BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra

Published: 22 November 2016

The mission of the annual BBC Music Sound Of award is to find and support the most promising new music talent for the coming year and is voted for by a diverse panel of music critics and industry experts. Last year’s Sound Of 2016 winner, Jack Garratt, was joined on the shortlist by Alessia Cara, NAO, Blossoms, Mura Masa and WSTRN.

The previous winners are: Years & Years (2015), Sam Smith (2014), HAIM (2013), Michael Kiwanuka (2012), Jessie J (2011), Ellie Goulding (2010), Little Boots (2009), Adele (2008), Mika (2007), Corinne Bailey Rae (2006), The Bravery (2005), Keane (2004) and 50 Cent (2003).

The longlist of 15 artists for Sound Of 2017 will be announced on 28 November, with the top five out of this 15 being revealed by MistaJam and Huw Stephens on Clara Amfo’s Radio 1 show from Monday 2 to Friday 6 January 2017.

Monday 28 November
BBC Radio 1 Production

Newsbeat Special On Bereavement

Bereavement affects every one of us, yet it can be one of the hardest subjects to talk about. The pain of losing a loved one can be particularly hard at Christmas time, so this December Newsbeat will dedicate a special programme to the issue.

BBC reporters who have lost someone themselves will meet young people who have experienced a similar loss to them, ranging from suicide to the passing of a good friend or parent. Instead of an interview they will have an open and honest talk about both their experiences and how they got through it. As part of the programme, charities and experts have told Newsbeat bereavement leave should be ranked as importantly as maternity leave. Newsbeat explores why some work places are better than others at giving this leave.

Monday 19 December, 12.45pm and 5.45pm

Olly ChristMurs Radio 1 Live Lounge

Olly Murs will make a special appearance in Radio 1’s Live Lounge this Christmas to get young audiences in the festive spirit.

Taking place at midday on 8 December, Olly will play four tracks, including some classics and a Christmas cover. The intimate performance will be broadcast live during Clara Amfo’s Radio 1 mid-morning show (10am-1pm) and listeners will also be able to watch live via the Radio 1 website.

Radio 1’s Live Lounge is known for attracting some of the biggest and best new artists in the world, from Adele, Coldplay, Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran to Slaves and James Bay, lining up to perform their own hits as well as unexpected covers.

Thursday 8 December, 12noon-12.30pm
BBC Radio 1 Production

Radio 1 Christmas Mixes

From Monday 5 December, Radio 1 will have its Christmas hat on and will be broadcasting a selection of Christmas mixes every day until Friday 23 December. From 5-18 December there will be party mixes, and from 19 December there will be Christmas songs all the way up to 23 December.

The festive mixes such as ‘Christmas Lights Switch One’ will be broadcast every morning (9.45-10.15am), weekday afternoons (3.45-4.15pm) and weekend afternoons (2.45-3.15pm), warming listeners up for their Christmas celebrations.

Monday 5 December, 9.45-10.15am
BBC Radio 1 Production

BBC Radio 1Xtra’s ‘Hot For’ 2017 List

On Tuesday 13 December, BBC Radio 1Xtra will announce the 10 acts from the world of black music that the station predicts to be big in 2017. BBC Radio 1Xtra will celebrate the ‘Hot For’ list throughout the week with exclusive tracks and interviews from the hotly tipped artists.

Previous artists that have featured on the list include Stormzy, The Weeknd, Izzy Bizu, Ed Sheeran, Kehlani, Chance the Rapper, and Sam Smith.

Tuesday 13 December, 7-9pm
BBC Radio 1Xtra Production

Radio 1 BBC iPlayer Documentaries

The Christmas Watchlist
Radio 1 and 1Xtra film critic, Ali Plumb looks at the ten best Christmas films ever. With the help of special contributors, Ali counts down the top festive films to kick off the season with the likes of Home Alone and Elf featuring on the list.

Monday 1 December, 7am
BBC Radio 1 Production

Get Muscly In A Month
BBC Radio 1 presenter Adele Roberts experiences the world of body building and extreme exercise as we follow the bodily changes that happen to her over 30 days through a combination of diet and exercise.

Tuesday 2 December, 4pm
Wise Buddah Productions

Can You Live Without Your Phone
Smartphones have been in our lives for ten years but what if we wound the clock back a decade, and swapped smartphones for a big old brick phone? Can people cope as well as the class of sixth formers who undertook this trial for a whole week?