Nick Grimshaw: From Radio 1 to 6 Music, Sobriety & Harry Styles

If you’ve ever wondered what happened to the Radio 1 breakfast show host who seemed to know everyone in pop culture, you’re not alone. Nick Grimshaw has quietly reinvented himself — swapping the high-energy pop playlist for the eclectic world of BBC Radio 6 Music, and opening up about sobriety along the way.

Age: 40 (born 14 August 1984) ·
Occupation: Radio DJ, television presenter, author ·
Current Show: BBC Radio 6 Music Breakfast Show ·
Net Worth (est.): £3 million ·
Notable Past Show: BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show (2012–2018) ·
Nickname: Grimmy

Six key facts, one pattern: Grimshaw’s career has consistently moved toward more niche, music-focused radio, away from mainstream pop.

What Does Nick Grimshaw Do Now?

Current role at BBC Radio 6 Music

Nick Grimshaw currently hosts the BBC Radio 6 Music Breakfast Show on weekdays from 7 to 10 a.m. He took over from Lauren Laverne in early 2025 after covering the slot for four months (Wikipedia). The show leans into alternative and classic tracks, a deliberate shift from his Radio 1 days.

• He has said the move to 6 Music feels like “coming home” to a music-curatorial role (The Guardian).
• Grimshaw covered the breakfast show for about four months before the permanent appointment (Wikipedia (BBC Radio 6 Music page)).

Other ventures: podcasting, DJing, author

Beyond radio, Grimshaw published his memoir Soft Lad in 2023 (The Guardian). He also runs a design-focused Instagram account @thirtysixandahalf and occasionally DJs at events. Before radio fame, he worked in music plugging in Manchester and did an internship at MTV (WTYEFM/NME syndicated interview).

Recent appearances and projects

In 2025, Grimshaw appeared on This Morning and several podcasts discussing his career shift. He also judged The X Factor in 2015 (Wikipedia) and presented Channel 4’s Freshly Squeezed with Alexa Chung (WTYEFM/NME).

The implication: This move cements his identity as a serious curator, distancing him from his pop-centric Radio 1 persona.

Is Nick Grimshaw Sober?

Public statements on sobriety

Grimshaw has been open about quitting alcohol. He told The Guardian that earlier in his career he would “do radio hungover” and described stopping that behaviour as “a sign of growth” (The Guardian). In a 2020 interview with SBTV, he noted he avoided drinking because he would get a terrible hangover (SBTV YouTube interview).

Context within celebrity heavy drinking discussions

Grimshaw’s sobriety is part of a broader conversation in the UK entertainment industry. He has mentioned being influenced by the late Amy Winehouse’s struggles with alcohol, and also noted that friend Ed Sheeran has been a sober ally (The Guardian).

Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles drinking habits for comparison

Ed Sheeran has also spoken about his own sobriety, while Harry Styles has not publicly discussed drinking habits. Grimshaw’s decision to quit drinking appears to be personal, not tied to any specific incident.

The pattern: His professional evolution and personal growth are tightly interwoven, presenting a mature figure in the industry.

Are Harry Styles and Nick Grimshaw Still Friends?

History of their friendship

Grimshaw and Styles have been friends since the early 2010s, when Styles was rising to fame with One Direction. They were frequently photographed together and Grimshaw often attended Styles’ gigs.

Birthday party appearances

In 2024, Harry Styles attended Grimshaw’s birthday party in London, confirming the friendship remains active (The Sun). The two have been spotted together at various events over the past decade.

Current status based on public sightings

No public fall-out has been reported. Both maintain busy schedules, but the friendship appears to be intact. In a 2025 interview, Grimshaw spoke warmly about Styles but did not go into detail about their current frequency of contact.

The implication: The connection remains part of his identity, linking him to a pop culture history he helped shape.

What Is Nick Grimshaw’s Personal Life Like?

Relationship status

As of 2025, Grimshaw is not publicly in a confirmed relationship. He has not been linked to a partner in recent years, and his personal life remains largely private.

Family: mother, brother, daughter

Grimshaw was born in Oldham and raised in the Manchester area (The Guardian). He has a brother (name not public) and has spoken about his mother framing his rejection letter from Radio 1 (WTYEFM/NME). There is no public evidence that he has a daughter.

Where he lives

Grimshaw lives in London. He has mentioned mapping his commute to Radio 1 on his father’s A-Z of London as a child (Yahoo News UK).

The implication: His childhood fascination with radio mapped directly onto an adult career he carefully constructed.

Were Nick Grimshaw and Amy Winehouse Friends?

Winehouse connection

Grimshaw was friends with Amy Winehouse in the years before her death in 2011. He has spoken about her influence on his perspective regarding alcohol and partying (The Guardian).

Grimshaw’s comments on their friendship

In a 2025 interview, Grimshaw said Winehouse’s struggles made him think differently about excessive drinking. He described her as a “warm, funny person” and noted that her death had a lasting impact on him (The Guardian).

Impact on his perspective on alcohol

Grimshaw’s friendship with Winehouse is often cited as a factor in his eventual sobriety. He has said that seeing a close friend struggle with addiction made him more cautious about his own drinking habits.

The implication: This chapter of his past continues to lend depth to his current narrative.

Grimshaw’s career arc — from mainstream pop radio to alternative music curation, paired with a public sobriety journey — has reshaped his public image. For listeners of BBC Radio 6 Music, his shift represents a deeper commitment to music discovery. For fans of the old Radio 1 Grimshaw, the change is a reminder that reinvention is possible. The implication: Grimshaw’s most authentic chapter may still be ahead of him.

For a deeper look into his journey, check out Nick Grimshaws biography and career for more details on his rise in radio.

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