One of the Bradford district’s newest broadcasters is set to take over BBC Radio 1 this Christmas.
It’s a milestone moment for 23-year-old Betty Douglas who will become one of the station’s first physically disabled presenters.
Betty is one of 29 new and emerging DJs and presenters being given the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to appear on the popular youth radio station.
The Saltaire radio presenter has a hugely successful blog where she discusses everything from life with spina bifida to relationships and wellbeing.
The former Beckfoot School pupil has promised to bring “bants, big tunes and the festive spirit” to the airwaves.
Betty, who is known back at home by the name Ella, said: “I’m going to be as silly as humanely possible. I just want to mess about for four hours on the radio. It’s one of the most fun things you can do.
“I will get an anthems show, I’ll be playing some songs from 2004 and 2005 and tunes of 2007 and 2008.
“I think it’s safe to say I’m so excited to join Radio 1 Christmas that I’ve only just stopped bouncing off the walls. Bants, big tunes, and the festive spirit? Sounds pretty spicy to me.”
She added: “I started doing radio at my university in Durham. In Covid I was really bored and student radio was one of the few things I could do. I interviewed lots of musicians over Zoom from my bedroom.”
Betty began working at BBC Radio Teesside before joining Global Radio for work experience.
“I went to a student radio conference and I won two tickets to Big Weekend because I asked a question about how accessible they’re trying to make festivals for disabled people," she said.
“It’s funny because I have spoken about my disability on my blog which I’ve been writing for about four years now. It’s never been something I wanted to lead with. But at the same time it’s this huge part of my life and when it comes to the media and broadcasting, representation of disabled people has been mostly led by the fact they are disabled.
“I’m going to be a radio presenter so you can’t see my callipers or hospital scars. It’s great.”
Betty will be hosting her shows on BBC Radio One between 10am and 2pm on December 26 and 27.
Looking back on her Northern roots, Betty said: “I’ve never been one of those people who says ‘I’m from Leeds’ when I’m from Bradford. I love where I’m from. I grew up in Shipley from the age of three. I was actually born in Durham.
“Everyone knows each other in Saltaire, everyone knows the name of the butcher and the greengrocer.”
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