[Bas]

Another thing that I find unpleasant is people who use forced nicknames about themselves.

For example: Paul "You can call me the Guvnor" Ince.
Nick "You can call me Grimmy" Grimshaw.

Not sure that's really a comparison, "the Guvnor" is a self-promoting "aren't I great" nickname, whereas Grimmy is just a straightforward abbreviation of his surname, ......

It's not descriptive then?

[Johnny 1989]

What Grim, as in his show is?

[Tunster]

Every time I had Nick come on on my alarm clock, it just annoyed me more. So I've actually decided to go across to BBC Radio 2 (6Music was a bit too soft at 6:30am!). To be fair, Chris Evans isnt as bad as I thought! Very chirpy, lots of energy that I need to get out of bed and the music selection is pretty much bang on for my tastes. Even playing Muse at 6:45am in the morning! The fact is because Evans in the same legacy radio pool, he has the same traits and understands the medium inside out like Moyles did. Essentially knows how to push the listeners buttons to stay listening.

[Nicola_Red]

This morning I heard Grimmy ask to do two things - one was play Taylor Swift (which let's face it, is on high rotation and was probably on the playlist for some point in the show anyway) and the other was to get Tina in for the wake-up song - and he was told by the producers that he wasn't allowed. That's the thing about the show that gets me - he isn't allowed to be himself and settle into his own style. I've listened with interest to the old Moyles shows to see if I can detect the same thing happening to Chris when he was first on the show, but I don't really think it did.

[fatboydave73]

I think the difference between the first shows of TCMS and Grimmy are that when Chris took over, the breakfast show had been struggling a little bit, and so the powers that be knew they couldn't control Chris, or he would be off and leave them with no real viable alternative at that time (although others had been mentioned)

Skip to now, and they know they can tell Grimmy what he can and can't do; because if he walks they have Greg, Scott etc in reserve to get in and do the job. They also are hell bent on keeping the show away from falling into a "poor mans clone" of what was there previous.

I still feel Grimmy is a scapegoat, or stopgap.

[Tunster]

This morning I heard Grimmy ask to do two things - one was play Taylor Swift (which let's face it, is on high rotation and was probably on the playlist for some point in the show anyway) and the other was to get Tina in for the wake-up song - and he was told by the producers that he wasn't allowed. That's the thing about the show that gets me - he isn't allowed to be himself and settle into his own style. I've listened with interest to the old Moyles shows to see if I can detect the same thing happening to Chris when he was first on the show, but I don't really think it did.

The CM Show was Chris' own style/production outright. The producers were there more as a checking mechanism for Chris' content more than anything else and probably to keep the show tidy/organised.

I see what you mean though. Seems like the producers have ultimate control over Grimmy's style/content.

[MadTheEddos]

Yeah, there's way too much control over Grimmy from the powers that be, I've got to agree.
It'd be interesting if he just took the attitude of "F*ck you, I'm doing what I want" and started actively pissing them off, as I've found myself wanting him to do. Would Ben Cooper dare sack him?

[fatboydave73]

He has had a few digs at the current regime I have heard; especially getting close to the zoo format etc; and we don't know what goes on off mic or after the show.

I think in the current form they are hanging him out to dry; especially when he has Tina and to a lesser extent, Matt Fincham who always gave enough in TCMS to justify their places.

Let's face it; who in any demographic wouldn't laugh at Tina and Matt's piggy back rides at the F1, or when Carrie done her thing at Wimbledon? I am more than sure Grimmy could conjure up some equally memorable moments if they let him do what he wants.....

[neilt0]

It's ridiculous that the Fun Police have banned him talking to anyone else in the show. There's no way anyone can fill 3 1/2 hours a day on their own. No way.

He should do what I do when a boss asks for something that's patently wrong -- agree with them, nod a lot and do what I know works. Later on, when it's seen to work, the boss will agree. It's even better when they think it was their idea...

[The Deadly]

Reading back a few pages its staggering anyone can defend this show. Both Grimshaw and the show itself are awful. I can't hold back from slating the show any longer. The guy isn't even good enough for a 12am slot on 6 Music let alone the biggest show on Radio 1.

[fatboydave73]

Reading back a few pages its staggering anyone can defend this show. Both Grimshaw and the show itself are awful. I can't hold back from slating the show any longer. The guy isn't even good enough for a 12am slot on 6 Music let alone the biggest show on Radio 1.

I agree to a certain extent; and yes; I have been really vocal on my negativity to Grimmy. However the fact remains that he is not being allowed to do what he wants to do, and is being pushed into a situation that is totally the opposite of a winning format, just to satisfy the BBC Trust

There is a big "Told You So" coming from Ben Cooper at some stage; and a ruined career for Mr Grimshaw......

[Tunster]

It's ridiculous that the Fun Police have banned him talking to anyone else in the show. There's no way anyone can fill 3 1/2 hours a day on their own. No way.

He should do what I do when a boss asks for something that's patently wrong -- agree with them, nod a lot and do what I know works. Later on, when it's seen to work, the boss will agree. It's even better when they think it was their idea...

People on commercial radio do this day in day out. But you know how exciting that sort of radio is! No one person alone can entertain a crowd of potentially 7 - 9 millions listeners. You need to diversity in a zoo format to keep that interest alive. Even our local breakfast show has a couple who's done it for 15+ years or something. They're identifiable in the local area (less so with the Heart branding), but they're still pulling in a large majority of their reach every morning.

