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BBC Radio 1 confirms huge change for Greg James Breakfast show over summer 2026
The morning host is staying on air later this summer, and it's all down to a wedding.
Ricky Vigil M /Getty Images
- Lewis Knight
Published: Thursday, 9 July 2026 at 2:29 pm
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BBC Radio 1 listeners will get an extra dose of Greg James this summer!
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The station has confirmed that its popular Breakfast host will stay on air until 11am on weekdays from Monday 20 July 2026.
In an announcement published today (9 July 2026), the BBC said that Radio 1 Breakfast with Greg James will be extended to 11am, Monday to Thursday, throughout the summer, giving listeners an extra 30 minutes of the show before the standard schedule returns in September.
James offered a cheeky explanation for the change, referencing his trip to New York to attend the high-profile wedding of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.
The pop sensation married the American NFL star on Friday 3 July at Madison Square Garden, attended by James and his wife, author Bella Mackie.
He said: "I took some last-minute days off for a destination wedding I had to go to and I need to make the time up to be honest, so it feels like 30 mins a day over the summer is a good plan."
Greg James. Dave J Hogan/Getty Images
The move follows a busy period for the presenter, who recently reflected on his future at Radio 1 and his growing portfolio of work across radio, podcasts and television.
He told Radio Times: "I feel incredibly lucky to still be on Radio 1, it’s a real privilege to be there so I don’t want to go too soon. It takes a long time to get to the breakfast show, so I want to make sure that when I leave, it’s the exact right time."
Meanwhile, BBC Radio 1 has framed the summer changes as a response to shifting listener habits during the school holidays.
Aled Haydn Jones, head of BBC Radio 1, said: "We know our younger listeners' routines change over the summer, so it only makes sense that we'd adjust things too. I'm delighted that Greg will be bringing listeners an extra 30 minutes of Breakfast throughout the summer."
The extension has a knock-on effect across the rest of the daytime schedule. Rickie Haywood-Williams, Melvin Odoom and Charlie Hedges will now start at 11am, continuing to bring listeners entertainment, music and Live Lounge performances across the summer.
Greg attended the wedding of Travis Kelce (left) and Taylor Swift (right). Getty Images
On Fridays, Nat O'Leary and Vicky Hawkesworth will present Radio 1 Anthems from 10am to 11am, playing pop hits from the 2000s, '10s and '20s.
From Monday 7 September, the normal Radio 1 schedule resumes, with Radio 1 Breakfast with Greg James returning to his slot from 7am to 10:30am.
The autumn also sees the station welcome fresh faces to its presenting line-up.
The schedule shift comes as Radio 1 gears up for a busy festival summer, with the station broadcasting live from Ibiza, Malta and Reading and Leeds, following earlier coverage from Radio 1's Big Weekend, Download, TRNSMT and Parklife.
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Radio 1 Breakfast with Greg James airs on BBC Radio 1, with the extended edition running 7am to 11am, Monday to Thursday, from Monday 20 July 2026. You can listen live on BBC Sounds.
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Authors
Lewis KnightNews and Trends Editor
Lewis is the news and trends editor at Radio Times and leads our approach to news, reactive content, and serving audience demands and interests. An obsessive fan of television and film, Lewis is a Nicole Kidman fanatic with a side of passion for science-fiction, art-house cinema and the latest HBO drama. Lewis has a degree in Psychology and a Masters in Film Studies. After working in advertising, Lewis worked at The Mirror for three years in community management and SEO, showbiz, film and television reporting.
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