Sam Darlaston announced his departure from KISS FM last month, shocking fans with his abrupt exit – but fans are set to welcome him back on a rival station sooner than expected. Listeners don’t have to wait long to hear him again with his return to the airwaves coming tomorrow.
And a source has told us he is “guaranteed to be a hit” on his new BBC Radio 1 slot. Sam, 33, had spent 11 years with KISS and presented the Weekend Breakfast show since 2022. But he has switched channels and will start his BBC Radio 1 Early Breakfast journey at 5am.
A source said: “It’s a hugely exciting time for Sam joining the Early Breakfast slot. Some huge names have gone before him, Greg James being one of them and now he’s one of BBC 1’s biggest names on the roster.
View 2 ImagesSam is ready for his new show(Image: Getty Images)
“He’ll bring a wealth of experience from his Kiss FM days and his podcast, Embarrassing For No Reason and has already built up quite the following, so it’s guaranteed that he’ll be a hit with listeners as he wakes them up over the summer.”
The radio host, 33, confessed he’d had “the time of my life” at KISS in his exit speech, while hinting at his future plans in a heartfelt announcement. He’d previously praised his stint at the University of Bedfordshire’s student radio station as laying crucial groundwork for his broadcasting career.
In a statement published on the university’s website he remarked: “My three years at Bedfordshire provided me with the best education; I’ve loved it.
“I arrived wanting to be an actor, and I still hope to pursue this one day, but now hopefully everything I’ve done on the course, like the radio unit, will set me up now for my role at KISS. I’m so happy I can’t believe it, but trying to take it in my stride”.
On Friday June 12, Sam posted on Instagram sharing a statement alongside two photographs of himself in the studio, writing: “Some news… cya KISS, it’s been real.
“This weekend will be my final shows. As you can see, I’ve hit puberty since joining, and really gone on to blossom. Had the time of my life. I love so many of you! But especially gonna miss make me a winner x [the station’s cash-winning prize competition].
“Back on air soon, will let ya know where and when you’re welcome to guess in the comments x” Responding to his Instagram post, one devoted fan wrote: “Oh no gutted me and my daughter love listening to you Sam!
“You and Tatum and Jordan and Perri were our faves. I’m a fellow Nuneatonian and you made our day reading my shoutout out on the radio recently when we were in the car on the way home! Hope to hear you on the radio again soon!”.
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A second follower commented: “please please please pray hoping you move to capital fm I love kiss and capital when DJs radio presenters move from kiss to capital or capital to kiss fingers crossed CAPITAL FM mate.”
While a third chimed in: “The third slide? does it mean you’ll be back on KISS DANCE or something.”
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