I wouldn't mind putting a bet on that something will erupt at Radio 1 with Grimmy at some point. Mark my words.

[MDarlin]

I still feel Grimmy is a scapegoat, or stopgap.

Totally, totally agree.

Grimmy is a Stopgap.

(If, that is, BC is smart enough to have thought of such a cunning plan.)

[andy23]

I still feel Grimmy is a scapegoat, or stopgap.

Totally, totally agree.

Grimmy is a Stopgap.

(If, that is, BC is smart enough to have thought of such a cunning plan.)

Completely agree.

The problem is that previous breakfast hosts have been "edgy" - Chris Moyles and even Chris Evans during his brief tenure were never afraid to push the boundaries and push their luck. However,Evans on Radio 2 this morning was talking about white & black pepper... rock 'n' friggin' roll...

Radio 1 breakfast is just the same bland, banal cr*p that the rest of Radio one outputs during the day. I don't want to hear Taylor Swift, I want to be entertained on my drive to work, I want to hear stuff that makes me laugh out loud. Why the hell can't he talk to his team? Why can't they be mic'd up? - What's the bloody big deal?

Do Ben Cooper and his cronies really think that this is what the yoof of today want to hear?

I know at the moment the focus is on age rather than volume of listeners, but surely some time in the future it'll be back on the radar again, wasn't that the whole reason Coxy got the boot in the first place?

I really wanted to like Grimmy at breakfast but I can't stand the new show, I know it's not his fault, he's just obeying orders.

I need a DAB in the car so I can listen to Sean Keavny

[MadTheEddos]

If he is a stopgap, I'm not sure who they'd be planning to replace him with, unless they're thinking about drafting a DJ from another station and parachuting them straight into the Breakfast slot.
It would also be a sh*tty way to treat Grimmy.

[MDarlin]

I also think that the age boundaries are not at all what they used to be.
People's minds and tastes stay 'young' for a considerably long period of years, now.
It's a whole different world now than it was even 10 years ago.
Numerical age doesn't really matter anymore, and BBC execs need to realize that and come into the 21st Century.

Btw, I'm over 45, and I LOVE dubstep and bass&drum.

[MDarlin]

If he is a stopgap, I'm not sure who they'd be planning to replace him with, unless they're thinking about drafting a DJ from another station and parachuting them straight into the Breakfast slot.
It would also be a sh*tty way to treat Grimmy.

Yeah, and again I'm not sure BC and the execs are bright enough to have such a plan.

Still, Moyles is under contract till 2014, so perhaps they're just giving him a rest? Or it could be that Grimmy knows the plan, but is given this slot to prove his worth, or else the plan goes forward? Perhaps they're just testing the waters to see if they're right about the 'age' problem?

Seems like it's all a grand experiment, made possible, partly, by Moyles' JCS gig.
(It's funny how when he first made the announcement about that gig, I got a very bad, ominous feeling.)

[The Deadly]

Chris will never be back on breakfast. You're living in fantasy land if you actually think that.

[ritchie]

Bet he will.... Obviously not Radio 1 and obviously not now, but maybe Radio 2 in 10 years time...

[myloxyloto]

Well, as he did 8 and a half years of getting up at stupid o'clock, plus his years of being on even earlier, he may feel he has no need to ever do another breakfast show... then again, it is the flagship show for any radio station so the chances are he will be in demand, and it would be the most beneficial slot to him financially and in terms of profile if a major station wants him.

[Tunster]

Bet he will.... Obviously not Radio 1 and obviously not now, but maybe Radio 2 in 10 years time...

Not even 10 years. But I'd doubt he'd do breakfast ever again unless his life priorities don't change. He's had to give up a long-term relationship and all sorts of stuff to be in that slot for 8 and half years. Not many other presenters would offer that kind of dedication. I'm sure returning to some normality is his number one priority at the moment.

[Wykey]

Another thing that I find unpleasant is people who use forced nicknames about themselves.

For example: Paul "You can call me the Guvnor" Ince.
Nick "You can call me Grimmy" Grimshaw.

Not sure that's really a comparison, "the Guvnor" is a self-promoting "aren't I great" nickname, whereas Grimmy is just a straightforward abbreviation of his surname, which he was/is probably known as before and outside of his radio career.

It is, because it's forced faux-familiarity.

[Wykey]

This morning I heard Grimmy ask to do two things - one was play Taylor Swift (which let's face it, is on high rotation and was probably on the playlist for some point in the show anyway) and the other was to get Tina in for the wake-up song - and he was told by the producers that he wasn't allowed. That's the thing about the show that gets me - he isn't allowed to be himself and settle into his own style. I've listened with interest to the old Moyles shows to see if I can detect the same thing happening to Chris when he was first on the show, but I don't really think it did.

I seem to remember the producers telling CM he needed to "PLAY A RECORD"....

When you say he asked to do two things, do you mean in a talking outloud to the listener, or chatting to the producers? Either way it seems a bit odd to be rebuffed on air.

[chrysostom]

Hasn't Grimmy been known as Grimmy for ages? (I remember when he first came along to Radio 1 that Chris would keep calling him 'Grimy' in around 2008)

[Nicola_Red]

When you say he asked to do two things, do you mean in a talking outloud to the listener, or chatting to the producers? Either way it seems a bit odd to be rebuffed on air.

Kind of both. In both cases he'd say "I think we should do this" or "I want to do that" and then say "can we do that?" and you'd hear an off-mic "no" from Matt or Fiona.