Tim Westwood 'sacked' from Radio 1Xtra drivetime show

Tim Westwood is to stop presenting his weekday BBC Radio 1Xtra drivetime show after three years, as part of a schedule reshuffle aimed to bring in younger presenters that will see the veteran hip-hop DJ get a new Sunday night show on the digital radio station. Westwood, who will continue to host his Saturday night show simulcast on Radio 1 and 1Xtra, will stop presenting the 4pm to 7pm drivetime slot on BBC 1Xtra from September. The 54-year-old informed his 262,000 Twitter followers on Twitter that the station had "sacked" him. "I've been sacked from 1Xtra Mon-Fri 4-7pm from sept #Westwoodyourfired," he tweeted on Thursday. "It's official I've lost my afternoon voice due to schedule changes I will not be presentin 1Xtra Mon-Fri 4-7pm from Sept". The changes are part of an effort to maintain 1Xtra's youth profile, the average listener age is 26, and lowering the listener demographic of Radio 1 whose audience averages 31. "Tim has done a great job over the years, but it's time for a new generation of presenters on the station to keep things fresh and relevant to our young audience," said a source. "It's been a lot of fun and a great experience," said Westwood. Westwood's drivetime slot will be taken over by twentysomething presenter Charlie Sloth while 21-year old Yasmin Evans, a product of 1Xtra's pilot scheme, will get her first crack at national radio taking on presenting duties for the station's weekend breakfast show. "As 1Xtra nears its 10th birthday it is great to be welcoming a new generation of presenters to the station who will take on the baton of championing the best in urban music for a young audience," said Ben Cooper, controller of BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra. "Tim has proved to be one of the most influential figures in UK hip-hop and I'm delighted that he will continue to bring his wealth of knowledge and unique style to Radio 1 and 1Xtra across the weekends". The BBC also said as part of the changes it is also putting a number of its radio programmes out to tender to independent production companies. The tender process is part of the BBC Audio & Music division's target of having a 10% independent production quota by 2012/13. Seven programmes will be put out to tender.