From on-air rants, arguments over pay and A-list fall-outs, the Radio 1 stars of the noughties certainly had their fair share of drama.
Beloved by millennials, Chris Moyles, Greg James, Scott Mills and Nick Grimshaw were considered a ‘golden era’ of radio at the BBC, regularly attracting tens of millions to their shows.
Now, following the announcement of Grimmy’s return to breakfast radio, they are now all at the helm of early morning listening – causing celebrations among millenials.
‘Radio 1 kids of a certain era are in their element right now,’ one person wrote on X.
Chris Moyles, the self-styled ‘saviour or Radio 1’ certainly courted the most attention – and controversy during his 15 year stint on the flagship youth channel.
Despite leaving in 2012, Moyles, now 50, remains the longest serving host of the show, clocking in more than eight years at the helm of one of the most listened to shows in the UK.
He left the show in 2012, following a string of controversies, and three years later returned to another breakfast show on Radio X – which he’s presented ever since.
And that made Mr Moyles is just the first of the golden generation of Radio 1 stars to return to Breakfast Radio.
Chris Moyles, the self-styled ‘saviour or Radio 1’ certainly courted the most attention – and controversy during his 15 year stint on the flagship youth channel (pictured on Radio X)
Greg James still hosts the BBC breakfast show
Yesterday, the Mail revealed that Nick Grimshaw will return to the breakfast radio after six years.
He announced he will take over the Radio 6 Music show from Lauren Laverne following her cancer battle.
DJ Lauren, 46, took a break from presenting her BBC shows last year after being diagnosed with cancer, with Nick standing in for her on the early morning show.
But amid a series of changes at the station, it was announced on Thursday that Nick will take over the breakfast show full time from February – with Lauren moving to a mid-morning weekday slot.
Nick’s return to breakfast radio comes five years after he left the Radio 1 Breakfast Show in 2018 – and declared at the time that the early morning gig ‘wasn’t a forever job’.
A friend of Nick, 40, told MailOnline: ‘He is so excited to be back on breakfast, he has loved standing in for Lauren and he is thrilled to be taking over full time.’
Lauren headed into the studio to officially hand over the job to him after six months of standing in for her while she took time away after being diagnosed with an unknown type of cancer – of which she received the all-clear in November.
‘I am coming back to 6 music, I am delighted to say,’ Lauren announced. ‘I’m not coming back to Breakfast though.
Nick Grimshaw has returned to breakfast radio after six years as he announced he will take over the Radio 6 show from Lauren Laverne following her cancer battle on Thursday
DJ Lauren, 46, took a break from presenting her BBC shows last year after being diagnosed with cancer, with Nick standing in for her on the early morning show
Nick’s return to breakfast radio comes five years after he left the Radio 1 Breakfast Show in 2018 – and declared at the time that the early morning gig ‘wasn’t a forever job’
‘I am going to be making changes, it’s the right time and the 6 music Breakfast show has got a new host.’
Nick replied: ‘It does, it’s going to be me. As it has been for the past couple of months, it’s been such an honour to look after your show Lauren, it really has.’
Grimmy’s return comes after Scott Mills was announced as the replacement for Zoe Ball on Radio 2.
Zoe – who replaced Chris Evans in 2019 – took a break from hosting her show over the summer before returning in September.
Announcing the news on her show, she said: ‘After six years of fun times alongside you all on the breakfast show, I’ve decided it’s time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter.’
Zoe said she was ‘thrilled’ to reveal Scott as her replacement, telling listeners: ‘Scott and I go way back to our Radio 1 days, when he was doing early mornings before me. He’s been a close friend for years, and I’m beyond thrilled it’s him taking over the Breakfast Show.
‘Breakfast has always been his dream, and what a year he’s had – from racing around the world to his beautiful wedding to Sam. He’s not only a blooming brilliant producer but one of the best in radio. I can’t wait to tune in on the school run!’.
Scott, 51, is reportedly taking a small pay rise and will earn £450,000 a year which is seriously below Zoe’s £950,000
Of course Greg James, who presented the early breakfast show before moving to mid-morning and then drive time is now the face of the Radio One breakfast show.
The DJ, 39, who has hosted the flagship morning show since 2018.
The rest of the Radio 1 noughties line-up was held by Fearne Cotton and Zane Lowe.
Fearne stepped back from Radio One in 2015 when she fell pregnant with her second child. She now presents her Happy Place podcast – and has written 14 books.
The same year Zane Lowe left for become creative director of Apple Music 1.
Radio 1 meanwhile, appears to have placed most of their stars with influencers – failing to win over listeners in the process.
The BBC‘s flagship station has been plagued by a recent slew of resignations from some of its most popular presenters such as Nick Grimshaw and Clara Amfo – with replacements like Dean McCullough and Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing struggling to strike the right chord with listeners.
Replacing stars like Nick and Annie Mac was always going to be difficult, branding expert Hayley Knight told MailOnline, noting the changing of the guard at Radio 1 is an ‘opportunity to appeal to a younger audience‘.
‘But this change from icons to idols may reflect an identity crisis,’ she continued, adding the station ‘risks losing listeners…whilst the new lineup find their feet and flow’.
The BBC ‘s flagship station has been plagued by a recent slew of resignations from some of its most popular presenters such as Nick Grimshaw and Clara Amfo – with replacements like Dean McCullough and Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing struggling to strike the right chord with listeners
‘Radio 1 has always been a platform that has evolved with the times, but this change from icons to idols may reflect an identity crisis,’ she explained.
‘The long-standing hosts brought familiarity, comfort and trust, and the new presenters, which includes Jamie Laing, Danny Beard and Jack Saunders have to establish this same level of rapport,’ Hayley added.
‘This transition needs to be handled carefully, so the station doesn’t alienate its existing audience, whilst pursuing new listeners.
In the face of stiff competition from podcasts, radio stations are fighting to remain relevant and the ‘star power of recognition the previous presenters brought to the channel‘ was crucial to Radio 1.
Though the presenter shakeup comes with some risks, it should also be seen as Radio 1 investing in the future, Hayley added.
‘By keeping the talent fresh, the station has a chance to innvate and cater to a demographic that consumes media differently than previous generations.
‘The key factor to success will be whether the new guys can bring the same authenticity, connection and credibility that made their predecessors iconic,’ she concluded.