Nick Grimshaw’s first Radio 1 Breakfast Show: the Twitter reaction
The response to Harry Styles and Justin Bieber ranged from delight to disgust, but Doctor Who's Matt Smith won #TeamGrimmy the support of the Twittersphere
Nick Grimshaw set an early alarm this morning to launch the new Radio 1 Breakfast Show at 6:30am. But there were no signs of fatigue as the radio station mounted an assault on our airwaves and Twitterwaves, with the help of a brand new Twitter account:
hiyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
— R1 Breakfast with Nick Grimshaw 2012-2018 (@R1Breakfast) September 24, 2012
7 tweets and already 19,000 followers – not bad going if you ask us.
It’s no secret that #TeamGrimmy has a hoard of celebrity friends and fans…
Go on grimmy! great show dude! @grimmers , love the way the robot calls him "grimey"
— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) September 24, 2012
Anyone who can call on the services of Cheryl Cole, Rita Ora, Professor Green, Harry Styles and Wiley for their promotional video is odds-on for a star-studded line-up. And this morning did not disappoint with Matt Smith, Harry Styles and Justin Bieber all making appearances.
Radio 1’s drive towards a younger audience drew mixed reactions from this morning’s tweeters.
@hannzaah shared her support for Grimshaw’s choice of celebrity guests:
Justin Bieber on Radio 1 this morning. Yes Grimmy
— Hannah (@Hannnnah__X) September 24, 2012
While @taymart2 gave Grimmy a gold star for his performance…
@r1breakfast @grimmers harry styles, JB, matt smith, "grimey" robot… flawless first breakfast show was flawless. loved every min grimmy! ❤
— ???????????????????????? (@taymart2) September 24, 2012
But the station’s efforts to recruit younger listeners led to criticism from the show’s older, loyal fan base, with @judemac82 noting,
Think I am finally realising I’m too old for radio 1. Gave grimmy a chance this morning . . . One direction and Justin bieber. No ta. #old
— Jude Mactaggart (@judemac82) September 24, 2012
Many listeners appeared disgruntled at the prominence given to teen popstars Styles and Bieber whose interviews and music were given star billing. Simon McCarthy tweeted:
I thought Nick Grimshaw was the new R1 breakfast host? Turns out it is mostly an advert for the careers of One Direction & Justin Bieber. ????
— Simon McCarthy (@Ched44) September 24, 2012
And @edwardconway made reference to Radio 1’s promise to play more music, following Chris Moyles’ eight-year reign of jingles and morning chatter:
“Yes finally more music on radio 1 breakfast show”…oh wait no that was 15mins with Harry Styles on the phone
— Edward Conway (@edwardconway) September 24, 2012
Today’s launch roused Moyles’ faithful troops who spent the morning campaigning on Twitter for the return of their much-loved host, following his final broadcast on Friday 14 September.
The @Team_Moyles handle succeeded in getting #TeamMoyles trending alongside Radio 1’s #TeamGrimmy in the battle of the hashtags:
Retweet this picture, and join #TeamMoyles from 6.30am! twitter.com/Team_Moyles/st…
— Team Moyles (@Team_Moyles) September 23, 2012
While loyal @StaceBannister has eight years of material to fall back on…
Best I get up and decide what @ChrisMoylesShow podcast I'm gunna listen to… #teammoyles
— Stacey Bannister (@StaceBannister) September 24, 2012
But this was far from a one-sided Twitter war, with Grimmy’s young (and often famous) crowd of supporters heaping on the praise. One female fan even took style tips from the new be-quiffed host:
I'm in #teamgrimmy too! @huwstephens http://t.co/wxlDie4G
— Mama Twist (@MrsAnneTwist) September 21, 2012
While NME deputy editor Eve Barlow tweeted,
EXASPERATED that @grimmers is so good. I don't want to say I was so right but… I was.
— eve barlow (@Eve_Barlow) September 24, 2012
And Caitlin Moran channelled the ‘yoof’ of today:
Woooo – @R1Breakfast is so WAKEY with @grimmers. This boy haz PLAYLIST #breakfastbreakbeats #w00t
— Caitlin Moran (@caitlinmoran) September 24, 2012
The teen boppers may have split the opinion of listeners, but there was one star who earned unanimous support from the Twittersphere… Matt Smith, we salute you.
ACTUAL @mattsmith_dw is on the phone! @Grimmers is trying to convince him to give him a cameo on Dr Who, he'd be good, right?
— R1 Breakfast with Nick Grimshaw 2012-2018 (@R1Breakfast) September 24, 2012
Scott Bryan sums up The Doctor’s healing powers…
MATT SMITH IS NOW ON @R1Breakfast with Nick Grimshaw. Bieber and One Direction… ALL IS FORGIVEN.
— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) September 24, 2012
And Fraser McAlpine just can’t stop listening.
I was already struggling to leave Grimmy in order to write about Doctor Who, and then Matt Smith appears on Grimmy. #makestea
— Fraser McAlpine (@csi_popmusic) September 24, 2012
So to sum up, in the words of fellow Radio 1 DJ and guest on this morning’s show, Zane Lowe…
@GRlMMERS great show Grimmy!!
— Zane Lowe (@zanelowe) September 24, 2012