Grimshaw moves to breakfast show as Radio 1’s ‘saviour’ packs bags

Grimshaw, who presents five night-time shows each week for the station, will take over in September.

Moyles, from Leeds, the longest-serving breakfast host in the station’s 45-year history, shocked listeners with his departure but told them: “I’ve had the best time of my life.”

Grimshaw, 27, has been with the station for five years and said he was “super excited” to be given the new role.

The presenter – known to listeners as “Grimmy” – said: “It’s been a dream of mine since the age of 11 and, to be honest, it hasn’t really sunk in yet.”

The choice of Grimshaw will surprise many who had expected the role to go to fellow presenter Greg James, who hosts the drivetime show.

He landed a regular show four years ago, hosting the weekend morning programme.

Radio 1 controller Ben Cooper said: “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.”

Moyles is talking with the BBC about a new programme for Radio 1 with which he is contracted until the end of next year. He was already due to take a break to appear as Herod in a touring version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Jesus Christ Superstar.

Moyles told listeners he wanted them to hear it from him rather than reading it in newspapers or on Twitter that he was leaving his “dream job”.

“We’re going to leave the breakfast show.

“I just want to give you a heads-up and tell you that we’re going to wrap it up,” he said.

The self-styled “saviour of Radio 1” has hosted the breakfast show since January 2004.

Cooper paid tribute to him, saying: “Quite simply, he has been the most successful breakfast show host in Radio 1’s history.”