Nick Grimshaw: ‘Getting people to talk about music is the same as talking about food. Both are full of memories’

The DJ and podcaster on taking over the 6 Music breakfast slot, coping with grief, and what he learned working as an intern at MTV

Born in Oldham in 1984, Nick Grimshaw has just taken over as 6 Music’s new breakfast DJ . After stints in PR and TV, his radio career began in 2007 on Radio 1 youth strand Switch; in 2012, he became the station’s breakfast presenter, doing it for six years. He’s also been an X Factor judge, a Gogglebox regular (with his niece, Liv), has written a memoir, Soft Lad, and co-hosts Waitrose’s Dish podcast, with Angela Hartnett, and BBC Sounds podcast Sidetracked, with Annie Mac. Engaged to his dancer partner Meshach Henry, he lives in London and will broadcast live from the 6 Music festival in Greater Manchester, later this month.

Congratulations on the new job. How is breakfast DJing different on 6 Music?
Radio 1 is about being at the zeitgeist of what’s going on in popular culture, so when there’s a change of presenter there, it feels seismic – there’s new imaging, new jingles, a new attack. The remit on 6 is more about the music, giving you classics you love to hear, and new songs we hope you fall in love with, to actually make you want to get up and survive a Tuesday morning.