Long-time radio DJ Gary Davies has said he’s ‘open to discussions’ when it comes to the possibility of replacing Ken Bruce in Radio 2’s mid-morning slot.
The disc jockey, 65, made a sudden exit from BBC Radio 1 in 1993 when station bosses rushed to embrace Britpop and make way for the likes of Chris Evans, 56, to host its programmes.
Gary first joined Radio 1 in 1984 when he fronted lunchtime show The Bit in the Middle but, after his departure from the channel, he moved to Virgin Radio in 1994 where he remained until 2000.
While he now hosts Radi during a year in which they ripped up their schedule and older stars including Ken, Steve and Paul were shipped out for younger DJs such as Scott Mills.
The station has as commercial rivals playing more music from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s saw their audiences grow by up to a third.
So-called ‘Radio 2 refugees’ have abandoned the station for Boom Radio – a station aimed at baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964 – and Greatest Hits Radio, the new home of Ken Bruce, who will take his beloved PopMaster quiz with him in March.
Radio 2 is still the UK’s most popular station, but its overall weekly audience has fallen by 580,000 to 14.29million.
History: The disc jockey made a sudden exit from BBC Radio 1 in 1993 when station bosses rushed to embrace Britpop (pictured in 1984)
Breakfast show host Zoe Ball has seen a drop in listeners, while Ken’s listenership is also down – although his show is still the most listened to on the station with 8.2million, according to the radio audience research group Rajar.
Radio 2’s breakfast show, presented by Zoe Ball, was down 359,000 in the last quarter of 2022 compared with the same period in 2021.However, it is still the most listened to breakfast radio programme, with a weekly audience of 7.1million.
A BBC spokesman said: ‘Radio 2 continues to be the UK’s most popular radio station, and we’re hugely proud that Zoe Ball remains the most listened to Breakfast Show in the country.’
It came as Steve Wright, 68, was replaced in the afternoon slot gacor after 23 years by Radio 1‘s Scott Mills, 49.
All change: Radio 2 has seen a drop of 580,000 weekly listeners as BBC bosses revamp the schedule with new younger DJs replacing older stalwarts such as Ken Bruce (pictured in 2019)
Paul O’Grady, 67, who was at Radio 2 for 14 years, quit his show months after he was forced to share the time slot with comedian Rob Beckett, 37, while Ken Bruce, 71, last month announced his departure after 31 years on the UK’s most popular radio programme.
He is moving to Greatest Hits Radio which boosted its audience by nearly a third in the last year to 4.3million a week.
Ken was said to be pondering staying before deciding to jump ship to a commercial rival.
One insider said: ‘Ken is still hugely ambitious and the BBC actually offered him a new deal.But after some months of negotiations, he decided the time was right for new opportunities.’
The source told : ‘The music has become edgier and more modern and the DJs seemingly ever-younger, which is a bit concerning for the old guard.’
Rylan Clark and Gary Davies are being touted as his replacement on the mid-morning show he has run since 1986 aside from a short gap between 1990 and 1992.
Radio 2 is trying to modernise – playing less music from before the 1990s and bringing in younger DJs, including from Radio 1.
Ken is expected to obtain a significant pay increase from his BBC salary of nearly £400,000 by moving to the station owned by media giant Bauer.Bruce’s current 9.30am to 12 noon programme, including the daily PopMaster quiz, is the most popular show on British radio with more than 8.5million listeners a week.
Numbers: Radio 2’s breakfast show, presented by Zoe Ball, was down 359,000 in the last quarter of 2022 compared with the same period in 2021 (pictured in 2018)
has thrown down a challenge to fight in December if the versus Joshua bout does not take place.
The hugely anticipated match-up between Fury and Joshua continues to frustrate fans, with the on and off again fight still not finalised between the two camps and broadcasters for the mooted December 3 date.
With the fight up in the air, Joyce has taken to to thrown his hat in the ring and challenge Joshua if an agreement can’t be reached to fight Fury later this year.
Joe Joyce wants to face Anthony Joshua if a deal can’t be agreed with Tyson Fury in December
Joyce took to Twitter to lay his challenge down earmarking a clash with Joshua for 17 December after saying it would too tight to face Fury earlier in the month
Joyce, who became the first boxer to stop Joseph Parker when he knocked the New Zealand fighter our last weekend posted a message on his social media platform, calling out 32-year-old Joshua.
Stating that while December 3 would be ‘tight for me’ for a match with Fury, he laid down the gauntlet for a dust-up with Joshua later in the month.
He wrote ‘If Fury and AJ aren’t fighting then I’ll step in. December 3rd is tight for me @Tyson_Fury, but @EddieHearn you can give your new best mate @frankwarren_tv a call and I’ll take the 17th slot with AJ.Easy fight to make!’
