"I want Moyles' gig": Radio 1's Greg James eyes the breakfast show

"I want Moyles' gig": Radio 1's Greg James eyes the breakfast show

He's Radio 1’s rising star, has six million listeners, a pop star ex-girlfriend and one very important Royal fan.

But determined Greg James has no plans to rest on his laurels.

The 26-year-old DJ has set his sights on the biggest job in radio, even if it takes him a few years to get there.

Chatting in the studio where he now hosts his daily drivetime show, Greg admits: “I would love to do the breakfast show on Radio 1.

“I think you’d be mad not to want that at some point. It’s the flagship show and the one the rest of the station sort of follows.”

Hotseat: Greg James is tipped to take over from Chris Moyles in the future

 

Insiders say Greg is the heir apparent to current host Chris Moyles, who has a contract to 2014 when he’ll celebrate 10 years in the breakfast hotseat.

But he is at pains to point out he has no desire to force Chris out.

Greg says: “Me and Chris hang out, everyone at the station gets on well really. It can be competitive, secretly, but not in a destructive way.

“I’ve been honest in saying I’d like to do it â€" but that really doesn’t mean I want to see Chris sacked tomorrow.

“It is competitive, but then it should be â€" I should be pressured to be as good as I can be every day because there’s always someone else who wants to do it.

“I keep a diary at the end of each year and write about the good things that have happened during the year â€" I’m starting to sound like Adrian b****y Mole or something now aren’t I? But it’s just a bit of a thing I do.”

A self-confessed show-off, Greg was talent spotted as a young ster on student radio, and snapped up for his first BBC show at just 21.

He took over the drivetime slot in April, presents BBC3 series Britain Unzipped, and will host this weekend’s Hackney Weekend festival with co-star Fearne Cotton.

Over: Greg James and Ellie Goulding split up earlier this year

 

His relationship with singer Ellie Goulding, which broke up earlier this year, only served to enhance his profile.

But Greg jokes the romance failed to earn him an invite to Prince William’s marriage to Kate Middleton, where Ellie provided the entertainment. “I got snubbed for the royal wedding,” he grins.

“Ellie was playing at it, she was the wedding band, which has really got to be the ultimate gig, but unless I was playing the tambourine with the band she said I couldn’t come.

“She came home and I pounced on her shouting, ‘what was it like?’. And she said: ‘I chatted to William, he listens to your show’.

“I was like, ‘what, stop being so relaxed about this, tell me more!’, and apparently he listens to Radio 1 all the time â€" that was pretty cool to know. It’s the royal interview, that’s what I want.”

William and Kate may not have featured, but Greg’s radio show has boasted an impressive catalogue of gue sts.

Opening up about his best and worst experiences, Greg reveals: “Kate Winslet was my favourite ever, she was so up for anything and we re-enacted a bit of Titanic. I suggested we should do the steamy bit in the back of the car but she turned me down and we did the bit at the end instead, but she was great fun.

“It’s the American movie guests who are much more difficult â€" they don’t really get it, there’s nothing quite like it over there and sometimes you have to say to them ‘this is a big deal, don’t be grumpy’.

"For example, when Zac Efron came on, his management were really, really awful, they were making faces and telling me to stop asking him questions, that was very disappointing.

“I just try and make the guests feel welcome and not come over too much like a fan.

"The only one I can’t help getting bad with is Chris Martin, I think because I love him so much. I can’t even speak to him without going, ‘I love y ou, I love your hair...’ it’s a bit embarrassing.”

Titanic: Greg enjoyed interviewing Kate Winslet

 

Successful and good-looking, Greg hasn’t being short of offers since ­splitting with Ellie, but admits his new found celebrity has made meeting girls more difficult.

He says: “I’m doing a radio show for the listeners, not just to sleep with women â€" although I suppose it would be a wonderful by-product â€" but it’s not really in my nature.

"I’d never go to a gig with the aim to sleep with as many fans as possible, and I’d wake up depressed. My 15-year-old self would be very disappointed in myself.

“I’m trying to be known for doing my job well rather than being a k*** and stumbling out of clubs every night.”

Going to Radio 1's Hackney Weekend? Get set for a bonus appearance from Cheryl