Nick Grimshaw returns to breakfast radio as he takes over Radio 6 show from Lauren Laverne - six years after he insisted early morning gig 'wasn't a forever job'

Nick Grimshaw has returned to breakfast radio after six years as he announced he will take over the Radio 6 show from Lauren Laverne following her cancer battle.

DJ Lauren, 46, took a break from presenting her BBC shows last year after being diagnosed with cancer, with Nick standing in for her on the early morning show. 

But amid a series of changes at the station, it was announced on Thursday that Nick will take over the breakfast show full time from February - with Lauren moving to a mid-morning weekday slot. 

Nick's return to breakfast radio comes five years after he left the Radio 1 Breakfast Show in 2018 - and declared at the time that the early morning gig 'wasn't a forever job'.

A friend of Nick, 40, told MailOnline: 'He is so excited to be back on breakfast, he has loved standing in for Lauren and he is thrilled to be taking over full time.' 

Lauren headed into the studio to officially hand over the job to him after six months of standing in for her while she took time away after being diagnosed with an unknown type of cancer - of which she received the all-clear in November.

'I am coming back to 6 music, I am delighted to say,' Lauren announced. 'I'm not coming back to Breakfast though. I am going to be making changes, it's the right time and the 6 music Breakfast show has got a new host.'

Nick replied: 'It does, it's going to be me. As it has been for the past couple of months, it's been such an honour to look after your show Lauren, it really has.'

After being introduced as 'a special guest trailed as the most iconic blonde in music' by Nick, Lauren said: 'It's so funny being back in the studio. Also being described as a guest! It's wonderful to be here. 

'It's good to be back, I'm doing really, really well. It's been a tricky time and I've missed everybody so much. I have to say a massive thank you to all the 6 music listeners who've kept such wonderful messages, literally thousands of messages of love and support coming in. 

'The last time I was in the studio, I guess it would have been August and I've had my cancer diagnosis and knew that I would be having an operation imminently. And to walk out of the studio door and come back in four months later healthy, but still obviously recovering. Anyone who's been through cancer knows it takes quite a long time to fully get back to where you were. But it's very exciting to be back.'

The mother of two added: 'I've enjoyed having you on in my kitchen so thank you for that and for stepping in, you've been absolutely incredible. Like I say, anyone who's been through it knows it's a really tough thing going through cancer so I've been back to work part-time a little bit, I've been doing the One Show, doing Desert Island Discs, which has been lovely, but it is good to be back on 6 and to be able to talk about coming back to 6.

'Because I am coming back to 6 music, I am delighted to say. I'm not coming back to Breakfast though. I am going to be making changes, it's the right time and the 6 music Breakfast show has got a new host.'

'It does, it's going to be me,' Nick replied. 'As it has been for the past couple of months, it's been such an honour to look after your show Lauren, it really has. 

'And I'm just so excited to carry on doing it, and just so excited I'm going to get to hear you on the radio.'

Lauren shared: 'Yes, because I am going to be on after you. I'm going to be on 10-1, which is very exciting and I'm really looking forward to it.'

Nick: 'It's going to be really fun and we're really excited to have you back. We've missed you so much. And this means that Mary Anne [Hobbs] is going to be taking a step back. 

'She's not leaving 6 music, she's going to take a little bit of time off, then she's going to be back with us for her brand new, undoubtedly fantastic, exciting show in late spring. She's on leave for the next couple of weeks.'

Nick's return to breakfast radio comes six years after he left the Radio 1 Breakfast Show in 2018.

announcing his departure, Nick said at the time: 'It was always my dream to do the breakfast show and I'm very grateful that I got to live my dream every day for what will be nearly six years. 

'But six years is a long time and this isn't a forever job. I had the time of my life.'

A year later in 2019, Nick admitted he was left bed-bound for days after quitting the early show due to his exhaustion.

The DJ told The Sun at the time that after six years of juggling the early morning starts with late-night partying, the exhaustion finally caught up with him.

The star said: 'I didn't realise how tired I was until I stopped. 

'I went on holiday straight after it and my family came and all my friends came and we got a house — and I slept for days and days and days. I could not get out of bed.'

Reflecting on having taken over the afternoon slot, Nick added: 'I’ve had more time for me. It feels less like you’re in this machine of waking up early, so it’s been really good. I feel calmer, less tired.' 

In December, Nick took to Instagram to share his gratitude for his time standing in for Lauren on the Radio 6 breakfast show.

He wrote: 'As we get to the end of the year I wanted to say a massive thank you for listening to me over the past four months on 6. As a @laurenlaverne and @bbc6music super fan I was a little apprehensive about covering this beloved breakfast show even for the initial week. It’s what we listen to every morning at home so having to DO Cloudbusting, Desert Island Disco, People’s Playlist etc rather than faffing around in my own kitchen listening was a real out of body experience. 

'It’s been a real privilege to spend each waking day immersed in music. Thank you to Lauren’s excellent team for their kindness, expertise, guidance & friendship. And a massive thank you to you for listening, the lovely welcoming morning messages and for all of your stellar sonic selections. We ride again tomorrow at dawn ✨.'

Lauren shared a sweet comment as she said: 'Thank you so much for stepping in and doing such a brilliant job, Nick. 

'The fandom is mutual!! Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and an even better 2025 xxx.'

Former Radio 6 breakfast host Lauren was given the all clear from cancer in November, three months after revealing she had the illness.

Writing on Instagram, she said she felt 'more than ever that the small things in life - the connections we make and care we take with each other - are the big things really.'

She revealed her diagnosis in August, saying at the time that her cancer had been caught early and that she 'expected to make a full recovery.'

Lauren added the 'brilliant medical teams who took such great care of me' and 'the thousands of people who sent me such beautiful and encouraging messages.'

'Most of all [thank you] to my family: my two astounding kids and especially my husband Graeme, who was absolutely extraordinary throughout,' she said.

'It's been a difficult time but one that has taught me so much about what really matters.

'I can't say I suddenly regretted never having hiked the Inca Trail, more that I now see more beauty in ordinary things than I could have imagined.'

Her post also included a picture of her wearing a jumper bearing the words: 'Life is beautiful.'

She said in August her cancer had been discovered 'unexpectedly during a screening test' and urged anyone who was 'avoiding a test or putting off an appointment' to get checked. Lauren has not specified what type of cancer she was diagnosed with.