Nick Grimshaw's Radio 1 debut impresses critics

Nick Grimshaw's first day as host of BBC Radio One's breakfast show has won praise from the press, with critics hailing him as a "refreshing" change after eight years of Chris Moyles.

The Telegraph's Michael Hogan was impressed by Grimshaw's "youthful energy and enthusiasm for new music".

The Guardian's Elisabeth Mahoney said Grimshaw made a confident debut.

It was "a very promising, refreshing start that politely suggested the over-30s might like to re-tune", she wrote.

Mahoney described the show as "a likeable mix of music, self-deprecating chat, interviews... silly features and funny, often quite bitchy quips".

She added: "Some of the features ramble on a bit, but otherwise this was an assured, nicely under-stated debut that made you smile."

The Independent's Adam Sherwin noted Grimshaw's "pally pre-recorded chat with Justin Bieber", which he said "demonstrated 'Grimmy's' ease in the company of the teen idols whose audience demographic Radio 1 is targeting".

Sherwin was confident that Grimshaw's charm would be "well-placed to lure teenage listeners from commercial rivals" as Moyles' older listeners "shuffle off to Radio 2".

Moyles, who was Radio 1's longest-serving breakfast show DJ, attracted an audience of more than 7 million. Grimshaw, 28, from Oldham, previously presented a night-time music show.

The Telegraph's Michael Hogan agreed that his breakfast debut was "a promising start - and a clear break from what went before".

He wrote: "It was out with dad rock, cynicism and bloatedly self-indulgent banter; in with dance beats, youthful energy and enthusiasm for new music."

Hogan conceded that "ratings might fall but credibility will rise. It's definite progress and I daresay that in a few weeks' time, this show will be even better".

In The Mirror, Rachael Wheeler felt Grimshaw "was naturally a little nervous throughout the show, but keen to prove that he's going to be himself - and nothing like predecessor Chris Moyles."

She wrote that the programme "couldn't have been more different from Chris's long, ranty shows", and concluded that "Grimmy's first show was fast-paced, full of celebrity banter and, most importantly, fun".

David Smyth from London's Evening Standard was also a fan of the new Breakfast Show host.

"He was funny without the gags, endearingly self-deprecating. He preceded new items with: 'This might be rubbish' and instead of a cackling posse there was hip electronic music playing beneath everything he said."

But Smyth said the show was not without its flaws: "Interviews with Harry Styles of One Direction and Justin Bieber will have attracted Britain's schoolgirls but they were the most stilted moments of the show."