Radio 1's Giant DJ Hunt - Greg James runs out of time to save Radio 1

Summary

Radio 1 went off air at 12pm on 21st July, after Greg James failed to find Mollie King in time for the DJ Hunt deadline
Greg found 29 DJs on the move this week - he was tasked with finding all 30 within 100 hours
Listen to Radio 1 live for a full debrief of what exactly just happened

Live Reporting

BBC Radio 1

Thanks for enjoying the silencepublished at 13:02 BST 21 July 2023
That was a ridiculous week, and prior to the big switch off we had an incredible few days of twists and turns.
Presenter doppelgangers hid on buses, three Radio 1 DJs did a set in Greggs, Rickie and Melvin hid at a Coldplay gig, and Greg James slowly but surely lost his mind as the interim boss of Radio 1.
Want to catch up on all of the best bits? Click here.
Image caption,
The best bits of Radio 1's Giant DJ Hunt - read now
When Radio 1 was down, even our Wikipedia changedpublished at 12:48 BST 21 July 2023
Image source, Wikipedia
Completed it matepublished at 12:38 BST 21 July 2023
Well, sort of.
Spot the DJ who hid vs. the DJ who really didn't want Radio 1 to go off airpublished at 12:28 BST 21 July 2023
Image caption,
Greg James and Mollie King after Radio 1 was switched off
Watch Greg's reaction to the switch-off.
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Silence has never been so stressfulpublished at 12:20 BST 21 July 2023
The panic in Charlie’s voice was unmatched.
Laura in Cardiff, via text
Mollie’s just broken the radio!
Anon, via text
How powerful that Radio 1 has everyone listening to silence in anticipation of what comes next? This is madness. Genius madness.
Ashleigh, via text
If you missed itpublished at 12:13 BST 21 July 2023
Here's the moment Radio 1 went off air
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Just to clarifypublished at 12:11 BST 21 July 2023
Mollie King put Radio 1 back on air after Greg found her and asked: "Are you a Radio 1 DJ?"
Between 12-12.05pm, Radio 1 was completely off air, playing total silence.
None of our presenters knew this was going to happen.
Mollie had been sailing just off the Isle of Wight, and Greg had to get a boat out to find her. Health and safety forms halted his progress, which led to him missing the DJ Hunt 12pm headline.
That was quite something.
"Charlie and Greg, I've been able to see you guys for so long. So close yet so far" says Mollie.
Greg is still spooked by the whole experience: "We are back on now... I think?"
Did that really just happen?published at 12:08 BST 21 July 2023
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We are BACKpublished at 12:05 BST 21 July 2023
Radio 1 was just off air for 5 minutes
5 whole minutes of actual silence.
Oh wowpublished at 12:01 BST 21 July 2023
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Greg has 2 minutes to get to Mollie's boatpublished at 11:58 BST 21 July 2023
Is he going to make it? It really feels like he might not?
Is this actually happening?
GREG HAS SIGNED THE FORMpublished at 11:56 BST 21 July 2023
The waiver has been signed. Greg is about to get moving to save the radio station.
Fire her up, let's go!
(Harold printed the form, by the way. The real hero.)
The last song to be played on Radio 1?published at 11:54 BST 21 July 2023
Charlie Hedges has to cue up a tune while Greg faffs around with the boat. He has... 420 seconds to find Mollie King.
"If this is the last tune we ever play on Radio 1, it’s been lovely knowing you all."
"Here’s The Saturdays and ‘All Fired Up’."
Poetry in motion.
Greg has to sign a waiver to get the boat movingpublished at 11:52 BST 21 July 2023
Greg James
Presenter, BBC Radio 1 and Chief DJ Hunter
Is this a genuine health and safety issue?
I am expendable! If you’ve noticed anything from Radio 1 in the last few years, they are trying to kill me anyway.
Greg is on a boat!published at 11:50 BST 21 July 2023
He’s had to do a health and safety briefing
Greg James
Presenter, BBC Radio 1 and Chief DJ Hunter
It would be classic BBC if health and safety gets in the way of Radio 1 staying on air.
Greg is now attempting to get on board a boatpublished at 11:48 BST 21 July 2023
This is happening
The flare set off (presumably by Mollie) is some distance away.
Greg has his swimmers, but he wouldn't get there in time.
He's now asking on the harbour if anyone has a boat he can access.
Just over 10 minutes to get out there and find Mollie King. Listen live, because we cannot update this page as quickly as the action's moving.
Twitter bringing the goods once againpublished at 11:46 BST 21 July 2023
You can follow all the action at #Radio1GiantDJHunt!
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Eeeeeeeek!
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Even the Official Charts are getting involved!
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RIP Long Boi
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It all comes back to cricket when Greg's around.
Greg is all of us right nowpublished at 11:45 BST 21 July 2023
Image caption,
Greg James' reaction to the flare
We have super lo-res visuals of the flarepublished at 11:44 BST 21 July 2023
It's real
Image caption,
A flare set off by Mollie?
It's just absolute chaospublished at 11:41 BST 21 July 2023
Matt Edmondson
Radio 1 DJ
Quote Message
GET IN THE SEA GREG!