Negotiations are on going but it’s looking unlikely that Joshua will face Tyson Fury this year
Tyson’s next fight could now be against Andy Ruiz Jr after he expressed an interest in a bout
If Joshua accepted the challenge of Joyce, ruling out a meeting with Fury for info situs gacor good, then the Gypsy King could turn his attention to Andy Ruiz Jr to fill the December 3 gap.
Tyson’s father Fury recently name-checked Ruiz alongside Filip Hrgovic and Luis Ortiz as possible alternatives as he considered the possibility of his son fighting Joshua ‘doubtful’.
The American was last in action on September 4, when he beat Ortiz and took to social media to declare his interest in a possible meeting with Tyson Fury.
has revealed he quit his 14-year stint on Radio 2 because he ‘wasn’t happy’ being forced to share his slot with Rob Beckett.
The presenter hosted his last Sunday evening 5-7pm show yesterday after a shake-up at the station saw him forced to split his time on air with the comedian.
The 67-year-old has become the latest big name star to leave the corporation, with his departure coming just weeks after Steve Wright announced he was stepping down.
In a video on Instagram, he said: ‘The reason I’m leaving, because everybody’s asked me this, is because I wasn’t really happy with the 13 weeks on, 13 weeks off business.
‘So I did the honourable thing, I honoured my contract, gave my notice in and now I’m off.
‘Thanks very much and good luck to everyone on Radio 2 and long may it continue.’
During his 546th show, which he began hosting in 2009, the presenter paid tribute to his long-time producer and signed off with his catchphrase: ‘Ta-Ra’.
Last week, experts claimed that BBC bosses are axing older DJs for likes of Scott Mills, DJ Spoony and RuPaul’s Michelle Visage who will play hits from the 90s instead of the 60s in a bid to attract younger female listeners.
Paul O’Grady (pictured while speaking on Instagram) 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
The TV and radio presenter, 67, hosted his last Sunday evening 5-7pm slot yesterday after he began presenting the show in 2009
Mr O’Grady who also thanked fans on social media and his producer Malcolm Prince, said: situs gacor ‘I’ve been really lucky in my time to have worked with some smashing producers and Malcolm is way up there believe you me.’
His last track was Friends by Bette Midler as he said goodbye to his last Radio 2 show on Sunday.
Speaking on Radio 2, he said: ‘This is the last Sunday Paul O’Grady show here on Radio 2 ever.It’s hard to say this, Malcolm, because it’s been almost 14 years hasn’t it.
‘Do you know this is one of the longest jobs I’ve ever held down. I only came to do a few hours for Elaine Paige and look what happened.
‘Anyway, I always used to say I was running from the building and there was a great big bubble that would catch me on Oxford Street and bring me back like the prisoner, but it’s not today and I can run free.’
He added: ‘From all of us here, from me and from Malcolm and everybody, thank you for tuning in these past 546 programmes.So you look after yourselves, stay safe and well. Ta-ra everyone.’
A BBC spokesperson told the MailOnline: ‘We respect Paul’s decision to leave Radio 2 and wish him the best of luck in the future.’
Furious fans accused the corporation of ageism after O’Grady announced he was quitting last week.
The BBC confirmed Rob Beckett (pictured on the Jonathan Ross Show) will return for at least another 13 weeks of shows on Radio 2 from Sunday, August 21
Radio 2 fans have accused the BBC of ageism after Paul O’Grady quit the station today.He is the latest in a string of older DJs to step back, including Steve Wright, Graham Norton and Simon Mayo. The ‘changing of the guard’ brings with it younger talent, including ex-Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills, RuPaul’s Michelle Visage, Waterloo Road’s Angela Griffin, and DJ Spoony
Paul O’Grady and Steve Wright have both quit their Radio 2 shows in recent weeks
The TV and radio presenter, 67, has hosted the Sunday evening 5-7pm slot on Radio 2 since 2009
PR experts have suggested that the reshuffle is all part of an attempt by bosses to effectively rebrand the station by replacing the ‘old guard’ – which includes Tony Blackburn and Craig Charles – with younger talent such as former Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills, 48.
They pointed out that the BBC was giving celebrities who might appeal to the so-called ‘Instagram generation’, such as Visage, 53, Waterloo Road actress Angela Griffin, 46, and DJ Spoony, 52, a shot at running popular slots on Friday and Saturday nights.
But they warned that the shake-up could ‘alienate’ older listeners and push them towards Radio 2’s competitors, such as Smooth, Heart and Gold, which are all owned by Global.
BBC insiders previously claimed that the corporation has been specifically targeting women between the ages of 35 and 45 as a key demographic, having previously given them the title ‘mood mums’.They claimed Radio 2 was trying to get DJs to play fewer songs from the 1960s and 70s in a bid to attract a younger audience.
