Presenter Nihal Arthanayake will host BBC Radio 1's weekend Breakfast Show and drop down to four days at Asian Network, AIM magazine can reveal.

The announcement was made as part of an overhaul of daytime and evening schedules at Radio 1.

Friday nights at the station will now be dedicated to dance music genres while Saturday nights will play black music genres.

Presenting the weekend Breakfast Show will be a big jump for Nihal, who already co-presents the Bobby and Nihal show at midnight on Tuesdays.

He told AIM magazine he was "humbled and excited" by being awarded the slot, which is presented by Chris Moyles during weekdays. He will present the show from 6:30am to 10am every Saturday and Sunday mornings.

It will be a high-profile undertaking for the 35 year old personality since the Saturday morning breakfast show regularly attracts around 1.9 million listeners.

The new schedule will come into effect on Friday October 12th.

Andy Parfitt, Controller Radio 1, 1Xtra and Teens said "The new Radio 1 schedule coupled with the recently announced changes for 1Xtra, really give us the chance of turbo charging the BBC’s performance with young audiences over the coming years."

Ben Cooper, Head of Programmes Radio 1 said "The line up allows us to nurture new talent and at the same time have the biggest DJs in terms of both music and entertainment on the station – it’s a total package for our audience to enjoy and for me represents public service at its best."

Nihal's move also raises big questions about his slot at Asian Network. He presents the Late Breakfast Show at the station weekdays from 9am to 12pm.

He told AIM that he was "absolutely committed" to Asian Network. "I love doing the show on Asian Network and would not want people to think I am any less committed because of my new Radio 1 slot."

AIM magazine has learnt he will stick to four days a week, from Monday to Thursday mornings. Nihal said he hoped the Friday morning slot would be used to develop upcoming talent within Asian Network.

Radio 1 showed it was unafraid to make bold new moves this week, by plucking DJ Greg James from student radio to presents its Early Breakfast slot.