explained how they decided on the theme of the playlist: “We were asked to make playlists which would be relevant for students’ lives and we all know someone who doesn't stop talking about their gap year so we decided to follow a tongue-in-cheek theme and called it ‘This One Time On My Gap Yah’.

“We spoke to everyone at the station and got them to suggest songs based on each playlist we submitted so it was a real team effort across the station. Three producers and I [Maddie Stanier, Ryan Cooper and Rhiann Tintor] then curated the playlist going through the songs suggested.  I have to particularly thank Rhiann, Ryan and Maddie for helping bring the project together.”

The winning playlists were selected by BBC Radio 1’s Head of Programmes, Rhys Hughes, and a team of Radio 1 editors.

Luke Smith, the former head of programming at DemonFM, said: “Just a few weeks ago, the thought of DemonFM being in charge of the playlist for a Radio 1 show would have been utterly bonkers – and yet now it’s actually happening! I couldn’t be more proud of the station right now or more thankful to all of those who contributed to getting our playlists together.”