Vanessa Feltz has become the latest start to abandon the BBC, Pictured: Announcing the news to her listeners last month
PR expert Rochelle White told MailOnline: ‘There will be a bit of a backlash to these changes.No one really copes well with change, do they?
‘I think this is all about getting rid of the old blood and bringing in the new. It looks like this is an attempt to tap into the Millennials and Gen Z, and get them on board, and they might be trying to do that by giving personalities who are popular on social media better slots.
‘There’s also Michelle Visage from RuPaul – maybe that’s just the BBC swapping out one model for a newer one.
‘I also wonder how much of this is about the licence fee and the row that the BBC has had with the Government recently.Plus the BBC’s had bad press over impartiality and so on.
‘Perhaps they’re tying to get young people on the hook to show them why they should stick with the BBC, and then turn around to the Government and say: ”See, we’re popular and we provide value for the licence fee.There’s no need to change it”. Maybe there’s some of that going on too.’
Vanessa Feltz, 60, also stepped back from her shows on Radio 2 and BBC Radio London after almost 20 years at the helm.
The 60-year-old presenter, whose salary of more than £400,000 makes her the BBC’s eighth-highest earner, has quit her early morning breakfast show after nearly 20 years on air.
Ms Feltz (left) 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 (right) who ‘irritatingly remains 10 years younger than me’
Ms 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.’
In the past three years, BBC Radio has also lost big-hitters Graham Norton, who quit the station just before Christmas in 2020 but whose talk show is broadcast on BBC One, and Simon Mayo.
The shake-up has provoked a backlash, with one furious listener tweeting: ‘Steve Wright, Tony Blackburn, Craig Charles and now Paul O’Grady all shafted.What is wrong with the muppets that control Radio 2? Smacks of ageism somewhat’.
Another said: ‘What is the management doing to Radio 2? First Simon Mayo, then Graham Norton, Steve Wright, Paul O’Grady. Who next, Ken Bruce?Liza Tarbuck? We’re losing the best. I don’t want a 90s obsessed Radio 2 full of ex R1 DJs’.
A third added: ‘Another DJ quits… I rarely ever listen now, as it’s become too woke. Seems that @BBCRadio2 is really falling apart and going down the pan! The BBC is certainly not what it used to be!’.
A BBC spokesperson previously said: ‘It was Paul’s decision to leave his Sunday afternoon show on Radio 2.Radio 2 remains committed to its multi-generational appeal that serves a 35+ audience, a target which hasn’t changed in decades, and we’re thrilled over 14.5 million listeners are tuning in each week to our brilliant range of programmes, hosted by some of the UK’s best loved presenters.
‘As listeners know, we continue to play a wide variety of the best music from the past seven decades, including from the 60s and 70s.’
The BBC confirmed Beckett will return for at least another 13 weeks of shows from Sunday August 21.
<div class="art-ins mol-factbox news" data-version="2" id="mol-4feeed90-1c60-11ed-8199-fb62e302852c" website O'Grady quit BBC Radio 2 as he 'really wasn't happy'
chief executive Gillon McLachlan has suggested the Grand Final could be moved to a twilight slot this year due to increasing demand from the fans.
The star time of the AFL Grand Final has long been a hot topic of debate and with the exception of the affected 2020 and 2021 seasons the decider has remained in its traditional 2.30pm slot.
But that could be about to change amid a growing push for a later start time from sections of the fans and declining TV audience for last year’s Grand Final.
‘As someone who is a traditionalist […] I have noticed just out there that people are a bit more receptive to having a look at something else,’ McLachlan said on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Tuesday.
‘I’ve taken it, this job, seriously.This is their [the fans’] game.
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has hinted the Grand Final could move to a twilight slot this year
The AFL decider was back in his traditional 2:30pm slot last year, but viewing figures for situs gacor the clash between Geelong and Sydney declined sharply
‘Sometimes you have to make change you don’t want and sometimes it’s just as easy to listen.
‘I have noticed that [twilight] view becoming more prevalent in recent times.There is always consideration [over the start time] otherwise why else would you review it?’
OzTam ratings released last year showed that 2.179 million people watched Geelong thrash across the five-city metropolitan audience.
.
Just over three million viewers tuned in 2021 when the clash between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs kicked off at 7.15pm AEST.
An average of 2.979 million viewers watched the 2020 premiership decider between Richmond and Geelong, which began at 6.30pm AEST.
Significantly, because of Covid-19 restrictions, both matches were held away from the Grand Final’s traditional home at the MCG.
The 2020 decider was held at the Gabba, while the 2021 Grand Final was held at Optus Stadium.
Prior to the 2022 Grand Final, the , starting at 4.30pm AEST but ultimately decided against it.
McLachlan said the decision to keep the AFL decider in its traditional slot was due to the desire to ‘return to the footy rituals and routines’ after two years of Covid-19 disruptions.
