CarlBr0wn asks:
You’re a renowned radio nerd. What’s your favourite bit of radio trivia or some old jingle you have stashed away in your brain?
Guardian contributor Chris Smith is the newsreader in a famous song - in George Michael's Outside. You know the bit where they do the news report about him being arrested? Chris is the newsreader in it.
Guardian contributor Also... I did used to download all the old R1 jingles and do shows with them as a teenager. An insight into my teenage years... I was not a cool teenager. I was more interested in downloading old Chris Moyles jingles.
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Laura Jukes asks:
I’m a student in London that wants to get into the creative industry. I’ve been told it’s pretty hopeless on what it pays so I’m considering giving up. Any words of advice?
Guardian contributor My advice is always, have a rough idea of what you want to do but don't be surprised if that changes. Try and enjoy all the bits, even the shitty bits, because they're really useful. When I thought it was all going to go wrong it was horrible, but when little things do happen it makes it feels even sweeter in a way. I didn't get into radio to make money, you have to be lucky - and I have really been lucky - but take all those opportunities, would be my advice. When I was 18 messing around with local radio, I actually just enjoyed it and thought, this is fun and it hopefully will lead to somewhere but it doesn't matter because I was enjoying it in the moment. Whoever said it was hopeless is slightly bitter. I think with most people who do a job that's not like a doctor, you train then become a doctor - if you're doing a job that's a bit like this you can't listen to people who say you can't do it. You have to be strong willed.
As long as a guest wants to be part of the whole show, we'll have them. I want to get David Attenborough back on – the greatest guest of all time
Laura Jukes asks:
Now you’re on the breakfast show you’ll be getting the biggest celeb interviews … Any on your wishlist?
Guardian contributor The show's not going to be massively about guests every single day. That's one thing I will change. I don't think you want to just hear interview interview interview at that time in the morning so I want to be smart with them and have the guests really embedded into the show, have them with the listeners rather than in spite of them. It can feel a bit like, "here's 20 mins where I'm chatting with a famous person" - it can be a bit of a turn off. As long as a guest wants to be fun and be part of the whole show, we'll have them. I want to get David Attenborough back on - the greatest guest of all time. He transcends generations, he's 90, Blue Planet got the most people of all generations watching one show of all time.
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ID0323541 asks:
You’ve been a massive champion of mental health issues and supported mental health services with your Pedal to the Peaks and Gregathlon challenges. Do you have any plans for incorporating mental wellbeing into the new show?
Guardian contributor Yeah definitely. Certainly. It's about finding a way of doing it that's inclusive and does it justice and isn't just, "now we're going to talk about mental health". The Sport Relief thing was an incredible thing to be part of. I never thought that's how it would end up with people talking so openly. I still get so many messages from people saying, that week made me talk to a friend or get help. I'd be a selfish idiot not to do that again because it really helped people discuss issues and talk to their friends. But I think in a way, the overall feeling of, we don't want anyone to feel shit listening to the show. We want it to be something you listen to if you're feeling a bit lost. It sounds a bit flowery but I want it to be a fun, welcoming show. And I think people really respond to hearing a person just talking about the world and social issues and that kind of thing.
SEBBYWOOD asks:
What production are you looking for in your new show? Will you be looking for Moyles-esk jingle production and features, or a much more laidback style? Or a mystery third option?
Guardian contributor Being completely obsessed with all of that and how a radio show sounds, that has been equal parts stressful and very exciting. You get the world's production companies wanting to do the music. We're going for a really bold - I don't wanna say theme tune because it's not quite a theme, but there'll definitely be a memorable melody. What we want it to do is not sound like anything else that's on at the same time. It's a new thing for R1. It's not in your face, too brash. A couple of the first iterations were a bit laddy, chanty, and I didn't like it so I've softened it a bit. When people listen I want them to go, oh shit, that's him - we want it to be distinctive. But we haven't got sung jingles, like in the Moyles day.
frandonblowers asks:
Are you and Chris Smith with the news going for a final lads’ night out?
Guardian contributor We've had many. We recorded our last podcast in the pub a couple of days ago and we will continue - we're working together with Kid Normal anyway, writing two more books over the next couple of years - so he's going to have a bit of a break and then come back as one of the bosses. We're going to keep writing and I think he'll write some of his own books as well. But yeah - my final show on drivetime was very strange. That felt like the end of my first 10 years on R1, the end of that chapter. I need to be scared and try something new. If you've been given the breakfast show you might as well see where you can take it.
We're gonna throw all the ingredients together. It's going to be funny, and different every day
HurriGale asks:
What are the top three ways you’re going to make sure your show secures/brings back the young demographic that Radio 1 treasures so dearly?
