From YouTube to weekend breakfast show...

Hashu Mohammed, the comedian and YouTuber known as Smashbengali, is to take over the weekend breakfast show on the BBC Asian Network.

The Brummie will be on air for three hours from 8am, starting on June 11, promising a mix of entertainment, music, culture, comedy and celebrity guests.

Mohammed set up his YouTube channel in 2017 and last year won a wider audience when he appeared on the Channel 4 reality show The Circle.

He said: ‘Someone slap me...I'm getting my own show on BBC Asian Network! This is truly a dream come true It really does feel like a huge milestone for me to see where I have been able to come, from listening to the shows and feeling inspired, to now being a presenter.

‘It just goes to show how inspirational the hosts of the network are and I really hope I can inspire loads of future talent to follow in my footsteps.’

Ahmed Hussain, head of Asian Network, says: ‘I’m looking forward to welcoming Smashbengali to the Asian Network family. He has a brilliant sense of humour and our listeners will love hearing about his fun antics and jokes and getting to know him as a personality.’

Current weekend breakfast presenter Jasmine Takhar, will  continue to present BBC Asian Network Introducing, which runs from 8pm to 10pm on Tuesdays.

The weekday breakfast show is also changing, with Harpz Kaur leaving after five years. She will be replaced by Nikita Kanda from July until December.

Kaur saidL ‘After what feels almost like a lifetime of 4am alarm clocks, it feels like the right time to end on a high and switch them off, so I can catch up on some sleep! Thank you to everyone that has supported my journey at BBC Asian Network for allowing me to do what I do best - with my favourite people - my brekkie squad.

‘I’ve had the most amazing time, met some incredible people, made lifelong friends and endless memories! It’s time for a new chapter now and I look forward to what the future holds.’

Published: 5 May 2022