Hodder & Stoughton pre-empts broadcaster Nick Grimshaw’s non-fiction debut

Hodder & Stoughton has pre-empted radio and TV broadcaster Nick Grimshaw’s non-fiction debut Soft Lad, for publication on 27th October 2022. 

Lauren Whelan, associate publisher, pre-empted world rights from Caroline Ridley at Money Management following a direct approach. A skit, filmed at Waterstones Piccadilly and featuring booksellers and customers, kicked off the campaign as he announced the book on 20th March to his Instagram followers.

In Soft Lad, Grimshaw, who departed from BBC Radio One last year after 14 years, will share “life experiences, learnings and passions, covering his love of music, his move from Oldham to London, self-care, partying, coming out, growing up, Red Nose Day, dogs, family and friends”.

The publisher said: "These are Grimmy’s stories of things gone right and wrong across his life and career so far, with all the high and lows and everything in between. Nostalgic and heartfelt, it will shine a humorous and captivating lens on the ever-evolving cultural obsessions we live by.”

Whelan commented: “Nick has navigated the writing and vision for his debut book with the utmost care, dedication, creativity and attention to detail. I know I speak for all of us at Hodder in saying that it is an absolute pleasure to work with him and be part of his journey as a first-time author. The pages of Soft Lad are going to be full of that same infectious energy, conversation, humour and warmth that we all know and love him for – it’s going to go down a storm with his fans and we can’t wait.”

Grimshaw added: “Writing this book has been quite the journey. One of self discovery and self loathing. I’ve laughed a lot, I’ve cried a lot too and hopefully you will do the same. Please buy it and read it otherwise it’s been a massive waste of time.”