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On Friday 8 April, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 1 is celebrating dance music legend Pete Tong's two decades at the station with a night of programming dedicated to his outstanding broadcasting career.

A Celebration Of Pete Tong kicks off at 7pm with a countdown of the Top 20 dance tracks of the last 20 years, voted for by Radio 1 listeners. This definitive listener list (whittled down from 50 tracks compiled by music industry tastemakers and Radio 1 DJs/producers) will be revealed live by Pete with special guests Basement Jaxx joining him in the studio.

Following the countdown, the celebration continues at 9pm with a three-hour recorded tribute from the legendary Maida Vale Studios featuring an eclectic line up of artists from the past 20 years. Those invited by Pete to perform at this unforgettable event are: Groove Armada, Chilly Gonzales, Chase & Status, Guy Gerber, Martin Solveig plus special guests Alex Metric and Shingai from Noisettes.

Over the years, Pete has played a pivotal role in championing UK talent and at midnight one of his favourite acts, Chemical Brothers, show their appreciation by taking over the airwaves to present their own Radio 1 show. The global superstars have been given free rein to put together an hour of exciting programming and listeners can expect a unique show from one of the most influential groups in dance music.

Pete gets back behind the decks at 1am for his very own Essential Mix – his first studio mix since 1995. The two-hour show will have a twist with a mix of still fresh sounding classics from the last 20 years blended with future-facing music.

Bringing his audience the best parties around the world has continually been an important part of Pete's show and International Pete Tong from 3am brings together the best global moments of the past 20 years right up to the present.

The show starts in Ibiza with the first ever Radio 1 show at Cafe Del Mar in 1996; then heads around the world taking in the Berlin Love Parade, Rio Carnival, NYE on Bondi Beach, Coachella in California, NYC before ending up in the sun with an exclusive set from Richie Hawtin recorded live from The Miami Winter Conference in 2011.

Rob da Bank helps bring the 12-hour special to a close with A-Z Of Pete Tong With Rob da Bank at 5am – a two-hour examination of Pete's vast record collection. In this revealing documentary, the two DJs sit down in the London warehouse – where the collection is stored – to discuss everything from the big anthems to forgotten rarities that have been pivotal in driving Pete's passion for dance music.

Pete Tong says: "It's a privilege and an honour to have been presenting my shows on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 1 for the past 20 years. What started out as a passionate hobby turned into an amazing career.

"The station's commitment to electronic dance music and culture has been absolutely fundamental to the scene's growth and development not only in the UK but around the world and I am proud to be part of that story.

"That passion to find and introduce hot new talent to the world burns stronger than ever in 2011 and we will be celebrating in style with the 12-hour takeover on 8 April... hold tight. The story continues!"

Ben Cooper, Deputy Controller, Radio 1 and 1Xtra, says: "One reason ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 1 is so distinctive is the knowledge and credibility of its specialist presenters. Over the last 20 years Pete Tong has given listeners both and continues to be an essential Friday night listen."

A Celebration Of Pete Tong, Friday 8 April, 7pm-7am on Radio 1.

Listen to ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 1 via FM, DAB, Digital TV and online.

Notes to Editors:

When Pete joined Radio 1 in January 1991, he played a key part in developing the station's dance output as the host of the ground-breaking The Essential Selection every Friday (renamed The Pete Tong Show in 1996).

Coined "The Official Start to the Weekend" his Friday night show was synonymous with dance music culture as a leading voice, showcasing to millions every week the biggest and emerging dance and electronic music talent.

Pete's significance is also highlighted through The Essential Mix (Saturdays 3am-5am) which he has hosted since its conception in 1993.

The uninterrupted guest mix of two hours provided by an invited DJ, group or producer has charted the development of the dance music genre from 1993 to the present day and shows no sign of losing its influence for showcasing the latest in cutting edge music to the nation. Previous guests read like a who's who of music and include Portishead, Goldie, Chemical Brothers, Prodigy, Daft Punk, Justice, Carl Cox, Deadmau5 and Magnetic Man.

Pete's status as a leading broadcaster and tastemaker has received industry recognition over the years with several prestigious awards including: the PRS Radio Academy John Peel Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music Radio in 2000; several Sony Radio Academy Awards*; and most recently the 2010 DJ Magazine award for Best Radio Show.

With his ability to easily balance commerciality and credibility Pete has also become a figure engrained in the mainstream consciousness most notably with the phrase "It's all gone Pete Tong" becoming infamous, with a 2004 film following a DJ in Ibiza's exploits using it as its title.

Pete's resume also includes being the founder of seminal record label FFFR (Signings included All Saints, Salt-N-Pepa, Orbital and Brand New Heavies), being features editor for a music magazine, promoting club nights and producing various projects including remixes, movie soundtracks and his own releases.

Broadcast schedule: A Celebration Of Pete Tong

• 7pm-9pm – Top 20 dance tracks of the last 20 years voted for by Radio 1 listeners
• 9pm-12am – Recorded Maida Vale tribute – featuring: Groove Armada, Chase & Status, Guy Gerber, Martin Solveig , Alex Metric, Chilly Gonzales and Shingai (from Noisettes)
• 12am-1am – Chemical Brothers Radio 1 Takeover
• 1am-3am – Pete's Essential Mix
• 3am-5am – International Pete Tong (Tom Green producing) – A round the world trip taking in the best international shows Pete has done at Radio 1.
• 5am-7am – A-Z Of Pete Tong with Rob da Bank

Top 20 dance tracks of the last 20 years

• The vote to find the Top 20 dance tracks of the last 20 years will run from 18 March to 1 April.

* Pete Tong's Sony Radio Academy Awards:

1995 The Specialist Music Award Bronze Award: Essential Selection: Brighton Rock

1999 The Evening/Late Night Music Award Gold Award: Pete Tong's Essential Selection

1999 The Music Broadcaster Award Silver Award: Pete Tong

2000 The Music Broadcaster Award Gold Award: Pete Tong

TM