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Nick Grimshaw

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For the architect, see Nicholas Grimshaw.

Nick Grimshaw
Grimshaw at Vogue London Fashion Week reception at Winfield House, September 2014
Born
Nicholas Peter Andrew Grimshaw

(1984-08-14) 14 August 1984 (age 40)
Oldham, Greater Manchester, England
Other namesGrimmy
Alma materUniversity of Liverpool
Occupations
  • Television presenter
  • radio presenter
  • disc jockey
  • author
Years active2006–present
Employer(s)BBC
Channel 4
PartnerMesh Henry (2022; engaged)

Nicholas Peter Andrew Grimshaw (born 14 August 1984) is an English broadcaster and author. He became known for having hosted a variety of shows on BBC Radio 1. He is also known as a television presenter for his Channel 4 roles in T4 and The Album Chart Show. In 2015, he was a judge on the twelfth series of The X Factor.

Early life

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Grimshaw was born in Oldham, Greater Manchester and grew up there.[1] He attended the University of Liverpool between 2002 and 2005, studying Communication and Media Studies, but failed his final year, graduating with a DipHE rather than a bachelor's degree.[2] During his studies at the University of Liverpool, Grimshaw was also a member of the University's student radio station, ICON Radio (now Liverpool Guild Student Media).[citation needed]

Career

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Radio

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Grimshaw joined BBC Radio 1 in September 2007, presenting the BBC's youth strand Switch with close friend and fellow DJ Annie Mac. He hosted the show for 9 months solo while Mac hosted a weekend lunchtime slot.[3]

From October 2008 to May 2009, Grimshaw hosted Radio 1's Weekend Breakfast Show. Grimshaw then went on to present the 10 pm – midnight slot on BBC Radio 1 on 1 June 2009, following the departure of Colin Murray. He regularly joked about how long his position at BBC Radio 1 would last and whether he would actually be able to complete his long list of "1000 Albums Everyone Says You Should Listen To But We Only Have Time To Play One Track So Here It Is" which was a nightly feature on his show. He managed to reach number 369, before he left for the breakfast show.[4]

On 11 July 2012 it was announced that Grimshaw would replace the long-standing Chris Moyles as host of Radio 1 Breakfast.[5] The last live show was broadcast on 12 September 2012,[6] although the last show broadcast under the show's name was a pre-recorded episode entitled "The 1000 Albums Show".[7] His first breakfast show programme was on 24 September 2012.[8]

In November 2012, Grimshaw attracted criticism from Magic Radio breakfast presenter Neil Fox for comments he made about Radio 1's decision to omit Robbie Williams's "Candy" from its A-List playlist – reportedly due to being "too old" for the station's target demographic.[9] Some days later, Grimshaw was in tabloid headlines when the papers in question claimed he refused to promote Rihanna's latest album because she cancelled an interview with him – a claim which Grimshaw denied, noting that his snub was intended to be "tongue in cheek".[10]

On 24 October 2013, it was reported that Grimshaw's Breakfast Show had one million fewer listeners than Moyles' and that its audience figures were the worst for the station in over a decade, with BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4 all beating it in the ratings. At the time, Grimshaw's show was close to the record low of 5.5 million listeners, set by Sara Cox in 2003, toward the end of her three-year tenure hosting the show.[11] In February 2014, the Breakfast Show recorded an enhancement of more than 700,000 listeners, which set the average number of listeners per week to 6.3 million.[12] However, on 15 March 2014, it was reported that Grimshaw had lost another 510,000 listeners, for a weekly total of 5.78 million.[13] The BBC claimed that this was part of the goal to attract younger listeners, while shedding the over-25s.[14]

In March 2014, he completed a twelve-hour bicycle ride for Sport Relief.[15] The event raised more than £115,000.[16] Later that year, he also took part in the Clash of the Titans event as part of John Bishop's team Team Bishop.[17]

In May 2015, Grimshaw's Breakfast Show fell to 5.5 million listeners a week, becoming tied with Sara Cox's show for the lowest number of listeners in Radio 1's history. The station controller Ben Cooper congratulated Grimshaw saying, "I'm pleased that Grimmy is doing what I've asked of him by keeping his young audience happy and scaring off the over-30s.".[18] In August 2016, listener figures were reported to have dropped to 5.4 million, down 400,000-year-on-year, and making it the lowest listened to breakfast show in the station's history.[19]

