BBC Radio 1 announces Lauren Layfield and Shanequa Paris as new Official Chart: First Look hosts

The new duo replace Vick Hope and Katie Thistleton, who have presented First Look for four years.

BBC Radio 1 announces today that Lauren Layfield and Shanequa Paris are to be the new hosts of the Official Chart: First Look show, replacing incumbent hosts Vick Hope and Katie Thistleton.

The Official Chart: First Look airs every Sunday from 6pm, giving listeners and UK chart fans the chance to see how a prospective Top 20 of the Official Singles Chart stands at the midweek mark, ahead of the regular Official Chart, which is aired every Friday from 4pm - 5.45pm with Jack Saunders.

As a duo, Vick and Katie have been the faces of the Official Chart: First Look since September 2020, and before that, Katie fronted the first iteration of the show (which used to be the Official Chart Update) with Cel Spellman from July 2019.

Both Vick and Katie are leaving their positions on the Official Chart: First Look and Life Hacks to front a new drivetime show, Going Home on Radio 1, which will also feature reality TV star Jamie Laing, airing Mondays-Thursdays 3.30pm - 6pm.

On their new appointment, Lauren Layfied says: “I’m absolutely over-the-moon to officially be joining the BBC Radio 1 family. I’ve listened and loved Radio 1 since I was a teenager and it’s a total privilege to join the ranks"

Shanequa Paris adds: “I can’t believe I get to join the most fabulous station [...] we've got you covered hunny!"

Presenter and DJ Lauren has previously appeared on BBC One's The One Show and helped man the channel's coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool, while Shanequa has come up as a newsreader on iconic CBBC institution Newsround, where she's reported on important topics such as COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter to a young audience.

Aled Haydn Jones, Head of BBC Radio 1, says: “I’m so excited to welcome Lauren and Shanequa, two brilliant journalists and youth broadcasters, to Radio 1."