The nation’s airwaves will be shaken up on 1 April 2008, when 5FM introduces a host of new DJs to its line-up.

Grant Nash and Anele Mdoda, who have shaken up 94.7 Highveld Stereo’s weekday evenings for over a year with their sassy style, will be moving over to 5FM in April.

From 1 April, Grant and Anele will be filling the weekday 12 noon to 3pm slot previously occupied by the F&Martinengo Show. Their easy-going style has proved a hit with Joburg audiences, and they are excited about continuing their successful on-air partnership on a national platform.

““My love for radio started with 5FM and clichéd though it may sound, having grown up listening to the likes of Alex Jay, Mark Gillman, Ian F and Sasha, and now having an opportunity to continue the legacy they have created is a real dream come true,” says Grant.

Adds Anele, “Radio is a passion for me, and this is an exciting opportunity to make radio – and friends – on a national level. We look forward to being part of the Power of 5.”

The hugely popular Gareth Cliff still hosts the essential breakfast show Monday to Fridays; and there will be no more sleeping late for Sasha Martinengo, who goes solo and moves to Elana Afrika’s 9am to 12 noon weekday slot. After newcomers Grant & Anele is the Big Dawg, DJ Fresh who still rules weekday afternoons on 5FM for an extra hour, now from 15h00- 19h00.

Completing the new look week day line up is Koula who will step into Nicole’s kitten heels, presenting the 7pm to 10pm show Mondays to Thursdays with Sureshnie Rider taking over the reins of the 10pm to 1pm slot weekdays.

But it is 5FM weekends that get a major new facelift! Elana Afrika is taking over the weekend breakfast show between 7am and 10am on Saturdays and Sundays, alongside Ryan O’Connor of Good Hope FM fame, who will also continue to present The Fastlane, his afternoon drive show on Good Hope FM.

“It will be like having both a mistress and a wife!” quips Ryan, regarding his dual responsibilities with the two SABC stations. “I’m going to be enjoying the best of both worlds and although I love still chewing the fat with my fellow Capetonians, I’m really looking forward to meeting listeners from all over the country at 5FM.” Breakfast will be funny, frantic and completely fresh.

Poppy Ntshongwana will follow on from the new breakfast team on Saturdays with Total Request Live and another newcomer to the station Rob Vember (formerly on Heart FM in Cape Town) takes over weekend afternoons. 5FM LIVE on Saturday evenings now extends to two hours; the first of which features the hottest artists on the playlist live in concert and the second hour a live set from the featured DJ of the week. Erica Elle rules on Saturday nights (22h00 to 01h00) with a brand new show that follows on from Roger Goode’s Saturday Surgery.

Sasha Martinengo makes his Sunday evening debut on Big Mouth – three hours dedicated to unearthing the hottest new talent from musicians to DJs. The final newcomer to the station is the exciting new talent from campus radio Bongi Mbelu who gets her national radio break in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The complete 5FM line-up (from 1 April 2008) is as follows:

Weekdays
01:00 – 04:00 Erica Elle
04:00 – 06:00 KB
06:00 – 09:00 Gareth Cliff
09:00 – 12:00 Sasha Martinengo
12:00 – 15:00 Grant & Anele
15:00 – 19:00 DJ Fresh
19:00 – 22:00 Koula (Mondays – Thursdays) / Roger Goode (Fridays)
22:00 – 01:00 Sureshnie Rider (Mondays – Thursdays) / Vinyl Frontier (Fridays)


Saturdays
01:00 – 04:00 Mlu
04:00 – 07:00 Christina Knight
07:00 – 10:00 Weekend Breakfast (Elana Afrika & Ryan O’Connor)
10:00 – 14:00 Total Request Live – Poppy Ntshongwana
14:00 – 17:00 Rob Vember
17:00 – 19:00 5FM Live – Catherine
19:00 – 22:00 Roger Goode
22:00 – 01:00 Erica Elle

Sundays
01:00 – 04:00 Bongi Mbelu
04:00 – 07:00 Christina Knight
07:00 – 10:00 Weekend Breakfast (Elana Afrika & Ryan O’Connor)
10:00 – 14:00 5FM Top 40 – Koula
14:00 – 17:00 Rob Vember
17:00 – 19:00 New Music Space – KB
19.00 – 22:00 DJ Euphonik
22:00 – 01:00 Big Mouth – Sasha

Ian F says cheers

Ian F has just confirmed that he’ll be leaving 5FM at the end of March. His last F&Martinengo Show (Mon-Fri; 12-4pm) with Sasha Martinengo will go on-air Friday, 28 March.

“After 15 years with the station, I am ready for change and new horizons. I am departing from 5FM with only fond memories of the amazing people I have worked with, incredible events I have been part of & other one-of-a-kind experiences I shared with our audience. Apart from some travelling in Europe, I am also going to be expanding my international radio and media experience,” explains Ian.

“Ian is one of our longest-serving presenters ever! He will definitely be missed by all of us at 5FM as well as by his fans all over SA. We wish him only the best wherever he goes!” says Helen Graham, 5FM station manager.

“Ian, you Rock! I will miss you, my very good friend,” says Ian’s current co-host Sasha Martinengo.

Other changes for the new 5FM line-up, starting 1 April, will be announced shortly.

Nicole Fox says farewell

It has been confirmed that popular presenter Nicole Fox has decided to leave 5FM after 8 years on-air with the national youth radio station. Nicole will be presenting her last ever weekly nighttime show for 5FM on 31 March 2008 from 7pm.

“I would like to expand my profile and also return to my TV roots”, states Nicole. “It is very sad for me to leave 5FM, which has been my home for so many years, filled with numerous special memories & career achievements – but, life moves on and new opportunities are arising. Apart from focusing on my TV career, I also wish to explore options behind the scenes and in the broader media industry – to build on the Journalism honours and Economics degrees I earned at Rhodes.”

“Nicole advised us some time ago that she wanted to explore new career opportunities and whilst we’ll miss her exceptional talent, we also wish her the best for the new future she’s embarking on,” says Helen Graham, 5FM station manager.

Nicole’s replacement for both the weekday (Mon-Thur; 7-10pm) show as well as TRL Radio (Saturdays; 10am–2pm) will be announced shortly.