Click here for more video footage

Previous winners include Birdy!

Radio 1 DJ Annie Nightingale MBE has been confirmed to judge unsigned music competition Open Mic UK’s 2012 Grand Final! Annie Nightingale MBE is best known as Britain’s first female DJ. She is now the Radio 1’s longest serving broadcaster and remains the only female DJ in the world to have been honoured with an MBE by The Queen.

Confirmed to judge Open Mic UK’s 2012 Grand Final, Annie Nightingale’s career has been a fantastical musical journey beginning with hanging out with the likes of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Who, becoming a journalist and TV presenter, whilst furthermore becoming co-owner of a chain of fashion boutiques. Having cracked the tradition of all male DJs at Radio 1, she began a long and dedicated career in broadcasting at the BBC. Always insisting to choose her own music, Annie championed dozens of artists who later became worldwide successes and now Annie Nightingale will be at Open Mic UK’s Grand Final after being confirmed as a judge.

Radio 1 DJ Annie Nightingale confirmed to judge unsigned music competition Open Mic UK 2012 Grand Final

Throughout her career, Annie has built an iconic reputation through championing new music, specifically break beat, and is consequently now recognised as ‘The Queen Of Breaks’. As a DJ, still remaining in high demand, Annie has taken music across the globe, and regularly DJ’s in Paris, Los Angeles, New York and Barcelona. She has taken new music to some of the world’s diverse musical frontiers including Russia, China, India and Chile, making radio programmes and documentary films. A woman of the world, Annie has also toured with the world’s most notorious rock legends such as Primal Scream, The Who and The Rolling Stones.

Living an exciting and controversial life, Annie has experienced being bugged in Russia, drugged in Iraq and mugged in Cuba, the last with nearly fatal consequences! Known as the ultimate party animal, she claims to be most proud of winning Muzik Magazine’s “Caner of the Year” award, among other more formal achievements, which include the John Peel Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music Radio (2008), Outstanding Contribution to Dance Music nomination DJ Magazine Awards (2007) and Best Radio Show: International Breakspoll Awards (2006-2009).

She has since added more strings to her highly acclaimed professional bow and has written two autobiographical books; ‘Chase the Fade’, and more recently ‘Wicked Speed’, of which the foreword was written by ‘Trainspotting’s' Irvine Welsh. Annie’s two compilation albums, ‘Annie On One’, and ‘Y4K: Annie Nightingale Presents’ have both received critical acclaim.

Annie Nightingale, legendary Radio 1 DJ, confirmed to judge unsigned music competition Open Mic UK 2012 Grand Final

Having judged past competitions, Annie has previously stated “I am as enthusiastic as always at discovering new music talent. I look forward to hearing and seeing all the finalists, and will do my best to encourage them on their way to an exciting and successful future. Bring them on!"

Although it is too late to be a part of this year’s Open Mic UK competition, you still have the opportunity to play in front of incredible industry judges such as Annie Nightingale by entering the Live and Unsigned 2012 competition!