At 6am sharp, I am standing outside Broadcasting House, central London, under a still inky sky, feeling seasick on dry land. I’ve been up since 4.30am, my head full of wire wool. I’m startled by the sound of someone hailing me from across the piazza. “A-HAAAA!!” A tall man in a short jacket opens his arms wide, committing to the perfect Alan Partridge impression. I don’t understand how Greg James is so chipper all the time. Nothing good happens this early in the morning, I respond blearily when I reach him. “I’m about to change your mind,” he winks.
I’m shadowing the multiple Sony award-winning Radio 1 Breakfast DJ for a day, mostly because I’m intrigued by what kind of person becomes a breakfast DJ. James, now 36, has hosted the flagship show since 2018, when he took over from Nick Grimshaw. Under James’s tenure, it has become even more widely known for its social media presence, off the wall features and huge guest stars. It also boasts the biggest audience of any on the station, reaching around 5 million people every day. I don’t understand how it’s possible to talk to that many people, at this time in the morning, five days a week, and maintain a good mood.
