GRIMMY'S MOON TALK
Nick Grimshaw admits the Moon convinced him to quit Radio 1 Breakfast Show
WHEN NICK GRIMSHAW was agonising over whether to leave his job as host of the BBC’s iconic Radio 1 Breakfast Show, he didn’t consult his famous friends like Adele or Kate Moss.
Instead, Grimmy, as he is universally known, relied on the Moon (yup, the one in the sky) to confirm the biggest decision in his career — to walk away from the most high-profile job on the wireless.
9
Opening up in his first interview since announcing his departure live on air, the country’s most connected celebrity tells me how the moon started “talking” to him as the big day loomed.
Noting the sceptical look on my face, he explains: “A few things happened that spiritually aligned where it was like, this is meant to happen.
“Listen, not to sound full hippy like Eyal from Love Island, but me and (his producer) Fifi follow this thing on Instagram and it tells you about the moon.
“Then actually, we were like, hang on, we’re into the moon. The moon on Monday was like, ‘This week is going to be a new week for new changes and new beginnings, the key has been in the door and now it’s time to turn the lock.’
9
“I was like, ‘The moon is talking to me. Have I gone mad on Breakfast?’ I don’t know. It just felt right.”
The astrological inspiration topped off a nine-month process, which started off with a meeting with Radio 1 boss Ben Cooper, where Grimmy was convinced he was about to be sacked.
Speaking exclusively on the new episode of my podcast The Dan Wootton Interview, that you can subscribe to now on iTunes and Apple Podcasts, Grimmy recalls: “I met big boss Ben last September and it was like five years then, so I was like he’s going to be like, ‘It’s wrap-up time now isn’t it?’”
Instead, Cooper told Nick: “I like you, we like you at Radio 1, but we worry if you do Breakfast for any longer you’re going to be one of those people who will be saying, ‘I have to leave and sit down and go somewhere to be quiet for two years.’”
9
They collectively decided to announce the move after Nick become the second- longest serving breakfast presenter on Radio 1, beating Tony Blackburn.
And then Cooper raised his highly confidential idea of swapping Grimmy with drivetime host and pal Greg James so he would stay at the station.
Nick says: “I thought it was a great option. I definitely didn’t want to leave. I love being at Radio 1. I love working there, I love doing a daily show.”
The decision was a major shock to Grimmy’s loyal listeners because just a few months earlier he had pledged to beat Chris Moyles’ eight-and-half-year reign.
9
“I’d like to but also like not to wake up any more at that time,” he admits, referring to the 4.45am wake-up call.
“I’m not competitive really by nature. I’m not like, ‘I really want to have the record.’
“When I started doing it I thought I’d be doing it for two years, or three years max.
“It’s not a job you do forever. It’s a job you don’t normally do for long, except for Chris who did it for eight years.”
Before taking over at breakfast, Nick was the country’s No1 party boy, famous for his all-nighters with a host of A-list mates — but he admits the job has taken a personal toll.
Nick Grimshaw announces he’s quit Radio 1 breakfast show and will be stepping down in the autumn
He says honestly with a shrug: “Some days it’s hard — it’s a bit mad this job. Some days it’s the easiest, most fun, natural thing you can do.
“I was 27 when I got the job. Now I’m 33, I’ll be 34 in August, your priorities of partying vastly change because you start to get hangovers and anxiety and you’re tired for three days instead of 30 minutes.
“I thought, ‘There’s no point forgoing something that I love and that I’ve always wanted to do and finding it hard for the sake of being p***ed.’”
Only one person gave Grimmy the advice to deal with the unique pressures of national breakfast radio — the late great Radio 2 icon Terry Wogan.
9
Nick says: “He was like, ‘It’s a weird job and you shouldn’t ever beat yourself up if you wake up and you feel like you’re not in the mood, because you feel ungrateful.’
“I always remember that advice. You cannot just wake up and be like, ‘Yay, Rita Ora’s here.’”
What about those pesky ratings, known as the Rajars, that fell from seven to five million?
Nick says: “When I started, my job was very different to what Chris Moyles’ job was. I was told by the BBC Trust, we have to get younger
9
“Like all media, radio is changing from what it was, so when people are comparing to what it was like 15 years ago, it’s kind of a stupid thing to do.”
Nick is also comfortable over the release of his salary, which is between £350,000 and £399,000, being released publicly, as the row over the gender pay gap kicked off.
He says: “It’s amazing that it’s all come to light because I don’t think you can justify paying people (less) doing the same job.”
I point out he was probably paid less that his fellow female judges Cheryl and Rita Ora on his troubled one-year stint as a judge on The X Factor.
9
Nick says: “Oh 100 per cent. But that’s a different thing. Cheryl and Rita’s worth is like 20 times mine, so they get paid more.
“They are brand names. It’s like presenting with Coca-Cola and Persil.”
Despite the suffering a ratings slump during his single series as a judge, Grimmy doesn’t regret signing up to the ITV show because it “taught me a lot”, even though he didn’t walk away friends with the boss Simon Cowell.
The music mogul might not be a guest in his final days of breakfast, but I can bet a whole host of other A-Listers will be dropping by.
MOST READ IN SHOWBIZ
Greg has near impossible job to boost audience
WHILE ratings might not be anywhere near as enormous as when its self-proclaimed “saviour” Chris Moyles was behind the mic, Breakfast on Radio 1 remains an important cultural touchstone for British youth.
Nick Grimshaw spent his six-year reign fielding criticism about a significant drop in audience, from a high of 7million when he took over to around 5million today.
That’s actually not disastrous, given the fragmentation of the media and the BBC Trust’s desire to chase a younger audience and turn off 30-somethings.
9
Greg James has a near impossible task boosting the Radio 1 Breakfast Show's audience. Any drop in ratings will not be a reflection on his talentsIn particular, millennials now have a choice of YouTube, Spotify, podcasts, Netflix and even catch-up episodes of Love Island to choose from in the morning.
So I’m fairly certain that in a few years Grimmy’s ratings will be seen as solid.
His successor Greg James, below – a professional and talented DJ, who I have supported for the past eight years – has a near impossible job on his hands when it comes to growing that audience.
In all likelihood, the only way is down, which will not be a reflection of Greg’s talent.
Sure, the types of old bores who hark back to the heady days of the Nineties might moan that he’s a “safe choice”. But if that means putting on a professional show, then I have no problem with that.
9
For Greg, an ex of popstar Ellie Goulding, to be a success he needs to find viral sensations that will elevate him from the airwaves to the internet and ubiquitous showbiz websites.
Ironically, Greg’s supporters have previously staked his claim to the Carpool Karaoke format that shot James Corden to US superstardom.
He filmed a similar video with Taylor Swift back in 2014, which featured him driving around in a car lip-syncing with the singer (although in fairness James did something similar with George Michael for Comic Relief before that).
It’s time to put the disappointment of that missed opportunity behind him and create the next big viral sensation.
That’s the way for the Radio 1 Breakfast Show to try to maintain relevance in the testing years ahead.
Holly Willoughby accidentally groped by Greg James on Celebrity Juice
TALKRADIO
I’M away tomorrow so Andi Peters will be guest-hosting on talkRADIO from 1pm to 4pm. I’ll be back next Sunday with Dr Linda Papadopoulos – same time, same place.
Topics