In July 2017 the BBC confirmed that Grimshaw's salary was in the £350,000 – £399,999 bracket.[20] In October 2017 his Breakfast Show fell to 4.93 million listeners a week, the lowest listening figures for BBC Radio 1's breakfast show since records began. Controller Ben Cooper defended the stats and said it was still "the most relevant youth brand in the UK today".[21]

On 31 May 2018, it was announced that Grimshaw would be leaving the breakfast show and effectively swapping shows with Greg James. The move meant Grimshaw took over the 4-7pm drivetime slot.[22] On 30 June 2021, Grimshaw announced he would be leaving Radio 1 after 14 years on air. His final show on the station was on 12 August 2021.[23][24][non-primary source needed]

For a week on 29 May 2023, Grimshaw stood in for Chris Evans as host of The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on Virgin Radio UK, while Evans was on holiday and has continued to provide holiday cover since.[25]

In July 2024, Grimshaw sat in for Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 2[26] and in August 2024, he sat in for Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 6 Music's breakfast show.[27]

Television

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Grimshaw's career started on UK entertainment channel E4, hosting daily shows. In September 2007, he crossed over to Channel 4, hosting the daily breakfast show Freshly Squeezed with Alexa Chung and more recently Jameela Jamil, airing 7 am on weekdays. The pair went on to host various award shows for TV and coverage from music events and festivals for Channel 4. As well as hosting the radio show BBC Switch for BBC Radio 1, Grimshaw and Annie Mac teamed up to host music show Sound for BBC Two. He presented the first ever BBC Switch Awards show with Kimberley Walsh of Girls Aloud on BBC One.

In summer 2011, Grimshaw hosted a live 6-part series for Channel 4 on Saturdays entitled New Look Style the Nation, in which hopeful fashion designers competed for a job at New Look. In 2012 he co-presented the iTunes Festival with Annie Mac throughout September for Channel 4.

On 30 April 2013, he began presenting BBC Three panel show, Sweat the Small Stuff.[28] On 2 August 2013, Grimshaw hosted a one-off panel show on Channel 4 called That Music Show.[29] In late 2013, Grimshaw appeared in as many soap operas he could, filming cameo roles in EastEnders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and Home and Away.[30] In 2013, he narrated Hotel of Mum and Dad for BBC Three.

In 2014 Grimshaw presented The Brits Are Coming, the show that revealed some of the nominees at the 2014 Brit Awards. Since 2014 he has been a regular guest co–presenter on The One Show.[31]

On 16 June 2015, it was revealed that Grimshaw would join the twelfth series of The X Factor as a judge to replace Louis Walsh.[32] He was selected to mentor the "Boys" category and chose Mason Noise, Ché Chesterman and Seann Miley Moore for the live shows. Following the eliminations of Moore in week 2 and Noise in week 4, he guided Chesterman through to the final, where he finished in third place. On 19 February 2016, Grimshaw announced he would not be returning to the show for its thirteenth series and was replaced by Walsh. [citation needed]

Since June 2019, he has appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox alongside his niece Liv, as well as the Stand Up to Cancer specials.

In spring 2021, Grimshaw appeared as a contestant on The Great British Bake Off For Stand Up To Cancer.[33]

Art

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Grimshaw has expressed his interest in contemporary art and set design. In 2016, he sold one of his paintings as part of a secret charity auction during Frieze Art Fair.[34]

He is an ambassador for the Royal Academy of Arts. In 2017, he was commissioned to design a Christmas tree in celebration of the Academy's 250th anniversary.[35]

Interested in live music production, Grimshaw interned with the stage designer Es Devlin in 2017.[36]

Other work

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Grimshaw launched and judged Column Idol 2014, an annual competition set up by charity Media Trust with The Sun newspaper to find new writing talent.[37]

He makes a cameo appearance as himself in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016).[38]

Grimshaw's debut autobiography, Soft Lad, was published by Hodder & Stoughton on 27 October 2022.[39]

In October 2021 he was featured in the BBC series Walking With..., walking in Northumberland from Warkworth to Amble.[40]

Since June 2022 Grimshaw embarked on a weekly podcast "Dish" with Waitrose alongside Michelin-star chef Angela Hartnett.[citation needed]