‘That return-to-rituals principle underpinned our decision making in ratifying a traditional start time – the prestige, nostalgia and atmosphere of the day Grand Final is something we all know and love,’ he said.
The 2020 Grand Final, which was held in Brisbane because of Covid-19 restriction and began at 6:30pm AEST, was watched by an average of 2.979 million viewers
In 2021, Covid-19 restrictions meant the AFL season decider was held at Optus Stadium in Perth and began at 7:15pm AEST drawing an average viewership of over three millions
Speaking after the TV ratings were released last year, Channel 7 boss James Warburton admitted he had been pushing for a later start to the game.
However, he also acknowledged the broadcaster would always defer to the AFL when it comes to make a decision.
‘The numbers and comparisons are clear for all to see to support a prime time AFL Grand Final,’
‘It’s a national game and a twilight or prime-time bounce will maximise the audience for the code.’
Veteran television presenter Peter Purves today blasted Question of Sport as ‘unwatchable’ after the replaced its host Sue Barker with , saying the change was a ‘great shame’.
Former Blue Peter host Purves, refferal gacor 83 – who was himself dropped from ‘s coverage of Crufts in 2019 after 41 years – has lamented the exit of Barker, 66, and arrival of McGuiness, 48, on the BBC quiz show.
Purves also told ITV’s today that it was a ‘terrible decision’ by the BBC last week to axe the Radio 2 afternoon show fronted by Steve Wright, 67, who will be replaced by Radio 1’s Scott Mills, 49.
The BBC announced in September 2020 that former professional tennis player Barker would be leaving Question of Sport after 24 years, with team captains Matt Dawson, 49, and Phil Tufnell, 56, also departing.
Barker took over as presenter in 1997 from David Coleman – who died aged 87 in 2013 – but she was replaced in July 2021 by Top Gear presenter McGuinness, along with new team captains Sam Quek, 33, and Ugo Monye, 39.
Veteran television presenter Peter Purves speaks out about ‘ageism’ at the BBC while being interviewed on ITV this morning
Paddy McGuinness (centre) took over on Question of Sport last year with new team captains Sam Quek (left) and Ugo Monye
McGuinness had appeared as a panellist on a number of occasions before taking over as Question of Sport host last year
Sue Barker on Centre Court during day seven of the Wimbledon Championships in South West London yesterday
Sue Barker left Question of Sport after 24 years, with team captains Matt Dawson (left) and Phil Tufnell (right) also departing
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And Purves said today: ‘Often changes made for a reason doesn’t seem to work. You’ve got to look at the lovely Sue Barker, she has been wonderful on the tennis and she apparently has said that she is standing down so we won’t be seeing her there.But it happened when she left Question of Sport – look what happened there.
‘I mean I find the programme unwatchable now, and I think it’s a great shame. People get used to a certain thing and they like the style, and because people get older I don’t think they should just be dropped like that – maybe it should be their own decision.’
<div class="art-ins mol-factbox news halfRHS" data-version="2" id="mol-17f9c720-fb9f-11ec-8a82-497f854d293c" website Purves: Question of Sport is 'unwatchable' after Sue Barker left
Matt Doherty, the and defender, says the demands of the have left him ‘cold and emotionless’.
Doherty, who has struggled to nail down a regular Spurs starting place under , revealed how constant fear of failure playing at the highest level has taken its toll.
‘Being a footballer every day, I think, has made me cold in certain aspects,’ Doherty, who was quoted in the Irish Independent, said.
Tottenham defender Matt Doherty has revealed he has struggled with demands of the league
Doherty will be hoping to make just his fourth start of the season when Spurs host Newcastle
‘In family life, I’m just emotionless at times.In football, refferal gacor you have to stay so level that I take that across into family life at times. That’s not really a great thing. You know when you’re having bad times in the Premier League and the scrutiny is high, you literally don’t want to go out. You are just miserable.’
Doherty, 30, will be hoping to make just his fourth start of the season when Spurs host Newcastle on Sunday as he tries to prove to Conte that he can shine at right wing-back.‘As a defender who loves to attack I guess it’s perfect,’ he said. ‘You have to be able to contribute offensively and you play with more courage.’
Meanwhile, defender Clement Lenglet, on loan from Barcelona, believes Harry Kane has the same unbreakable bond with Tottenham as Lionel Messi has had with the Catalan giants.
‘Messi is always a Barca player,’ said Lenglet.‘When you stay a long time in the same place and you achieve so many things it means you become a part of this club. Your face is connected to the club.
‘For Harry it’s the same. It’s difficult to think of Harry in another country or playing for another team.Tottenham is a big club, Harry is a big players and Harry is a big part of Tottenham.’
Clement Lenglet says Harry Kane (above) has the same unbreakable bond with Tottenham as Lionel Messi has had with Barcelona
