Entertainment
Reece Parkinson on quitting 1Xtra for career in science: ‘I’d rather watch a show on AI technology than Love Island’-Alicia Adejobi-Entertainment – Metro
Reece Parkinson is completely overhauling his career (Picture: Getty Images)
Reece Parkinson’s bold decision to quit BBC Radio 1Xtra may have come as a surprise to most of us, but it was a ‘natural’ decision for the presenter that had been in the works for two years.
It was announced last year that the 28-year-old broadcaster would be leaving the popular station after six years, and he recently confirmed that he’ll be pursuing a whole new career in life sciences.
Yes, Reece will be swapping the studio for the lab to contribute to developing life-changing medicines for diseases, a sector close to his heart after he was himself diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2020.
His final drivetime show on 1Xtra aired on Monday ahead of DJ Remi Burgz replacing him next week, and Reece admitted it was an emotional day especially with everyone aware of his new adventure. Although, getting a warm send off from his favourite football club, Fulham FC, no doubt helped.
‘I was quite overwhelmed by the response, not that I didn’t think anyone would care but I wasn’t expecting it to make quite an impact like it did so that was quite surprising,’ he told Metro.co.uk hours after.
‘It felt so normal to me, the move, but to the outside world it was different.’
It’s @Reece_Parkinson’s final @1Xtra show today. So @PriaRai teamed up with @FulhamFC to lay on the perfect leaving surprise…Read more: https://t.co/tvrNxa16xm pic.twitter.com/jofwvQVtoJ— BBC Newsbeat (@BBCNewsbeat) March 27, 2023
He added: ‘The overarching thing was I felt really confident in the decision that I made and I felt at ease and like I was being guided into you’re doing this and it’s the right thing to do.
‘So it wasn’t a sadness, it was more of a natural this is where you’re being pushed into. It felt like a celebration, which it was.’
Reece began considering his future away from 1Xtra in February 2021 when he sent a text message to a friend explaining that he ‘should be enjoying [radio presenting] so much more, why aren’t I?’
Then in late 2019, he picked up Jennifer Doudna’s book, The Code Breaker, and it pretty much changed his life.
‘It was all about this technology called Crispr (gene editing) and the power it can have,’ he explained. ‘When I read that book, a switch in me just went, wow, everything’s about to change and why isn’t everybody screaming about this and running to where this change is happening.
The broadcaster presented on 1Xtra for six years before making the career jump (Picture: WireImage)
‘So that just set off in motion and manifested a way out of a whole bunch of decisions.’
Sharing how his passion for the showbiz industry changed over time, he said: ‘I wasn’t curious in that world. I couldn’t necessarily care about Central Cee wearing a tracksuit to a [wedding] and that’s not taking away from people who do care about it, it’s just not where my mind went.
‘I didn’t watch Love Island this year, I’d much rather watch for an hour a show on how AI is being used to automate cars. That’s where my brain went to in the last few years.
‘You have to live your truth and what you’re actually into.’
The career transition seemed to align perfectly out of unfortunate circumstances.
The same timeframe that Reece got stuck into reading Doudna’s book was around the time he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2020, halting his plans to run the London Marathon.
Type 1 diabetes causes the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood to become too high. It happens when the body cannot produce enough of a hormone called insulin, which controls blood glucose. The person needs to take insulin everyday to keep their blood glucose levels under control.
Last December, @Reece_Parkinson had to pull out of an ultra-marathon after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Now he’s back and ready to hit the road ðââï¸How to Run 50 Miles is available to watch on BBC iPlayer now.â¡ï¸ https://t.co/YQnwcBiWJf pic.twitter.com/e2Vol3K1wt— BBC Radio 1Xtra (@1Xtra) October 3, 2021
‘I’m speaking to the doctors and nurses like “Do you know this curative therapy?” and even then they didn’t know,’ he recalled.
‘This is not something I thought about a week ago like, “Erm, I’m going to go and work in life science”, this has been building up for quite a while and I’ve dug deep into research.’
The former presenter is now ‘used’ to have diabetes but admits the tough part is the worry and planning that comes with the condition.
