JK and Joel move to Virgin Radio

JK & Joel are to host a new weekend morning show for Virgin from the new year.

The duo - dropped by Radio 1 as hosts of the chart show and early breakfast show in September - will take over the10am-1pm on Saturdays and Sundays, going head-to-head with Vernon Kay on Radio 1 and Jonathan Ross on Radio 2. Leona Graham, the slot's present DJ, is expected to stay with Virgin.

“No longer are we hauling our arses out of bed at 3am looking like crap, instead we are really looking forward to doing weekends," said JK & Joel in a joint statement. "It’ll be great to go up against our old mate Vernon at 10am, that’s if he can be bothered to turn up - his random game show schedule is demanding, don’t you know!"

Also joining the station is comedian Iain Lee from LBC, fronting a music and chat show on Sunday nights from 10pm to 1am.

David Lloyd, Virgin Radio's new programming director, said the signings would help put "energy" back into the station's weekend schedule. "JK and Joel love radio – that’s why they are joining us. Virgin is a place where they can have some fun," he said. "This signing, combined with Iain Lee’s, signals what our new weekends are about."

The pair's first show airs on Saturday, January 5.