BBC Radio 1 DJ Arielle Free has reportedly been suspended following a spat she had with fellow presenter, Charlie Hedges, live on air before ultimately being cut off mid-broadcast.
The Scottish radio personality, who also hosts the official Love Island: The Morning After podcast, made a brief appearance on Hedge’s Dance Anthems Ibiza show on Saturday this past weekend but ended up having her microphone cut off after she criticised her fellow Radio 1 DJ’s choice of music.
As you can hear in the clip, the 36-year-old DJ begins speaking in a hoarse voice after a long weekend of performing before telling her colleague, “Can I be honest with you Charlie? I expected better of you. I don’t like this song, I hate it. ‘My Barn My Rules’ [the song title], what are you talking about? I’m sorry”.
We’ll admit, this is a pretty awkward little exchange.
The 37-year-old DJ then quickly decides to stop Arielle in her tracks: “Sorry I’m taking your mic down. It’s my show, Arielle, have some respect — this is Dance Anthems, have some respect”.
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As per a number of outlets, it is said that Free has now been suspended from her Radio 1 show which airs between 4-7am from Monday to Thursday but is expected to return to her duties next week. The pair had both been broadcasting from the White Isle in Ibiza.
While the whole situation has sparked a fair amount of debate online, with plenty agreeing that Free’s decision to criticise the MCR-T and horsegiirL track live on someone else’s show was “out of order”, many others are describing the decision to cut her off as an overreaction.
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I generally don’t think she was rude she was just saying she didn’t like the song fair enough can’t all like it 🤷🏻♀️
The BBC has become a former shadow of itself. Now a DJ cannot criticise another DJ's music choice because it is seen as defamatory and derogatory and it might hurt their feelings. What happened to the hard-nosed BBC of the old days? pic.twitter.com/5i1HT1mne2
Issuing a statement, BBC Radio 1 said: “Whilst we would not comment on individual matters, we have strict codes of behaviour for staff and presenters, and any breaches are taken extremely seriously.”
Neither Hedges nor Free herself are yet to respond following the incident.
Featured Image — Arielle Free/Charlie Hedges (via Instagram)
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BBC releases first look of new drama series based on inspirational journey of England men’s football team
Emily Sergeant
First look images of a new BBC drama series based on award-winning play Dear England have been released.
The four-part series based on James Graham’s Olivier-award winning play of the same name tells the story of Gareth Southgate and the England men’s football team journey to renewed success, and it’s set to air on BBC One and iPlayer next year.
Dear England is a fictionalised account of the struggles and successes of England’s football teams, based on extensive research and interviews.
The stage play premiered at the National Theatre to five-star reviews, winning an Olivier award for ‘Best New Play’, and enjoying a sell-out run in 2023 before it returned to the National Theatre earlier this year and then embarked on a national tour.
The first look images of new BBC series Dear England have been released / Credit: BBC
With the worst team track record for penalties in the world when he takes over as manager, Gareth knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take England back to the promised land.
The country that gave the world football has delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can’t the England team win at their own game?
Joseph Fiennes will reprise his Olivier award-nominated role as Gareth Southgate in the new series.
Joseph Fiennes will star as former manager Gareth Southgate / Credit: BBC
The first look pictures see Fiennes in his role for the first time in scenes depicting England’s triumphant Euro 2024 Semi-Final celebrations, where the men’s team reached their first final of a major tournament on foreign soil.
Fiennes is joined by Jodie Whittaker as England men’s team psychologist Pippa Grange, and Daniel Ryan as Steve Holland the former assistant manager, whilst Will Antenbring stars as Harry Kane, joined by an ensemble cast of upcoming actors as the rest of the team.
Among the squad cast is Adam Hugill, Josh Barrow, and screen newcomer Lewis Shepherd, who are all reprising their respective stage roles as Harry Maguire, Jordan Pickford, and Dele Alli.
Dear England will air on BBC One and iPlayer in the new year, with exact air dates set to be announced in due course.
Featured Image – BBC
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World’s rarest lions arrive at Chester Zoo as part of global breeding programme
Emily Sergeant
Two of the world’s rarest lions have arrived at Chester Zoo as part of efforts to protect the highly endangered animals from extinction.
The pair, a male named Nilay, who has travelled from Köln Zoo in Germany, and a female named Shanti, who has arrived from London Zoo, are Asiatic lions who have been carefully matched with each other following what has been described as a ‘detailed genetic analysis’ as part of an international conservation breeding programme.
Conservationists say the pair have ‘formed an instant connection’, and are hopeful that they’ll go on to have cubs in the future.
Chester Zoo has been identified as a ‘key player’ in helping to safeguard the long-term survival of Asiatic lions – a breed of which there are thought to be fewer than 900 of in the wild.
The world’s rarest lions have arrived at Chester Zoo as part of a global breeding programme / Credit: Chester Zoo
Carnivore experts at the zoo have released the first images of the iconic cats exploring their expansive new home, which has been specially designed to recreate the dry forests and scrublands of India’s Gir Forest – the only place on Earth where Asiatic lions still exist in the wild.
Asiatic lions are classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which only reinforces the need for urgent conservation intervention.
Experts warn that, without effective conservation, the big cats could follow in the footsteps of the Barbary and Persian lions – that once roamed North Africa and the Middle East – and vanish from the wild all together.
“The arrival of Nilay and Shanti marks an exciting new chapter in our conservation efforts to protect one of the world’s most extraordinary and endangered animals,” explained Dave Hall, who is the Team Manager of Carnivores at Chester Zoo.
“Now that they’ve had time to settle in, we’ve successfully introduced the pair to one another in a special behind-the-scenes area, and the early signs are incredibly positive.
“We’re hopeful that as their bond grows stronger, we may one day have a pride again here at Chester, which would be another truly special milestone for the safety-net population of Asiatic lions.”
Danny Jones -
2nd August 2023 
