the essential mix is a weekly radio show on bbc radio 1 currently broadcast between 1:00 - 3:00 am uk time on saturday morning. originally broadcast on 30 october 1993, the "essential mix" features contemporary djs and music producers of electronic dance music. the show has been presented since its inception by pete tong and features an uninterrupted two-hour mix from a different artist each week, overlaid with occasional continuity announcements delivered by tong. with a broadcast run in excess of 25 years, the "essential mix" is one of the longest-running programmes in the current bbc radio 1 schedule, and is one of very few radio 1 shows which is not broadcast live.