Guardian contributor Listening figures and listener ages and demographics and things - it's a really imprecise science that nobody really knows the answer to. But we are gonna throw all the ingredients together to give the show the best chance at being well received. It's going to be funny, and different every day. We want it to be about the world, connected to the world, and that means it will be about showbizzy stuff, silly shit that goes wrong on the news, a funny viral tweet and we get that person on. It's putting a spin on the day in a way that hasn't really been done before. Yeah, we think about who is listening but when I was a kid I never really cared how old the show team was or if it was for me or not - if I found it funny and entertaining, I would listen. That's my mantra for the show - let's make it fun, silly, have some great music that we know our audience and certain demographics like. Just being confident really. That's how I'm going to attempt to do that. Make it feel like it's for you. If you're saying "we only want 15 year olds", that's really dangerous because it excludes people. I've always pitched stuff around 20 to 25 year olds - you get younger kids who want to listen to stuff that's older than them, and you don't alienate people who are over 25. I think there's a real opportunity to not alienate the overall audience. I find it quite exciting. I like the idea that you'd listen in the car with your parents and all quite like it. If you say to people you're not supposed to listen to this, it creates a negative atmosphere and they go, fuck you, I want to. I want people to listen if they like pop culture, funny stuff and current music. That's where my head is.
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Chloe Edwards asks:
What was the most important thing you learned from student radio? All the best for the new slot!
Guardian contributor That's where you make all your mistakes. It's where I learned what I didn't wanna do in a radio station. I loved it, I always loved radio and I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to do. I thought I wanted to be a presenter and that confirmed it. I think the most important thing is, it doesn't matter how many people are listening, you've got to do the show. It doesn't matter if there's 7 or 7m people. you have to do it the same way. If you've experienced one listener you can talk to that listener as you go up through the ranks. That's when I'm happiest on R1 - when I'm doing something I would have done on student radio with a bit more experience and a bit more resources. We did a feature that would have raised eyebrows on student radio -we did a show live from the fatberg. We went down to the sewers. On student radio people would have said, what are you doing? But we had the confidence to do it. Those are my favourite moments - why wouldn't you do that if you could?
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I want the listeners to pick the first song – they are the funniest, most interesting thing about the breakfast show
laurasnapes asks:
I can’t imagine you’ll reveal your first song, so what kind of tone do you want it to strike? Any clues?
Guardian contributor I still haven't decided what it's going to be yet. I think there's almost too much on it. It's pretty meaningless. I don't think I'm gonna choose. In fact - Guardian exclusive - I'm not going to pick a first song because I don't want the show to be for the listeners, I want it to be with them, and that makes all the difference if it feels like you're part of it. I want the listener to pick the first song - we'll do it live, I think I must just start with the 10-Minute Takeover. I want the listeners to run the show a little bit because they are the funniest, most interesting thing about it.
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DWFan1 asks:
What’s your favourite Pixar film?
Guardian contributor It's a niche reference but it's The Blue Umbrella, which they played before Monsters University. It was really sweet. That's such an indie answer isn't it. "I really liked the short before the actual film."
I would never be snobby about music – apart from when I played nine Ed Sheeran songs in the Top 10. He rick rolled it
Nepthsolem asks:
How does it feel to be given the show, but at the same time to be bound by play lists full of bumslurry that your audience won’t believe that you like?
Guardian contributor I don't necessarily agree. I have a really wide, varied taste in music. I've never been snobby. I genuinely listen to things on their merit and try to find the good in everything. I want the show to be up and energetic and all the rest of it, but I will have lots of opportunities to play lots of artists that I love with a passion. You can't love everything. But I like that I do a show where I'm in control of the talky bits and get my own music picks, but the latter is done by another team. I've never wanted to do a specialist music show - that wouldn't be my thing. It's nice that I get to focus on all the bits in between. There's nothing really that I don't like - and it'd be stupid to go on and slag it off. I got taught early on, doing my first ever radio shows - I talked over the end of a song that I didn't like, and the controller went, "don't talk over that because it's someone's favourite song". It makes the whole house of cards collapse then. R1's really broad and you have to play all sorts of different things for people. I would never be snobby about stuff - apart from when I played nine Ed Sheeran songs in the Top 10, when I did the chart. That was the point I realised I didn't want to do the chart any more. He rickrolled it. That was the point where something had to change, it was too much - completely ridiculous.
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minahollandcook asks:
Do you think the breakfast show plays a different role in people’s lives now to in your teens?
Guardian contributor That's interesting, I've been thinking about that a lot in terms of what I've managed to do on the other show that I never thought I'd be able to do on R1. Yes, it does new music amazingly and it has a guest and we do funny stuff, but all of us saw that you can do things every now and then that have more substance, and people go with them. People say, "you have to talk about what young people are talking about" - that's not just Snapchat, but being more socially aware of the world. I never thought I'd be in that position but now I am, and I want to. Not like, "Now we're going to talk about mental health" in a preachy way, but I'm excited to do things on the breakfast show that have never been done before.
Radio 1 keeps you grounded. You have to really like the listeners. And I really do – they're great, they're funny
DaleBerning asks:
Have you read Simon Garfield’s book The Nation’s Favourite? Would a book written about Radio 1 now be as interesting?
