DJ Ace: Radio 1Xtra presenter bids farewell after three decades

About 10,000 hours on air and 3,500 shows later, DJ Ace is turning the fader down on his 1Xtra microphone.

"I heard that you're a master of your craft, if you've done 10,000 hours of anything," he tells BBC Newsbeat.

Ace, real name Ashley Asomani, joined the station in 2002 and has since fronted various shows such as Weekend Breakfast and 1Xtra's Live Lounge.

In that time he's also bagged a number of A-list interviews such as Alicia Keys, Akon, Usher, Lizzo and John Legend.

At the end of 2023 he left his daytime weekday slot and will host his final R&B show later.

Reflecting on the past few decades, he feels radio has helped "bring a new side" out of him.

"I'm a shy person, quite socially awkward at times. What radio gives me is confidence.

"Being on the radio and having that safe space, that comfort to be me, play music and interact with the listeners," he says.

While he's worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, much of the music played on his R&B show has acted as a platform for newer artists.

"R&B doesn't always necessarily get the national airplay and love that it deserves. There hasn't always been that champion, but 1Xtra has always done that."

One of those who credits Ace for her rise is Simmer hitmaker Mahalia.

She tells BBC Newsbeat: "I don't think I'll ever be able to fully put into words what DJ Ace has done for me at the beginning of my career."

"When nobody was playing me, DJ Ace was doing it. So I just have to say thank you Ace, forever."

Hearing that, Ace feels "super proud" when he sees how much Mahalia has grown.

"I'm going to give myself a pat on the back," he jokes. "To see her absolutely dominate today… I love that I was there at the absolute beginning of that journey."

But his platform on the station hasn't been restricted to just playing music.

After the death of George Floyd in the US in 2020, Ace was part of a number of 1Xtra presenters reflecting the sentiments of black Brits in the UK.

He and Seani B hosted a two-hour 1Xtra Talks special on Blackout Tuesday, with the aim of having discussion, debate and providing a voice to the black community.

The show started with an emotional opening from Ace: "My name is Ashley Asomani, a black man from South London… and like many of you, we are tired."

Ace says he "salutes 1Xtra for allowing the space to say how we felt".

"During that time, emotions were really high. There was a lot that people wanted to say.

"I felt like at that moment we spoke for a lot of people that didn't necessarily have a platform, or a microphone.

"And we echoed the sentiments of the community, so I feel a real privilege and blessing to be in that position."

During that time, Ace was also publicly battling health issues after being diagnosed with kidney failure in 2018.

"While I was on air, I was on dialysis three times a week. It wasn't easy."

"Being on the radio and having that safe space helped me get through a lot of that," he says.

In 2021, after a three-year search, Ace received a kidney donation.

He's been passionate about using his platform to raised awareness around organ donation in black and Asian communities.

People from the same ethnic background are more likely to be a donor match.

The shortage of donors from those communities means people needing transplants can wait longer for organ transplants, the NHS says.

"I'm being blessed with this platform to be able to reach a lot of people," he says.

"And who would I be if I just got a kidney transplant and I kept quiet about the numbers of Black and Asian kidney and organ donors?"

Being a part of 1Xtra has also enabled Ace to follow some personal dreams - such as wrestling.

His interviews with music heavyweights have, for him, been matched by conversations with WWE icons such as The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker.

British WWE star Drew McIntyre tells Newsbeat he feels Ace is his "good luck charm", after he was the first person to interview him following his Royal Rumble success. He later went on to become WWE champion.

"Being on the radio you get so many opportunities to cross into what you like in real life," says Ace.

With music both a personal and professional passion, he says in his final show he is, as always, "going to let the music do the speaking".

And he intends to stay close to R&B.

"Being able to break new artists and move the needle within the genre has been an absolute blessing.

"There's a lot of UK R&B artists that need love and support. And I'm going to continue doing that," he says.

Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.