Paul O'Grady Quits BBC Radio 2 permanently.

[duncanp]

The title says it all.

I find this really sad news, as Paul's show was one of the few on Radio 2 that I still enjoyed.

Radio 2 really has gone right down the toilet in recent years, and I would like to shake the producer responsible for the change to Paul's show warmly by the throat.

Ken Bruce during the week, and Tony Blackburn at weekends, are the only shows I listen to regularly now.

The late, great and very much missed Sir Terry Wogan must be turning in his grave.

Paul O'Grady quits BBC Radio 2 after he was forced to share slot with comedian 30 years his junior

The 67-year-old hosted the Sunday afternoon programme for almost 13 years before a change saw him regularly swapping with comic Rob Beckett

www.telegraph.co.uk

Paul O'Grady quits BBC Radio 2 after he was forced to share slot with comedian 30 years his junior​

The 67-year-old hosted the Sunday afternoon programme for almost 13 years before a change saw him regularly swapping with comic Rob Beckett

Paul O'Grady is quitting his BBC Radio 2 show following a shake-up which saw him share the slot with another presenter.
The 67-year-old hosted the Sunday afternoon programme for almost 13 years before a change saw him regularly swapping with comic Rob Beckett.
The duo have been hosting their shows alternately, each for 13 weeks at a time.
Mr O'Grady's last show will be on Sunday August 14, when his current cycle ends.
He said: "I've loved doing my Sunday afternoon show for the last 14 years and I'm going to miss my listeners, as well as the fun I've had with my producer Malcolm Prince, but I feel that now is the right time to go."

Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, added: "I'd like to thank Paul for so many years of his brilliant Sunday afternoon show.

"I'm sorry to see him go, but I wish Paul the very best of luck for the future and hope to work with him again as the door is always open to him here at Radio 2."


In February, after the schedule change prompted an unhappy response from listeners, the BBC said plans "evolve over time".

"Paul is much-loved by many of our listeners, and whilst we're making this change to Sunday afternoons, he very much remains a firm favourite here in Wogan House," it said.

The presenter, also known by his drag queen persona Lily Savage, told his Instagram followers the arrangement with Mr Beckett was "nothing to do with me".

Mr O'Grady launched his weekly show in the Sunday time slot in 2009.

His final show will feature his regular features, including Lost TV Theme, the Thank You Letter Of The Week and an unexpected playlist.

The BBC confirmed Mr Beckett will return for at least another 13 weeks of shows from Sunday August 21.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Mixed views.

I sometimes listen to Paul O'Grady because he comes on after Sounds of the Seventies. His alternative gets me straight of the chair to change channel or turn off.

I don't think it's just Radio Two which has the problem.

There are very few radio programmes that I can stand listening to nowadays. Far too much 'channel identification', 'forward sells', 'cross sells', promotion of 'BBC Sounds' and so on. Plus the full-on whooping out of my speakers by the presenter (upbeat talking is the consultant speak for it). When the presenters do speak, so many don't actually have anything worthwhile to say. It's a case of open mouth and noise runs out. Then there is the constant 'audience interaction'. Hey, I stubbed my toe on a chair this morning, tells us your domestic accidents, cue three hours of reading out listener emails. Nice, easy, very well paid work if you can get it.

Commercial radio never gets a look in. Far too many advert breaks and with an extremely limited selection of adverts on high rotation. Never understood why Gavin ate his chips off his windscreen despite the thousands of times I heard it.

 

[yorksrob]

I'll miss POG's constant bickering with Malcolm

 

[MetalMicky]

RIP Radio 2. All part of the BBC’s agenda of sticking two fingers up at the older generation who just want the chance to listen to some tuneful songs linked together by coherent presenters with interesting things to say. Their “playlist” has become a complete travesty of tracks that belong on Radio 1. I briefly listened to Sarah Cox this afternoon. My jaw dropped at the banality every time she opened the mike.

Along with the booting off of BBC4, they’re chasing a yoof audience who has as much interest or loyalty as a flea. This is my BBC? I don’t think so.

 

[Sprinter107]

Radio 2 is becoming a turn off for me. Always used to have more radio than television. Not any more. Sounds of the Seventies is a regular for me, but how long before they take that off, to make way for yet another celeb, and more useless chat and less music. Every show seems to be like the last. What have the listeners been up to, and then we just keep getting endless messages about what they're cooking for tea and other such stuff. Janice Long was excellent, knew her stuff, but they ended up taking her show off the air, but they keep the boring Jo Whiley. Her show is like watching paint dry.
I really begrudge paying my licence, I really do. I dont watch BBC television, they don't really show anything I want to watch, and now, I listen to Radio 2 for just 2 hours per week. I'm certainly not getting value for money.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I am really sorry to read this news. I wonder if he and Malcolm will reappear on a commercial station like Simon Mayo has on Greatest Hits Radio.?

