Radio 1 picks unknown 23 year-old DJ to present its Sunday Chart Show

A virtually unknown 23-year-old DJ has been signed to present one of Radio 1's most important programmes, the Sunday afternoon Chart Show, in place of the veteran broadcaster Mark Goodier.

Wes Butters will take over a revamped version of the 50-year-old show on 9 February, despite having no experience in national radio.

BBC insiders said Butters was chosen after a nationwide search because he had bags of energy and a genuine enthusiasm for pop – but as a virtual unknown, would leave the focus on the programme.

"We didn't want someone who was a name where the show would be all about the name. It's an important show, the focus should be on the music, not the presenter," Radio 1 said.

Butters was plucked for the job from Galaxy Radio in Newcastle.

"Coming to work at Radio 1 is the big gig and I can't wait to get started," he said yesterday.

"The top 40 show is a huge deal and it's going to be amazing being the person counting down the chart and revealing to the nation what the official UK number one is each week."

The young DJ began his career at Wish FM, a local station serving Wigan and St Helens, after doing a media course at University College Salford in his home town.

Andy Parfitt, Radio 1's controller, said the chart was incredibly important to the station's young audience and Butters was exactly right to present it.

"Wes is a great young radio star with bags of enthusiasm – it's brilliant to have a presenter who is really connected to the audience that is buying the records."

Mark Goodier left Radio 1 last month after 15 years with the station, nine of them presenting the Sunday afternoon Chart Show.

However, Goodier is not relinquishing his connection with countdowns. He is to host a new chart show, the Smash Hits Chart, based on listeners' votes, for Emap radio stations.