David Farnor | On 28, Jan 2016

BBC Radio 1 is launching a new gaming show for BBC iPlayer.

The radio station, which got its own channel on the Beeb’s VOD service back in 2014, releases up to two new videos each day, from recordings of live sessions to artist interviews and “Best of” DJ programmes. Now, it will bring a new monthly gaming series to its streaming line-up.

The TV show will celebrate the biggest games and gaming events in the world, with each episode looking at the most significant title that month – getting to play it, test it and guide young viewers on how much they need it in their lives.

Julia Hardy, who is currently the gaming expert on Radio 1’s The Number One Show with Cel Spellman (Sundays from 4 to 7pm), will join the team as the station’s gaming expert and host.

“Over half the UK population is a gamer in one form or another,” says Julia. “It is the biggest and most quickly expanding form of entertainment in the world, so it is a real pleasure to be a part of the Radio 1 team whose mission is to bring it out of the specialist shadows and put it firmly on the mainstream map alongside all the great entertainment, music and film coverage they currently do.”

Joe Harland, Head of Visual Radio, adds: “Julia is an enthusiast, an advocate, and a natural broadcaster who will make sure Radio 1’s gaming content is as entertaining as the industry it’s covering.”

The programme will launch exclusively on BBC iPlayer on Friday 11th March.

For more on what you can stream now, see our weekly Best of BBC iPlayer column.

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