For over 17 years, Annie Mac was the beating heart of BBC Radio 1’s dance music programming, bringing listeners the best new electronic music with infectious energy and impeccable taste. Her Friday Night Show wasn’t just a radio broadcast—it was a ritual for music lovers, a prelude to the weekend, and a gateway to discovering the next big thing. Even years after her departure, the absence of her voice on Friday nights is still deeply felt.
Annie Mac’s on a Friday night was the ultimate warm-up for a night out, expertly blending house, techno, drum and bass, and everything in between. She had a rare ability to curate sets that appealed to both underground music heads and mainstream listeners, seamlessly introducing fresh talent alongside established legends. Whether you were heading to a club, driving home from work, or simply dancing in your kitchen, her selections set the tone for the night ahead.
One of Annie Mac’s greatest legacies is her role in breaking new artists. Her platform helped launch the careers of now-global names like Disclosure, Flume, and Fred again.. She wasn’t just playing tracks—she was telling stories, highlighting emerging artists, and giving them a stage before the rest of the world caught on. Her Hottest Record in the World segment became a stamp of approval, a moment where you knew you were hearing something special before it blew up. 
It wasn’t just the music that made the show iconic—it was Annie Mac herself. Her warmth, enthusiasm, and deep love for dance music made every broadcast feel personal. She had a way of making listeners feel like they were part of something bigger, a global community connected through sound. Whether she was hyping up a massive club banger or introducing a more introspective electronic track, her passion was infectious.
Since her departure from BBC Radio 1 in 2021, no one has quite been able to fill the space she left. While other DJs have continued the tradition of showcasing new music, there was something unique about Annie Mac’s presence—her ability to create moments, to bring people together through sound, and to make radio feel exciting in an era dominated by streaming and algorithms.
Though she’s moved on to other projects, from her Before Midnight club nights to writing novels, the magic of her Friday Night Show remains unmatched. For many, Friday nights still don’t feel the same without her voice kicking off the weekend.
