When a colleague, such as 1Xtra DJ Reece Parkinson, is an avid Fulham FC fan, you bring out the big guns. So, BBC Newsbeat invited squad captain Tom Cairney to interrupt Reece’s final interview prior to his final show.
We’re certain it was a career highlight for Reece, but was it the greatest? There may be competition in that area.
Reece has spent the last two years hosting the primetime drive slot on 1Xtra. He will host his final show soon. However, events almost transpired very differently.
In 2020, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, Reece, like the rest of us, was planning an escape once restrictions began to loosen.
“I intended to relocate to Barcelona. This was my intention,” he explains.
Reece, who was hosting 1Xtra Talks on Sunday evenings at the time, stated that he had everything planned out.
Retain his Saturday gig, spend the rest of the week “scraping by” in Barcelona by working in a bar, and return to his studio for the performance.
He was looking at apartments when he received a call from his employers.
“Would you like to host the drive-time program?”
The late afternoon time slot is coveted by most radio DJs, as it attracts large crowds and A-list guests.
Reece had to deal with broadcasting during a pandemic, which he claims drew him closer to the 1Xtra listeners.
“That certainly increased my empathy,” he says.
You believe that the audience will appreciate the presentation because of the music and the stuff that we create to entertain them.
“But, you are permitted to go on broadcast and express your feelings as well. And I believe that emotion is what truly develops communities and expands audiences.”
Reece, who joined 1Xtra in 2016, asserts that his time there has not only altered him as a broadcaster but also altered his life in a significant way.
The same year he began preparing for an ultramarathon for a Newsbeat documentary, he landed the drive-time role.
Two days before the race, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, causing him to withdraw.
Six months later, though, he resumed training and completed a grueling 50-mile race.
“We’ve all experienced terrible and sad truths in our lives,” he explains.
“And when you’re in it, it’s a terrible experience. You do not wish to experience it. Yet that experience offers you something to reflect back on and hold on to when you’re attempting to overcome something else.”
Reece has used his show to raise awareness of his disease and to discuss how it has taught him the lesson of patience.
It has also influenced his upcoming career move, which he recently stated on Twitter would be into the field of science.
1Xtra was created to promote black music and culture, and Reece adds that pioneering DJs like Trevor Nelson motivated him to join the station.
Reece refers to Trevor, who recently appeared in Stormzy’s music video for “Mel Made Me Do It,” as one of his “broadcasting heroes.”
“I used to watch him as a child, so it’s a wonderful honor to be on the same stations with him.
And, most importantly, to meet the fantastic audience we reached.
And Reece has some words of wisdom for his fans who may wish to follow in his footsteps.
Simply manifest your destiny, he advises.
“If everything seems to be flowing and your intuition is urging you to do something, then do it. If something feels right, nine times out of ten it is correct.
You must pursue your desired life’s dream.
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