Greg James, the host of BBC Radio 1's Breakfast Show, revealed that his starting salary at the station when he was 21 was 80,000 pounds. The 39-year-old presenter has led the show for seven years, reaching about 4.1 million listeners on weekday mornings. He discusses his career and finances in his forthcoming memoir All the Best for the Future: Growing Up Without Growing Old.

At 21, he faced a choice between two jobs: a local radio role offering 18,000 pounds a year and a BBC position offering 80,000. He accepted the BBC role, presenting his first show as host of the Early Breakfast Show the day after graduating from the University of East Anglia in 2007. Now, he earns about 425,000 pounds a year as Breakfast Show host.

"I couldn't believe it — I had no idea of salaries then and they are lower now, but maybe there is ownership too," he told The Times. "If you're going to print my salary, I'm going to tell you my first salary." The Times interview corroborates his current earnings of about 425,000 pounds annually.

During the interview, James defended the BBC's approach to impartiality, saying that keeping personal opinions in check is essential for a national broadcaster. "I massively respect the BBC and its mission — you can't have 5,000 presenters spouting personal opinions all day," he said. "Yes, it's imperfect and will always be, but that's because the BBC is a bunch of humans running a huge corporation."

His forthcoming book, due Thursday 25 September, is described as a memoir-style non-fiction mixed with self-help and humorous anecdotes. It is pitched as encouraging adults to not grow up completely and to keep being silly, a stance that aligns with James's on-air persona. The book also reflects his public life and philosophy about balancing career and personal life.

Earlier this summer, James was named godfather to Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo's baby after winning Radio 1's Giant Face Off. In that challenge, Team Greg and Team Jamie deciphered clues across the country, from Barry to Derry to the Shetland Islands, ultimately finishing in Newcastle. Greg won 10 flags to Jamie's nine, securing the reward. Jamie Laing's forfeit was that, had he won, he would have named Greg the godfather of the couple's unborn child; since he lost, the designation stood as the prize.