Guardian contributor I have, many years ago. It's so gossipy! I don't think anyone would be surprised - we're not really that shockable, I don't think. So no, I don't think people would be as interested because you hear everything all the time anyway and I think there was a mystique about it then - no social media, you didn't know what they got up to when they were pissed on an outside broadcast, whereas now that's part of it and it's sort of expected that it gets a bit messy sometimes. So no, I think people would know all the stuff. But in terms of the rivalry between DJs, I think that's gone compared to what it used to be like. Even when I started there were rivalries between the DJs - on air friends, but not off air. And it's really interesting to see how that's changed since I started 10 years ago. We all do quite like each other, and just because I do something good doesn't take away from anyone else; celebrating Clara's show makes everyone better. I just think it's modern sensibilities, being a bit more connected to the world. Having a real life and realising that you don't have to be an arsehole to be good and respected. It's the same with artists - they know you can't get away with that sort of shit and neither should you. There's no excuse to be an arsehole.
Guardian contributor And also Radio 1 keeps you grounded. More than ever you have to be in tune with what the listeners are listening to, reading, watching, everything. You have to really make an effort to get into their brains and routines. And they will call you out on it if you're getting above your station or being a knob. And I think that really keeps everyone in check. In the old days of R1 being this thing that went around the country, did roadshows, DJs opened department stores and 1000 people turned up - it was sort of disconnected from the audience in a way. You were sort of like a rock star, and you need to be more on their level, more like their mate, and you need to really like the listeners. And I really do - they're great, they're funny.
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hannahjdavies asks:
Hello! Who are your current favourite artists in the UK, and are there any new acts you’ll be petitioning to get on the Radio 1 playlist?
Guardian contributor Robyn - I mean, not a UK act but I'm completely obsessed with that song and I think she's one of the most underrated artists of all time. Never quite reaches the places you think she's gonna reach. I really love Loyle Carner's album a lot. There's this Aussie band called Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever that are really good - flying that indie flag really well, but not just the same old. In terms of big pop I think Ariana Grande's about to have an enormous moment. We'd been having chats with various people about guests and Little Mix are about to come back with some big stuff, so that's an artist we'll probably have on the breakfast show. They've defied the X Factor thing a bit and become so massive on their own.
Mel B kept saying 'Frigging' – I had to end the interview. Ruined my memories of the 90s!
Dodesy asks:
What’s the biggest disaster you’ve ever had while live on air? And will you be thinking about it when you take the hot seat for the breakfast show?
Guardian contributor There's those classic things - the studio froze once and I was trapped with the microphone open and we had to keep talking until it was fixed, no buttons worked. What else have I done... I'd say telling Taylor Swift to have a shower sort of got lost in translation a bit with some of her American fans who thought it was rude. It was not meant to be! That was a slight PR disaster with the Swifties. But as her manager said, "you were in Rolling Stone, there's worse places to be". Mel B kept swearing - or she kept saying "frigging", but it was 5.10pm, proper coming out of school time, and I was like, probably best not to say that again, and she said, "you can say that, can't ya?" I Was like, nah, probably not, and she went, "frigging frigging frigging frigging frigging". I had to end the interview. Ruined my memories of the 90s!
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I quite like the morning and the age I am now. If I was in my mid-20s I wouldn't be able to get up as easily
jknight257 asks:
What sacrifices have you had to make to get yourself ready for the morning slot? Will you be trying to carry on where Grimmy left off, or try and change the format completely?
Guardian contributor I will be changing the format because I wanna put my stamp on the whole thing. We actually had our first run-through this morning - I've been up since 4.30ish today running through bits, finding out what worked, what didn't, getting the team together and seeing how it runs. It's a completely different show to what I'm used to. We're finding out what works best at what time because the audience is so transient - quicker bits at 7.30, longer bits after 9. It will be different. But also we're keen to not do the same show as I've been doing in the afternoons. There'll be elements of it. And obviously I'll be there. But we've got some new ideas we're trying out.
In terms of my life, I don't know yet, I did something I've never done before which is put my clothes in a different room and get ready the night before because I didn't want to disturb my girlfriend. I quite like the morning and the age I am now, I'm better at realising that you can get stuff done in the morning. If I was doing this in my mid-20s I wouldn't be able to get up as easily.
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Greg James is with us now
Post your questions for Greg James
The breakfast show host on BBC Radio 1 is one of the most talked-about jobs in the country, requiring sparkling banter unfeasibly early in the day. Next in the seat is Greg James, taking over from Nick Grimshaw on 20 August.
The 4am alarm clock shouldn’t be too tough given he started at the station doing an even earlier slot, fresh out of university in 2007. He’s since risen through the ranks, doing everything from interviewing Taylor Swift in his car to segueing into TV for Sounds Like Friday Night. He pens a children’s book series, Kid Normal, with his news presenter sidekick Chris Smith, and impressed the nation with his efforts for Sport Relief this year: climbing the biggest mountains in England, Wales and Scotland, and cycling between each one.
As he prepares for the new job, he’s joining us to answer your questions in a live webchat, from 12.30pm on Monday 13 August. Post yours in the comment section below, and follow along live.
Thanks for trolling me, it's been an honour!