BBC Radio 1’s Giant Detention gets underway with Greg James

The latest station promotion on BBC Radio 1 got underway this morning as Greg James was placed in a makeshift studio/classroom.

In the week most kids go back to school after the summer holidays, Greg is also joining them in the station’s game.

Last week, Greg posted a letter from Radio 1 management to him and other DJs which welcomed them to a new term beginning today, stating “attendance is compulsory, truancy will be punished”. He was placed in the special classroom last night, to be ready for today’s show.

This morning as Greg presented his show from the classroom and there was a livestream on social media, he told listeners he had no idea what was going to happen.

The first classmate to join Greg in the classroom just before 8am, was Jamie Laing who also said he had no idea what was going on!

After 8am, Greg and Jamie talked about what might happen such as, would they have to take exams like being in school? There was also a message which said that the actions of classmates could have repercussions.

Greg said he’d noticed the Radio 1 schedule said something would be happening at 9am. Then Danni Diston was next to arrive dressed in school uniform saying she wanted to be Head Girl.

Jamie and Danni were told to go to the class whiteboard – a TV screen which revealed that they have been locked in Radio 1’s Giant Detention and the way to get out is to find the code from clues to unlock all doors and put it on the screen.

At 9am the first clue arrived by text from station boss, Aled Haydn Jones – his birthday, but when they put the date in as the code, it was wrong.

The Radio 1 Giant Detention is now underway!


Radiodays Europe is happening in March 2025 - use code RTY25ATH to get a discount and join us in Athens! More..

Register for free radio emails

* indicates required
Choose which emails you'd like:

Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.

Similar Stories