He explained: ‘It’s always on your mind constantly, 20% of your brain is occupied by your levels – is there food around me, am I going to walk to work and go low, is there a corner shop to go to, is it too late at night to get some food, is the Sainsbury’s closed? No, I can’t get the food that I need. Am I stocked up, have I got my needles, my prescription?
‘But it has an amazing community and that’s the best thing about type 1 diabetes. It’s been a journey. You get used to it but it’s incredibly tough to live with.
‘That’s another exciting thing, the company that I’m going to be working for in their pipeline is type 1 diabetes curative therapy.’
Reece was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2020 and it’s inspired his big career change (Picture: Getty Images)
Reece is having to keep details of his new job under wraps for now, but his start date is imminent, and it may come as a surprise that he’s starting a regular 9-5 – or to be more precise, 8:30am-5:30pm.
‘It’s been funny speaking to people about that,’ he laughed.
‘I do a commute already to be fair but what my schedule is at the moment is non-existent, you’re just on 24/7. A radio show is three hours but you spend 12 hours planning how to make it the best show, in some ways it’s more challenging than a traditional set of hours.
‘I really took time to think, what have I done through my career so far, what is the value I can bring to the right organisation and that’s been through the microphone and camera, strategising and it’s all been to build the reputation of wherever I’ve been whether it’s 1Xtra, 5Live or BBC Sport.’
Reece’s new career path doesn’t exactly mean that he’s leaving broadcasting completely as he insists he’s ‘not retiring’ from the airwaves.
‘To me it’s not linear and black and white. I’m talking to a close friend at the moment and we want to start a media company around this new world that we’re heading into and bring people on this journey,’ he said.
What do you think about Reece’s career change? Comment Now
Most importantly, he’s had the support of his loved ones who’ve been with him all the way throughout the journey.
‘I have a very small family but all of them were very supportive,’ he said. ‘I was living at home at the time when I really started digging deep into this technology so my mum knows all the science behind this and is just as invested.
‘My friends get it and my girlfriend completely gets it.
‘Again it’s not new because these are the conversations we’ve been having for years now about what’s about to happen and where things are headed. It was just a matter of time for me to find the right role and the right company.’
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Oh, and fear not, he’ll be reading Metro each morning on his commute to his new job.
Reece has a new adventure and a new commute to get used to but he’s at least promised to pick up a copy of Metro each morning to keep him company.
Well, that or a book about the latest AI technology, of course.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Radio 1Xtra’s Reece Parkinson quits station for science in surprise career change
MORE : BBC Radio 1Xtra shake-up sees departure of Lady Leshurr and Reece Parkinson
Reece Parkinson is completely overhauling his career (Picture: Getty Images)
Reece Parkinson’s bold decision to quit BBC Radio 1Xtra may have come as a surprise to most of us, but it was a ‘natural’ decision for the presenter that had been in the works for two years.
It was announced last year that the 28-year-old broadcaster would be leaving the popular station after six years, and he recently confirmed that he’ll be pursuing a whole new career in life sciences.
Yes, Reece will be swapping the studio for the lab to contribute to developing life-changing medicines for diseases, a sector close to his heart after he was himself diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2020.
His final drivetime show on 1Xtra aired on Monday ahead of DJ Remi Burgz replacing him next week, and Reece admitted it was an emotional day especially with everyone aware of his new adventure. Although, getting a warm send off from his favourite football club, Fulham FC, no doubt helped.
‘I was quite overwhelmed by the response, not that I didn’t think anyone would care but I wasn’t expecting it to make quite an impact like it did so that was quite surprising,’ he told Metro.co.uk hours after.
‘It felt so normal to me, the move, but to the outside world it was different.’
He added: ‘The overarching thing was I felt really confident in the decision that I made and I felt at ease and like I was being guided into you’re doing this and it’s the right thing to do.
‘So it wasn’t a sadness, it was more of a natural this is where you’re being pushed into. It felt like a celebration, which it was.’
Reece began considering his future away from 1Xtra in February 2021 when he sent a text message to a friend explaining that he ‘should be enjoying [radio presenting] so much more, why aren’t I?’
Then in late 2019, he picked up Jennifer Doudna’s book, The Code Breaker, and it pretty much changed his life.
