'Thank you for listening': Nick Grimshaw to replace Chris Moyles on Radio 1 breakfast show

•Moyles has another 18 months on his contract at Radio 1
•The changeover will take place at the end of September - when Moyles starts the touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar
•Breakfast show has an average of 7.1million listeners, down from a peak of 11.8 million in 2010
•Moyles was BBC's longest-serving breakfast presenter with eight and a half year stint

By Emily Sheridan

Nick Grimshaw is to take over the BBC Radio 1 breakfast show following the shock departure of Chris Moyles.

The T4 presenter, 27, who currently presents a late night show on the station, will switch to mornings in September.

The news of Grimshaw's appointment came two and a half hours after Moyles, 38, announced he was leaving after eight and a half years presenting the early morning slot.

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I'm over here: Chris Moyles leaving the BBC Radio One studios on the day he announced that he is leaving the breakfast show in September after eight and a half years


In with the new, out with the old: Chris Moyles, pictured leaving Radio 1 studios today, is being replaced by Nick Grimshaw, pictured today arriving at the BBC

The new saviour of Radio 1: Nick Grimshaw seen today after being confirmed as the new host of the station's breakfast show

Moyles, 38, is contracted to work at the station until New Year 2014 after he signed a two and a half year contract last July.

The Leeds-native announced the news to his 7.10million listeners at 8am by playing Take That's Never Forget.

He said: 'We're off. I wanted to let you know. A couple more months of us, then it's someone else's turn. Thank you for listening.'

Manchester-born Grimshaw said in a statement: 'I'm super excited to be hosting the iconic Radio 1 Breakfast Show, it’s been a dream of mine since the age of 11 and to be honest it hasn't really sunk in yet. I love Chris and have always looked up to him as one of the best broadcasters ever.'

Carrying the flame: Moyles carried the Olympic torch in Aberystwyth, Wales six weeks ago

Grimshaw's appointment comes amid widespread speculation that either Greg James or Matt Edmondson would land the slot.

Moyles' departure and Grimshaw's move to the slot comes amid pressure on new Radio 1 controller Ben Cooper to make the station appeal to a younger demographic.

Cooper said in a statement: 'I'd like to thank Chris. Quite simply he's been the most successful breakfast show host in Radio 1 history.

'He's done it for more than eight and half years and he's been fantastic.

'Nick is a great broadcaster with a passion for music and a mischievous sense of humour, which has made him a hit with our listeners. He will be an excellent host for Radio 1’s new breakfast show, bringing a new generation of listeners with him.'

Grimshaw started his entertainment career on E4, before moving to Channel 4's youth show T4.

Announcement: The Moyles team braced listeners for the news on their Twitter page this morning

He joined the BBC in 2005 when he hosted their youth strand Switch, before hosting Radio 1's weekend breakfast show from August 2008 until May 2009.

A regular on the London party scene, Grimshaw is often photographed socialising with Pixie and Peaches Geldof, Kate Moss, Lily Allen, Jameela Jamil and Sadie Frost.

In a report last month, the BBC Trust found the station needed to work harder to attract more under 30s.

In research published last November, it was claimed the average Radio 1 listener was 32 and went up to 33 for Moyles' breakfast show.

In 2010, fellow BBC DJ Chris Evans, who hosts a show on Radio 2, complained Moyles was 'too old' for the station.

He said: 'It's time for him to leave. Chris has got to go somewhere else. It's time for him to leave isn't it? I think he is way out of the demographic already of the listenership.'

'Saviour of Radio 1': Moyles on his first day of the Radio 1 breakfast show in January 2004

After a year at Capital FM, Moyles joined the station in 1997 as an early breakfast (4-7am) presenter, before moving to the afternoon station a year later.

He then landed the breakfast show in January 2004 when Sara Cox left.

In September 2009, the self-styled 'saviour of Radio 1' became the station's longest-serving presenter, overtaking Tony Blackburn's record.

During his tenure on the show, Radio 1 listeners have risen from 9.73million in 2004 to his peak of 11.82million in 2010.

However, he angered some listeners in September 2010 when he launched a 25-minute on-air tirade against his bosses, complaining he hadn't been paid for two months.

Famous friends: Grimshaw with supermodel pal Kate Moss last November

The DJ, who was said to be on a £630,000-a-year salary at the time, ranted: 'I haven’t been paid since July. Why should I bother hauling my a**e out of bed? Why should I come in to work? It’s a huge lack of respect to me.

'I know the name of the moron in this building responsible. I don’t do this for free, you know.

'Can you imagine if Terry Wogan or Chris Evans didn’t get paid for two months? It wouldn’t happen.'

In 2009, Moyles revealed he had taken a 20 per cent pay cut due to cost-cutting at the Beeb.

In March last year, Moyles entered the record books when he and partner 'Comedy Dave' Vitty broadcast the longest-ever broadcast for 52 hours, raising £2.4million for Comic Relief.


Stage career: Moyles is set to play King Herod alongside Tim Minchin and Melanie Chisholm in Andrew Lloyd Webber's touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar

Glam sidekicks: Moyles with Stacey Solomon on The Love Machine (left) and accepting a Digital Radio Personality Award from Jamelia at the TRIC Awards (right) in 2007

However, that record has since been broken by presenters of Vixen 101 in Hull for 53 hours.

Aside from his breakfast show, Moyles also hosts his quiz show Chris Moyles' Quiz NIght on Channel 4 and Sky Living dating show The Love Machine with Stacey Solomon.

From 21 September, the presenter is set to play King Herod in the touring production of Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar.


Sad: Celebrity listeners including Andi Peters, Olly Murs and Imogen Thomas reacted on Twitter
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source:dailymail