Nick Grimshaw's rise to radio fame

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Page last updated at 10:08 GMT, Wednesday, 11 July 2012 11:08 UK

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Nick Grimshaw talks about taking over the Radio 1 breakfast show

Nick Grimshaw has been named as the new host of the Radio 1 breakfast show.

Currently fronting the station's 22:00 to midnight show from Monday to Thursday, he can also be heard on Sundays with Annie Mac.

Grimshaw is also part of Channel 4's T4 presenting team and hosts its Album Chart Show.

But for someone who is about to take on the second most listened-to radio show in the UK, "Grimmy" has had a relatively quiet rise to fame.

Although he is often seen out with his celebrity friends - One Direction's Harry Styles, Agyness Deyn and Pixie Geldof to name a few - generally little is known about the 27-year-old.

Born in Manchester and brought up in Oldham, Grimshaw went to Liverpool University where he got his first taste of broadcasting working in student radio.

After graduating he moved down to London and began working as an intern at MTV. But his contract didn't last long after he drew all over the office's white walls.

He had stints as a DJ and music plugger before landing his big break with Channel 4 in August 2007, hosting its Freshly Squeezed morning show alongside Alexa Chung.

It was a chance pub meeting with radio partner Annie Mac that led to Grimmy's first job at the BBC three months later.

She told him she was about to start presenting a new weekly music show, Sound, and suggested him as a co-presenter.

Another BBC job - fronting teen show Switch on both TV and radio - quickly followed.

He joined Radio 1 in 2008 as the weekend breakfast show host before taking over the 20:00 to midnight slot in June 2009 following the departure of Colin Murray.

With Radio 1 controller Ben Cooper tasked with attracting more younger viewers, 'Grimmy' is likely to strike a chord with his previous track record.

"He clearly chimes with the ambition to lower the age of the audience at Radio 1," Broadcast's Jake Kanter said.

"Nick is a well-established youth presenter whom I'm sure will have a loyal following between 16- and 24-year-olds."