Personal life

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On 17 August 2012, Grimshaw spoke about being gay.[41][42] He appeared at number 8 on The Independent on Sunday's list of the 101 most influential LGBT people in Britain 2012.[43] Nick Grimshaw was awarded the title of GQ Best-Dressed Man of the Year in 2014 by the British edition of the magazine.[44] Since 2018 Grimshaw has been an ambassador for The Albert Kennedy Trust, also known as Akt, a charity helping homeless LGBT youth.[45][46]

In March 2022 Grimshaw became engaged to dancer and model Meshach 'Mesh' Henry. They live in North London, with two dogs.[47][48]

In August 2024 Grimshaw and members of his family were targeted by burglars while staying in a rented villa in Ibiza. [49]

Filmography

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Television
Year Title Channel Role Notes
2007 Freshly Squeezed Channel 4 Co-presenter
2007–2009 Sound BBC Two Co–presenter 3 series
2008 Big Brother's Big Mouth Channel 4 Week 4 presenter 5 episodes
2008–2012 The Album Chart Show Presenter
2010–2012 T4 Co–presenter
2012 iTunes Festival Co–presenter
2012–2015 Children in Need BBC One/BBC Two Co–presenter
2013–2014 Sweat the Small Stuff BBC Three Presenter 4 series
2014 The BRITs Are Coming ITV Presenter
2014— The One Show BBC One Guest co–presenter 3 episodes
2015 Soundchain MTV Presenter 1 series
The X Factor ITV Judge Series 12
2017 One Love Manchester BBC One Co-presenter Television special
Harry Styles at the BBC Presenter Television special
2019— Celebrity Gogglebox Channel 4 Himself 6 series, 1 special
2022— The Great Home Transformation Co-presenter An IKEA production
2023 Project Home Presenter [50]
2024 The Underdog: Josh Must Win Host
Guest appearances
Radio
Year Station Show
2007–2012 BBC Radio 1 Nick Grimshaw and Annie Mac
2008–2009 Weekend Breakfast
2009–2012 Late Night
2012–2018 Radio 1 Breakfast
2018–2021 Drivetime
Films
Year Title Role
2012 Wreck-It Ralph Dr. Brad Scott (UK film version)
2016 Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie Himself (Cameo appearance)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Bourne, Dianne (12 July 2012). "Top of the morning: How Oldham lad Nick Grimshaw landed Radio 1's top job". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  2. ^ Kelly, Emma (12 August 2014). "'My dad will be furious!' Nick Grimshaw discovers he failed degree live on air". Daily Star. London.
  3. ^ "Grimshaw takes over R1 breakfast". 24 September 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  4. ^ "Radio 1 – Nick Grimshaw – 1000 Albums". BBC. 1 January 1970. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  5. ^ Anderson, Steve (30 April 2012). "Nick Grimshaw to replace Chris Moyles as Radio 1 breakfast show host". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
  6. ^ "BBC Radio 1 – Nick Grimshaw, Grimmy's last EVER evening show on BBC Radio 1". BBC. 12 September 2012. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  7. ^ "BBC Radio 1 – Nick Grimshaw, The 1000 Albums Show". BBC. 13 September 2012. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  8. ^ Mahoney, Elisabeth (24 September 2012). "Nick Grimshaw's first Radio 1 breakfast show marks change of direction". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  9. ^ "Neil Fox calls Nick Grimshaw a #totalnob". Radio Today. 6 November 2012. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  10. ^ "Nick Grimshaw says Rihanna snub was 'tongue in cheek'". NME. 22 November 2012. Archived from the original on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  11. ^ "Nick Grimshaw loses more listeners". BBC. 24 October 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  12. ^ Sweeny, Mark (6 February 2014). "Radio 1's Nick Grimshaw adds more than 700,000 listeners". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  13. ^ Dowell, Ben. "What are Nick Grimshaw's audience figures?". Radio Times. London. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014.
  14. ^ "Grimshaw hailed for listener losses". Belfast Telegraph. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  15. ^ "Sport Relief: Radio 1's Nick Grimshaw completes 12 hour cycle challenge". BBC. 17 March 2014. Archived from the original on 18 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  16. ^ Longmire, Becca (18 March 2014). "Nick Grimshaw Raises £115,000 For Sport Relief After Completing 12 Hour Bike Ride". entertainmentwise.com. Gigwise. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  17. ^ "BBC – Celebrity teams announced for Sport Relief's Clash of the Titans – Media Centre". BBC. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  18. ^ Plunkett, John. "Radio 1 loses nearly 1m listeners as Nick Grimshaw hits 12-year breakfast low". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016.
