Who is Arielle Free, as the Scottish DJ is suspended by BBC Radio 1 after in studio altercation?

BBC Radio 1 DJ Arielle Free has been suspended by the BBC after an altercation with DJ Charlie Hedges over the weekend. The altercation also saw Free’s microphone cut off after an exchange with Hedges over a track played on the Dance Anthems Ibiza show on Saturday after criticising one of the tracks live on air.

The comments came after the track “My Barn, My Rules” by Stream MCR-T & horsegiirL, with lyrics that detail what horsegiirL wants to do as a horse (and including a sample of a horse whinnying) started playing, prompting Free to say “Can I be honest with you?... I don't like this song... I hate it."

After a few more comments talking over the top of the track, Hedges decided to cut the microphone of Free in the studio and comment “Sorry, I'm taking your mic down," Hedges said. "It's my show, Arielle, have some respect, please."

That has now led to the 36-year-old Free being suspended by the broadcaster, but in a statement, they assured fans that she would return to Radio 1 next week for her early morning breakfast show.

Their statement also said, "Whilst we would not comment on individual matters, we have strict codes of behaviour for staff and presenters, and any breaches are taken extremely seriously."

Who is Arielle Free?

Arielle Free was born on March 29 1987 in Stirling, Scotland and by the age of eight, she began her journey as a dancer, attending the Dance School of Scotland at Knightswood Secondary School in Glasgow after her family moved there when she was ten.

In her early career, Free ventured into film and television, acting in the Beauxbatons scenes of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (2005). She also made her mark as a presenter on ITV's children's TV show, "Scrambled!" and was part of a world record attempt for the most limbos achieved in three minutes, successfully setting a record of 142 limbos, verified by Guinness World Records.

Her passion for broadcasting led her to the world of radio and podcasts, where she co-hosts the official Love Island podcast, "Love Island: The Morning After," alongside Kem Cetinay since 2018. Arielle Free began her journey at BBC Radio 1, presenting the weekend early breakfast show on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings in September 2019. In January 2021, she moved to the weekday early breakfast show from Monday to Thursday, becoming a prominent voice on Radio 1's Dance live stream, with 35 hours of weekly airtime.

Arielle Free's talents extend beyond broadcasting, as she thrives as a celebrated Electronic house DJ. Frequently found on Club and Festival bills, she tours her own club night called "Free Your Mind" and runs a record label under the same name. In January 2022, she released the single "Soul Full" with Bristol music duo Mortimer and vocals by Joe Killington, showcasing her musical prowess.

Committed to philanthropy, Arielle Free embarked on the Tour De Dance challenge in March 2023 to raise money for Comic Relief. The challenge involved 50 hours of simultaneous cycling and DJing across five UK cities, and she raised over half a million pounds for the charity.