The BBC Asian Network hosted the 2011 Mela Festival with leading celebrity hosts and djs.

NOREEN KHAN

A passion for music decided Noreen's career as a presenter. She spent her early days tuning a violin, playing oboe and performing in a steel band. In 2003 Noreen began presenting for a local hospital radio show, before joining the Sonik Gurus to play keyboard. After touring the world as a musician, Noreen returned home, unpacked her bags and began presenting for the radio station Club Asia. It wasn't long before her love for music and cheery personality saw her headhunted by the BBC Asian Network and in 2007 Noreen joined as the host of the Asian Network Chart Show. She moved to the Weekend Breakfast show two years later, before taking the helm at Drivetime in June 2010. You might have also seen Noreen on TV where she hosts The Fizzy Quiz Show on Brit Asia. Off the mic, Noreen likes to get behind the decks to DJ and play the music she is so passionate about.

TOMMY SANDHU

Hailing from the East End of London, Tommy Sandhu is a born and bred Londoner! At school Tommy had a reputation for talking A LOT! But channelled his constant chatter into school theatre and local amateur dramatics. For a while it seemed that Tommy was destined to leave his love of performing behind him when he chose to study Advertising Management at Bournemouth University. But not for long, as during this time Tommy applied to star on Cilla Black's Blind Date. Some might say that picking a girl and going on a date to Monte Carlo was luck enough, but Tommy also managed to charm the production crew and soon became the 'voice of Blind Date', replacing 'Our Graham'. Tommy has always shared his passion for music and DJed at swish London venues and celebrity parties for the likes of the Beckhams, Elton John and Joan Collins. This love of playing music grew into a desire to produce it and Tommy set up his own company producing TV theme tunes, including remixing the theme for Blind Date. It's no surprise that Tommy's cheeky charm has made it on to the airwaves via TV and radio. You can currently catch Tommy as the 'Gadget Guru' on BBC World's Fast Track. Tommy joined BBC Asian Network to present the Weekend Breakfast Show in 2008, before moving to Drive. It's early mornings again now Tommy is taking over the reins on the Weekday Breakfast Show. So set your alarm clocks for 'Tommy Time'!

Kaajal Bakrania began DJing at the tender age of 12. Given the nickname Kayper in high school because of her mischievous reputation, she channelled her naughty behaviour onto the turntables and mastered the art of turntablism and scratch before becoming a teenager. By the age of 15 she was already a regular DJ in London's top clubs and bars and sought after by club promoters across the UK. Heavily influenced by the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff, Kayper mixed up classic and current Hip-Hop with Bhangra and Bollywood. Adding R&B, Reggae, Rock and Soul to the mix she garnered a reputation for one of the most versatile DJs in the urban music arena. Kayper went on to rock crowds globally before becoming the first female ever to win the Vestax Juice DJ competition in 2003, showing the world that females have a righful place behind the decks. Her skills even caught the attention of Jazzy Jeff himself who praised, "DJ Kayper is the best female DJ that I've ever heard in my life!". She was nominated in the Best Club DJ Category at the 2010 British Asian Music Awards. In 2006 Kayper joined BBC Asian Network on The Hype Show, before presenting her now self-titled show every Friday.

Panjabi Hit Squad have been right at the forefront of British-Asian music since their formation in the summer of 2001. The Southall based DJ/Producer collective (Dee, Rav, Markie and Amo) were originally separate entities in the UK's vibrant Bhangra club scene, but decided to join forces to create a new genre that fused Bhangra with Urban Street music,'Desi Beats'. By 2002 Panjabi Hit Squad were already succeeding in their bid to build bridges between 'Desi Beats' and the urban Black music scene, resulting in a signing to Def Jam UK and productions with Sway, Taz, Mariah Carey, Beenie Man, Ashanti and Bobby Valentino. Jay-Z also used their sound for the track 'Higher'. The Squad were part of the original launch line-up of BBC Radio 1Xtra and won the 'Best Specialist Radio Show' at the Asian Music Awards in 2004 and in 2005, shortly after releasing their debut album 'Ladies First' with Ms Scandalous. In 2006, members Markie and Amo left the group and saw Dee and Rav signing artist Alyssia . They released the hit track 'Pyar Hogiya', creating the genre 'Bollyhood', a fusion of Bollywood and urban beats. Riding on their success, they were approached by BBC Asian Network and joined the station in 2007. Away from presenting Dee and Rav continue to be ambassadors of Desi and Bollyhood beats. They have collaborated with Jay Sean on the remix to 'Ride It' and Raghav on 'My Kinda Girl'. Their song "Kuriyeh" appeared in the 2008 Hollywood film, The Accidental Husband. In an article in Music Week magazine, Panjabi Hit Squad were named amongst the top 10 UK Urban DJ's.