Jamie Laing has found himself in the focus of a social media maelstrom following a significant career change.
The Made in Chelsea alum has been named Jordan North‘s replacement on BBC Radio 1’s drivetime programme, which he co-hosts with Vick Hope after succeeding Nick Grimshaw.
Jordan worked at the station for ten years and previously described it as ‘the finest job in the world’.
So, when his retirement was revealed via a fairly sudden social media message, long-time fans were left perplexed.
Then, when reality sensation and podcaster Jamie was announced as Jordan’s replacement, the internet reacted.
Jamie’s new role was shared via the BBC Radio 1 X page, with a post alongside his photo reading: ‘Jamie Laing will join Vick Hope to co-host Going Home on Radio 1 (15:30 – 18:00, Monday to Thursday), starting on Monday 4 March.’
i like jamie laing so no personal shade, but anyone else just completely despondent about the state of creative fields now? radio (like podcasting and interviewing and documentary making) is a trained skill but everyone is being overlooked for a reality star with a good agent https://t.co/SXdzIg3AUJ
— lucy ford
(@lucyj_ford) February 16, 2024
(@lucyj_ford) Jamie Laing replacing Jordan North is the biggest downgrade since Tesco substituted the chocolate I'd ordered for cucumber.
— Brekkie (@Brekkietweets) February 16, 2024
did i just have a bit of a cry bc of the constant crushing pressure of capitalism or bc jordan north is being replaced by jamie laing on radio 1
— maya
(@mayajo_) This is in no offense to Jamie Laing, but the ever-increasing pattern of reality stars getting creative jobs which professionals have trained for years to be good at is quite grim. Are talent and dedication wholly irrelevant now? https://t.co/lm8m3mc5nL
— Hannah McDonald (@_HannahMcD) February 16, 2024
I like Jamie Laing but Jordan North leaving Radio 1 is heart breaking. He is literally my fave wtf
— Hannah.
(@Hannaah_ox) https://twitter.com/jesg212/status/1758466541820015102
‘Huge congratulations’, the team added.
Reacting to the news, social media users admitted to feeling ‘despondent’ at the broadcasting landscape in 2024.
Others branded it a ‘rouge choice’.
X user lucyj_ford wrote: ‘i like jamie laing so no personal shade, but anyone else just completely despondent about the state of creative fields now? radio (like podcasting and interviewing and documentary making) is a trained skill but everyone is being overlooked for a reality star with a good agent’.
‘Can’t claim to be the biggest Jordan North fan but it seems wild to replace him with Jamie Laing? From a working class Northerner who’s worked his way up to a Nepo Posho who would go to the opening of a crisp packet? Rogue choice’, jesg212 wrote.
‘the issue is not Jamie Laing but what this move illustrates to so many people trying to get into the media — it’s increasingly hard to get a media job unless you have an existing public profile that promises a new audience’, argued thediyora.
‘This is in no offense to Jamie Laing, but the ever-increasing pattern of reality stars getting creative jobs which professionals have trained for years to be good at is quite grim. Are talent and dedication wholly irrelevant now?’, _HannahMcD wrote.
However, others defended Jamie’s hiring.
X user talia: ‘Amazed to see people, including those who worked at the same radio group, shade Jamie Laing’s new job for clout. Jamie first did a demo on professional radio over 10 years ago for me on heat radio, was fantastic & great to work with, we hired him and he’s gone from there’.
‘He put the work in and has become a fantastic broadcaster. You don’t need to be mean about everyone for the sake of it Brits’, she added.
Jamie shared news of his hiring himself on Instagram, writing: ‘Well this is big news…. 
‘@bbcradio1 have for some reason trusted me to co-host the Drive Time slot with @vicknhope. This is a very proud moment!! Don’t really know what to say apart from, thank you and mum I’ve made it…. What possibly could go wrong 
’
He was congratulated in the comments by the likes of Zoe Sugg and fellow Made in Chelsea star Sam Thompson, who wrote: ‘Just the beginning my man!! 
’
View this post on Instagram
‘Maaaaaaate!! You’re going to be SO GOOD. Cannae wait to listen!’, wrote Will Best.
Dianne Buswell said: ‘go on jaime
‘Jamieeeeeee so happy for you friend congratulations 
’, penned Oti Mabuse.
Source My Celebrity Life.
