THE RADIO-2 BIG-HITTERS STEPPING BACKING
STEVE WRIGHT

Steve Wright stated that he will stop hosting the daily afternoon program in July
Radio 2 radio listeners deplored that the BBC had replaced Steve Wright, the DJ of Radio 2, by Scott Mills. The BBC is trying to do something different.
Wright, wearing a purple shirt, red-striped tie, and suit jacket as he left Wogan house in July, Wright stated to reporters: “That’s how it goes… Sometimes people want you. Other times they don’t.”
“Sometimes, they are looking to change, so I offer you another deal. That’s fine, that’s what I get.
TONY BLACKBURN

Tony Blackburn is also taking a step back
Tony Blackburn criticized the BBC in June for their’strange decision’ to remove his Radio 2 program.
According to a social media post, the 79-year old DJ claimed that ageism was responsible for his decision.
Blackburn posted a scathing tweet about the decision, which was quickly shared by Twitter users. Radio 1’s former DJ received overwhelming support from the fans. One person commented that the BBC made “a lot of mistakes” by changing their scheduling.
CRAIG-CHARLES

Craig Charles was also forced to give up his Saturday evening slot during the ongoing BBC shakeup
Craig Charles’ Radio 2 Show on Saturday Night was cancelled as part of an overhaul of BBC Channel. It caused uproar amongst fans.
Since 2014, the star has hosted Craig Charles’ House Party every Saturday from 10pm until midnight.
Michelle Visage, Drag Race’s star, will join the station permanently with a Friday slot starting at 7-9pm.
VANESSA FELTZ

In July, Vanessa Feltz quit her early morning breakfast show after nearly 20 years on air
Vanessa Feltz also resigned from her breakfast program in July after almost 20 years.
Feltz said she had to step down ‘to catch up on a much-needed decade’s deficit of beauty sleep’ and use her ‘energy-boosting shut-eye’ to ‘frolic with her fiancé Ben Ofoedu ‘who irritatingly remains 10 years younger than me.’
As she broke down while announcing the news on her radio show, she said that she was going to ‘try to not cry’.
PAUL O’GRADY

Paul O’Grady had quit BBC Radio 2 after 14 years and had reached his last broadcast on August 14.
Paul O’Grady said he quit his 14-year stint on BBC Radio 2 saying he ‘wasn’t really happy’ as he was forced to share his slot with comedian Rob Beckett as he becomes the last star to leave the corporation.
After starting the program in 2009, the TV and radio host, now 67, hosted his final Sunday night slot from 5-7pm.
A shake-up saw him regularly swapping with Beckett, each for 13 weeks at a time.
He posted the following on Instagram: “The reason why I’m leaving because everyone’s asking me that is, was because I wasn’t really satisfied with the 13 week-on, 13 week off business.
“So, I did the honorable thing and honored my contract. I also gave my notice in, and I’m now off.
“Thanks so much for your support and all the best to Radio 2 and everyone else.
…AND THEIR REPLACEMENTS
SCOTT MILLS
Scott Mills will be retiring from the R1 afternoon slot to become radio legend Steve Wright’s host.
This comes just a year after Annie Mac, Future Sounds host and Nick Grimshaw, Radio 1’s breakfast presenter, was fired.
MICHELLE VISA

Michelle Visage is the permanent host of a Friday evening slot on Radio 2 from 7-9pm
Michelle Visage host a weekly Friday slot at 7-9pm on Radio 2
Drag Race judge. The judge was first in the public eye in 1980s America as Seduction’s girl group. In 2010, she became a RuPaul’s Drag Race judge.
Visage joked about being ‘a gay British woman’ before crossing the pond and arriving in the UK in 2019. She found new fans by taking part in Celebrity Big Brother UK on Channel 5 and staying in the house for 30 consecutive days.
She was a fan favorite four years later when she took to the Strictly stage in 2019 with Giovanni Pernice.
ANGELA GRIFFIN

Waterloo Road actress Angela Griffin hosts Radio 2 Unwinds
Angela Griffin, Waterloo Road’s actress, hosts Radio 2 Unwinds on Sunday nights (10pm-12am) for listeners. She takes them on a “mood-boosting music journey through genres and decades to help them relax, switch off and feel good.”
She stated that she was thrilled to receive her BBC Radio 2 show. As a fan of BBC Radio 2, I enjoyed presenting the series. This year, I am proud to present my first weekly program.
“I will bring two hours worth of chill out music that I have curated with the listeners to unwind before the week ahead.
DJ SOOONY

Radio 2’s DJ Spoony host a Friday Night slot, 9-11pm.
Radio 2’s DJ Spoony host a Friday Night slot, 9-11 p.m.
BBC describes the program as “Non-stop 2 happy hours of joyful floor fillers soulful house and melodic garage tunes that make you feel good!”
OTHERS WHO HAVE RECENTLY LEFT RADIO 2 AND BBC?
ANDREW MARC

Andrew Marr left the Corporation to host shows on Classic FM and LBC last winter.
Andrew Marr quit the Corporation last winter to front shows on LBC and Classic FM, and is thought to have significantly increased his pay of up to £339,999 in the move.
Marr’s brand new weekday show will be his debut on LBC’s roster, joining Nick Ferrari, James O’Brien and Eddie Mair.
JON SOPEL and EMILY MAITLIS

Jon Sopel, Emily Maitlis, and Andrew Marr followed them and got on board for LBC February 2012.
Jon Sopel and Emily Maitlis followed Andrew Marr, and they jumped ship to LBC in February of this year.
Broadcasting House was in chaos after the veteran journalists decided to move to Global, a Leicester Square-based company that also houses Nick Ferrari and Eddie Mair. Shelagh Folgarty, James O’Brien, and James O’Brien were all there.
Maitlis was the host of Newsnight. She has been subject to several impartiality complaints because she made on-air comments regarding the pandemic, Boris Johnson’s ex chief aide Dominic Cummings, and other topics.
DAN WALKER

Dan Walker, who had been with the BBC for a while, joined Channel 5 as an anchor and became part of its 5News team.
Dan Walker joined Channel 5 and was the lead anchor for its revamped 5News Team.
He walked away from his £295,000-295,999 a year role at the Beeb
BBC dismissed claims of top talent leaving the BBC because they were unable to find the right people.
GRAHAM NORTON

Graham Norton quit Radio 2 before Christmas 2020
Graham Norton left Radio 2 in 2020 but the immensely popular show’s talk program is broadcast live on BBC television.
At the time, he stated that it was a sad decision to step down from his Radio 2 show. It will be a great loss to me, the Wogan House family and the lives of my listeners.
SIMON MAYO

Simon Mayo left BBC Radio 2 for Scala Radio in 2019
Simon Mayo left BBC Radio 2 for Scala Radio in 2019.
He called the broadcaster “soul-destroying” for his ‘hoops it forces people to jump through in order to be granted a show. In addition, he said that the podcast he was running with two men wouldn’t have any chance today.