  19. ^ "BBC Radio 1 loses a million listeners as Radio 4 hits new high". BBC News. 4 August 2016. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  20. ^ "BBC salaries reveal who highest paid stars are". ITV News. 19 July 2017. Archived from the original on 19 July 2017.
  21. ^ "Nick Grimshaw's Radio 1 show gets worst ever listening figures". BBC News. 26 October 2017. Archived from the original on 26 October 2017.
  22. ^ "Nick Grimshaw to quit as host of BBC Radio 1 breakfast show". The Guardian. London. Press Association. 31 May 2018.
  23. ^ "Nick Grimshaw to leave Radio 1 after 14 years". BBC. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  24. ^ "Grimmy's final link on Radio 1". 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021 – via Twitter.
  25. ^ Martin, Roy (24 May 2023). "Nick Grimshaw joins Virgin Radio UK for breakfast cover". RadioToday. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
  26. ^ "BBC Radio 2 - Jo Whiley, Nick Grimshaw sits in".
  27. ^ "BBC Radio 6 Music - Lauren Laverne, Nick Grimshaw sits in".
  28. ^ Nick Grimshaw to host Sweat The Small Stuff on BBC Three Archived 27 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine BBC Media Centre
  29. ^ Channel 4 commissions music pilots Archived 15 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine Channel 4 Press
  30. ^ Claire Hodgson (25 November 2013). "Nick Grimshaw aiming to appear in EastEnders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, Coronation Street and Home and Away". The Mirror. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  31. ^ Price, Annie (11 September 2015). "'Where will he pop up next?' Nick Grimshaw's debut on The One Show isn't a hit with fans". Daily Express. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  32. ^ Nick Grimshaw and Rita Ora join The X Factor, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Simon Cowell return Archived 17 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine ITV Press Centre
  33. ^ "A brand new batch of celeb bakers return to the tent". Stand Up To Cancer. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  34. ^ Grimmy on Radio 2 Arts Show 20-Oct-2016, retrieved 31 October 2018
  35. ^ "Crystals, Chocolate and Chipboard: Nick Grimshaw on his Royal Academy of Arts Christmas tree | LOVE". LOVE. Archived from the original on 31 October 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  36. ^ "in conversation: es devlin and hannah barry | The Fifth Sense | i-D". The Fifth Sense. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  37. ^ "DJ Nick Grimshaw Launches Column Idol to Encourage Young Writers - Good News Shared | Good News Shared". Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  38. ^ Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, 22 July 2016, retrieved 30 October 2018
  39. ^ "Soft Lad by Nick Grimshaw". Waterstones.com. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  40. ^ "BBC One - Walking With..., Series 1, Walking with Nick Grimshaw".
  41. ^ Petridis, Alexis (17 August 2012). "Can Nick Grimshaw make Radio 1 feel young again?". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  42. ^ Roberts, Scott. "Radio 1's Grimmy confirms he's gay and would like to date Frank Ocean". Pink News. London. Archived from the original on 20 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  43. ^ "The IoS Pink List 2012". The Independent on Sunday. London. 4 November 2012. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
  44. ^ Carvell, Nick (17 February 2015). "Style file: Nick Grimshaw". GQ. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  45. ^ "Nick Grimshaw to host this year's AKT Gala Dinner". The Albert Kennedy Trust. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  46. ^ "Adidas to launch 'Prouder' campaign during London Pride to help fight LGBT youth homelessness". Attitude.co.uk. 23 June 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
  47. ^ Evans, Mel (16 February 2019). "Nick Grimshaw looks loved up with boyfriend Meshach Henry as couple walks hand-in-hand". Metro. UK. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  48. ^ Robinson, Lucy (1 April 2022). "Inside Nick Grimshaw's immaculate London home he shares with Meshach Henry". OK!.
  49. ^ "Nick Grimshaw's Ibiza villa targeted by gang during birthday trip".
  50. ^ "Channel 4 announces Project Home | Channel 4". Channel 4. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
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Media offices
Preceded by BBC Radio 1
Breakfast Show Presenter
2012–2018 		Succeeded by

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