‘It was all about this technology called Crispr (gene editing) and the power it can have,’ he explained. ‘When I read that book, a switch in me just went, wow, everything’s about to change and why isn’t everybody screaming about this and running to where this change is happening.
The broadcaster presented on 1Xtra for six years before making the career jump (Picture: WireImage)
‘So that just set off in motion and manifested a way out of a whole bunch of decisions.’
Sharing how his passion for the showbiz industry changed over time, he said: ‘I wasn’t curious in that world. I couldn’t necessarily care about Central Cee wearing a tracksuit to a [wedding] and that’s not taking away from people who do care about it, it’s just not where my mind went.
‘I didn’t watch Love Island this year, I’d much rather watch for an hour a show on how AI is being used to automate cars. That’s where my brain went to in the last few years.
‘You have to live your truth and what you’re actually into.’
The career transition seemed to align perfectly out of unfortunate circumstances.
The same timeframe that Reece got stuck into reading Doudna’s book was around the time he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2020, halting his plans to run the London Marathon.
Type 1 diabetes causes the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood to become too high. It happens when the body cannot produce enough of a hormone called insulin, which controls blood glucose. The person needs to take insulin everyday to keep their blood glucose levels under control.
‘I’m speaking to the doctors and nurses like “Do you know this curative therapy?” and even then they didn’t know,’ he recalled.
‘This is not something I thought about a week ago like, “Erm, I’m going to go and work in life science”, this has been building up for quite a while and I’ve dug deep into research.’
The former presenter is now ‘used’ to have diabetes but admits the tough part is the worry and planning that comes with the condition.
He explained: ‘It’s always on your mind constantly, 20% of your brain is occupied by your levels – is there food around me, am I going to walk to work and go low, is there a corner shop to go to, is it too late at night to get some food, is the Sainsbury’s closed? No, I can’t get the food that I need. Am I stocked up, have I got my needles, my prescription?
‘But it has an amazing community and that’s the best thing about type 1 diabetes. It’s been a journey. You get used to it but it’s incredibly tough to live with.
‘That’s another exciting thing, the company that I’m going to be working for in their pipeline is type 1 diabetes curative therapy.’
Reece was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2020 and it’s inspired his big career change (Picture: Getty Images)
Reece is having to keep details of his new job under wraps for now, but his start date is imminent, and it may come as a surprise that he’s starting a regular 9-5 – or to be more precise, 8:30am-5:30pm.
‘It’s been funny speaking to people about that,’ he laughed.
‘I do a commute already to be fair but what my schedule is at the moment is non-existent, you’re just on 24/7. A radio show is three hours but you spend 12 hours planning how to make it the best show, in some ways it’s more challenging than a traditional set of hours.
‘I really took time to think, what have I done through my career so far, what is the value I can bring to the right organisation and that’s been through the microphone and camera, strategising and it’s all been to build the reputation of wherever I’ve been whether it’s 1Xtra, 5Live or BBC Sport.’
Reece’s new career path doesn’t exactly mean that he’s leaving broadcasting completely as he insists he’s ‘not retiring’ from the airwaves.
‘To me it’s not linear and black and white. I’m talking to a close friend at the moment and we want to start a media company around this new world that we’re heading into and bring people on this journey,’ he said.
Most importantly, he’s had the support of his loved ones who’ve been with him all the way throughout the journey.
‘I have a very small family but all of them were very supportive,’ he said. ‘I was living at home at the time when I really started digging deep into this technology so my mum knows all the science behind this and is just as invested.
‘My friends get it and my girlfriend completely gets it.
‘Again it’s not new because these are the conversations we’ve been having for years now about what’s about to happen and where things are headed. It was just a matter of time for me to find the right role and the right company.’
More: Trending
Oh, and fear not, he’ll be reading Metro each morning on his commute to his new job.
Reece has a new adventure and a new commute to get used to but he’s at least promised to pick up a copy of Metro each morning to keep him company.
Well, that or a book about the latest AI technology, of course.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Radio 1Xtra’s Reece Parkinson quits station for science in surprise career change
MORE : BBC Radio 1Xtra shake-up sees departure of Lady Leshurr and Reece Parkinson
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