Former CBBC presenter Kirsten O'Brien will take over from long-standing BBC Radio Berkshire host Sarah Walker, after 18 years on air. The shake-up will see mid-morning presenter Sarah depart the station after working there since 2006, as she moves on to "something new". It leaves Middlesborough native and kids TV icon Kirsten taking over her mid-morning show from 10am-2pm on weekdays, leaving the breakfast slot after 11 years.
Taking to Twitter , Sarah wrote: "After 18 amazing years, I presented my last show for @bbcberkshire today. It’s been such a privilege to do this brilliant job for so long. Radio is the absolute best but it’s time to try something new for now.
See you on the other side of the speaker." Former SMart presenter Kirsten is a familiar face to the 90s kids, who will recognise her for co-hosting the CBBC art programme between 1999 and 2009. Before that, she co-hosted the continuity links with Otis the Aardvark for three and half years from 1996.
Kirsten, 52, previously revealed that she once asked Declan Donnelly out, because presenter Fearne Cotton told her to. Kirsten and Fearne, 42, who also started out on kids' TV were at one point some of the most recognisable faces on TV. She recalled the story on an episode of Steph's Packed Lunch in which she opened up about the awkward experience, revealing she was snubbed by the star, saying: "He never got back to me!” But Kirsten has moved on from Dec, and is now married with a 12-year-old son, Fox Michael Dra.
