Lauren Laverne announces departure from BBC 6 Music’s breakfast show
After six years, BBC 6 Music‘s Lauren Laverne has announced she will be leaving the breakfast show for the mid-morning shift.
Laverne helmed the 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. shift from 2009 until 2019 when she took over from Shaun Keaveny as breakfast presenter. However, after being diagnosed with cancer in the summer, Laverne temporarily stepped away from the station. She has now received the all-clear and will return to the new shift in February.
The broadcaster will replace Mary-Anne Hobbs, who will take a sabbatical before starting a new show in the spring.
The radio presenter said of her decision to leave the breakfast show: “As listeners will know, I had a really tough 2024 and worried at times that I wouldn’t be able to return to the station I love so much. It has been a huge honour (and so much fun) to host the Breakfast Show for six wonderful years, but it is time to pass the baton on, and to set my alarm a little later.”
Laverne continued: “During my recovery I learned all over again about the power of music, the people you surround yourself with and the emotional support and joy radio can provide. I’m so grateful to be able to get back to doing what I love and sharing those things with our brilliant listeners every day.”
While Laverne was away, former BBC Radio 1 breakfast presenter Nick Grimshaw sat in as her replacement and has now landed the gig on a full-time basis. It marks Grimshaw’s first permanent radio role since exiting BBC Radio 1 in 2021.
Grimshaw said of joining the station: “I’ve had the greatest four months covering for Lauren and I can’t wait to continue waking you up on 6 Music. I want to say thank you to the listeners who’ve made me feel so welcome over the past few months and to Lauren’s fantastic team who have been imperative in making me so happy on air. 6 Music is a precious place, a station I love, I’m honestly honoured to be asked to work there and can’t wait to continue supplying the best new music from the world’s most interesting artists.”
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