Entertainment

Six years of Grimmy: Highlights of Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw

He is bidding farewell to the breakfast show, but will return in September for a later slot.
He is bidding farewell to the breakfast show, but will return in September for a later slot. He is bidding farewell to the breakfast show, but will return in September for a later slot.

Broadcaster Nick Grimshaw has signed off as the host of BBC Radio 1’s Breakfast Show for the final time after six years behind the mic.

Grimshaw, 33, has swapped jobs with the station’s drivetime presenter Greg James and will take up his new role in the autumn.

Grimshaw took the reins of Radio 1’s flagship show from Chris Moyles in 2012, going on to clock up a total of five years and 319 days as host. 

Only Moyles has presented the programme for longer with a total of eight years and 253 days.

Ahead of his final show Grimshaw asked his followers on social media to share some of their favourite moments from his time in the hot seat.

Here is a look back at some that were suggested:

Harry Styles interview

Fans of the show listed their many fond memories of the former One Direction singer’s numerous on-air appearances alongside his friend.

One interview that was singled out was when Grimshaw grilled the Sign Of The Times singer with the help of Ed Sheeran, Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Rita Ora… and Styles’ mum Anne Twist.

After Styles commented that he thought his mother had adopted a radio voice to pose him a question, Grimshaw asked him what she actually sounded like.

Listeners and Styles were left in hysterics when the DJ impersonated her northern accent by saying:  “‘Arry, tea’s on table.”

Post-Brits all-nighters

Grimshaw has presented his early-morning show off the back of a sleepless night attending the Brit Awards ceremony.

In 2017 he thanked his guest, grime artist Stormzy, for bringing in pizza the next morning to help them get through three-and-a-half hours on air.

In 2013 he and Styles were accused by listeners of still being drunk after turning up to present the programme directly from one of the award show’s after parties.

Adele premieres Hello on his show

Adele launched her career comeback with Grimshaw on October 23 2015 when she came into the studio to premiere her track Hello.

The singer made a teary introduction to the intimate song, the lead single of her third album 25.

By the end of the year of its release it had sold 12.3 million units globally (combined sales and track-equivalent streams).

Rihanna and Robbie snubs

In 2012 Grimshaw refused to promote the station’s record of the week, Unapologetic by Rhianna, claiming during the show that the Umbrella star had pulled out of the interview that morning.

Grimshaw said on air: “We were kinda forced into having Rihanna as our Record of the Week because we were going to do a big interview with her but once it was cancelled we changed it.

“She ruined my week. Nice one Rihanna.”

Grimshaw was criticised when he told 5 News that he chose not to play Robbie Williams’ 2012 number one single Candy as he thought the former Take That star was “irrelevant” to his listeners.

Lorde Creme Egg song

Many of Grimshaw’s listeners reminisced about the time he and Royal singer Lorde reworked the lyrics of her single Green Light to reflect her love for chocolate Creme Eggs.

The New Zealand star had confessed to Grimshaw that she was not a fan of chocolate in America where she had recorded the song.

Grimshaw will return to the airwaves on September 3.