Greg James returns to station that changed his life

Max Gowers (right) reached out to Radio 1 presenter Greg James on Instagram inviting him to meet students

Students running a radio station said it was surreal to host alumni and BBC Radio 1 presenter Greg James for a visit.

James started out at Livewire 1350 at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in Norwich before he graduated with his drama degree in 2007.

Knowing James was on a trip to Norwich, deputy station manager Max Gowers reached out to the presenter.

They said: "I thought it probably won't happen but I'll shoot my shot and see what happens. I sent him a message and literally five minutes later he came back saying he would be up for it."

James was in the city on 4 October to promote his new book.

Media studies student Max, 21, added: "Greg has been my inspiration, one of the reasons I got into radio.

"It was really great in our interview with him to understand that Livewire means as much to him as it does to us... and how much he loved UEA."

Greg James said he owed the student radio station - that was set up 35 years ago - "everything"

Film and TV production student Nathan Winterford, 20, said: "To know we are following in his footsteps, it's quite scary and he's probably the biggest name in radio right now but also it's really humbling for him to come back.

"For all of us, it's an inspiration, we have seen how big he's become in radio and you kind of think that could be me."

James, who grew up in Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire, also co-hosts the BBC cricket podcast Tailenders and is a children's author.

He received an honorary doctorate from UEA in 2015.

Sharing news of the visit on his Instagram, James said: "I can't tell you how much I loved hanging out at my old student radio station with the Livewire lot yesterday.

"I owe that place basically everything. So great that it's still thriving. Slaying, actually."

The student station is due to play out an interview with James on its breakfast show on Monday.