Lauren Laverne quits BBC6 show after 6 years following cancer diagnosis-Kitty Chrisp-Entertainment – Metro

Lauren Laverne will be leaving her breakfast show, with her replacement confirmed as Nick Grimshaw (Picture: BBC PICTURE ARCHIVES)

Lauren Laverne will be stepping down from hosting the BBC Radio 6 Music Breakfast Show after six years of presenting the programme, it has been announced.

Former BBC Radio 1 presenter Nick Grimshaw will take over presenting the slot in February, when Laverne will return to mid-mornings, presenting a new weekday programme.

This comes after Lauren, 46, took time away from her breakfast show for cancer treatment.

Announcing the news of her departure, she said: ‘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.

‘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.

Lauren is a much-loved radio presenter, well-known for her Desert Island Discs gig (Picture: BBC/Dean Chalkley)

Nick Grimshaw will be replacing Lauren on her breakfast show (Picture: Getty Images for The Business of)

‘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.’

In August last year Laverne announced she had been diagnosed with cancer, without giving any more specifics.

The Desert Island Disc host said in an Instagram post at the time she expected to make a ‘full recovery’ after announcing her cancer was ‘caught early and unexpectedly during a screening test’.

‘Right then, some personal news… I recently had a cancer diagnosis. It was (thank God) caught early and unexpectedly during a screening test and I am expected to make a full recovery,’ she wrote in a post on Instagram.

‘I’m in hospital at the moment and wanted to take this moment to say thank you: Firstly to the medical teams who have got me this far with incredible skill and kindness.

‘To my family and friends who have been absolutely extraordinary every step of the way – I am so very grateful and love you so much.

‘And of course thank you to my colleagues – including those at @itg_ltd, @bbc6music, @bbctheoneshow and #DesertIslandDiscs for their support – and for giving me the time off that I need to get better.’

She also urged her listeners to also get checked out when symptoms appear.

Following her diagnosis, Lauren’s close friend Myleene Klass broke down in tears on Loose Women while praising her bravery.

Lauren has enjoyed a long career in the entertainment industry, having been the host of Desert Island Discs since 2018 when she took over from Kirsty Young.

The role has seen her interview the likes of Cillian Murphy, Steven Spielberg, Kate Moss and John Legend.

She began presenting the BBC6 Music breakfast show in 2019, and had resumed her broadcasting roles following ‘successful’ treatment, having returned to The One Show and Desert Island Discs in November.

Announcing her return to work on November 24, Lauren said she’d had the ‘all clear’ and thanked everyone for the support.

‘It’s been a difficult time but one that has taught me so much about what really matters,’ she said.

‘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, and feel 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.’

The presenter lives in Muswell Hill, London, with her husband, fellow DJ and television producer Graeme Fisher. The pair tied the knot in 2005 and have two teenage children.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

Entertainment – MetroRead More