 

[DarloRich]

how to say you are getting old without admitting you are getting old: Complaining about radio stations. The honest situation is that you ( and I) aren't in the demographic of this station anymore and cant understand the music of the young (er) uns.

I havent listened to a music station for years. I don't want to listen to the inane dribbling's of a simpleton between tracks. Do what I do: Pick a streaming service and play your own lists.

All killer no filler that way!

 

[Sprinter107]

how to say you are getting old without admitting you are getting old: Complaining about radio stations. The honest situation is that you ( and I) aren't in the demographic of this station anymore and cant understand the music of the young (er) uns.

I havent listened to a music station for years. I don't want to listen to the inane dribbling's of a simpleton between tracks. Do what I do: Pick a streaming service and play your own lists.

All killer no filler that way!

Thats exactly right. I dont have a problem with todays music, ive a wide range in music I like listening too. Its just the constant rubbish the person presenting the show keeps churning out. Wouldnt mind if it was informative.

 

[yorksrob]

Radio 2 is becoming a turn off for me. Always used to have more radio than television. Not any more. Sounds of the Seventies is a regular for me, but how long before they take that off, to make way for yet another celeb, and more useless chat and less music. Every show seems to be like the last. What have the listeners been up to, and then we just keep getting endless messages about what they're cooking for tea and other such stuff. Janice Long was excellent, knew her stuff, but they ended up taking her show off the air, but they keep the boring Jo Whiley. Her show is like watching paint dry.
I really begrudge paying my licence, I really do. I dont watch BBC television, they don't really show anything I want to watch, and now, I listen to Radio 2 for just 2 hours per week. I'm certainly not getting value for money.

Oh, they won't take off sounds of the seventies.

They'll probably boot it to six in the morning or some time that's equally unpalatable though

There does seem to be an agenda at to ruin the essence of Radio 2.

how to say you are getting old without admitting you are getting old: Complaining about radio stations. The honest situation is that you ( and I) aren't in the demographic of this station anymore and cant understand the music of the young (er) uns.

I havent listened to a music station for years. I don't want to listen to the inane dribbling's of a simpleton between tracks. Do what I do: Pick a streaming service and play your own lists.

All killer no filler that way!

The young'uns belong with radio 1.

If the BBC don't feel that radio 1 is good enough to retain a younger audience, they need to address that.

 

[DarloRich]

There does seem to be an agenda at to ruin the essence of Radio 2.

or, perhaps, secure a new and younger market

They'll probably boot it to six in the morning or some time that's equally unpalatable though

stream it through BBC sounds at your convenience - who is tied to the schedule these days?

The young'uns belong with radio 1.

If the BBC don't feel that radio 1 is good enough to retain a younger audience, they need to address that.

radio 1 is for people up to about 23!

 

[yorksrob]

or, perhaps, secure a new and younger market


stream it through BBC sounds at your convenience - who is tied to the schedule these days?


radio 1 is for people up to about 23!

That seems like a stupidly limited demographic to me. Radio 1 needs to go back to attracting a broad audience who enjoy up to date main stream pop. By contrast, Radio 2 needs to be capturing the middle aged codger market.

 

[DarloRich]

That seems like a stupidly limited demographic to me. Radio 1 needs to go back to attracting a broad audience who enjoy up to date main stream pop. By contrast, Radio 2 needs to be capturing the middle aged codger market.

Radio just isn't like that anymore.

 

[yorksrob]

Radio just isn't like that anymore.

I know, because the BBC keep chasing youth.

 

[duncanp]

No doubt someone at Radio 2 management is working out what they can do to **** Ken Bruce off, so that he leaves of his own accord.

They tried to do the same with Tony Blackburn a few years ago (see Wikipedia) but it didn't work.

Paul O'Grady isn't the only famous face to leave Radio 2 recently - Vanessa Feltz did her last early morning show a couple of weeks ago.

I know Vanessa wasn't everyone's cup of tea, bit I enjoyed listening to her show, and since she left I now go to Greatest Hits Radio when I wake up and listen to, er, Alex Lester.

Alex is another really good presenter who was booted off Radio 2 several years ago for no good reason, and it is quite remarkable that Greatest Hits Radio has hoovered up a lot of disgruntled former Radio 2 presenters.

 

[DarloRich]

No doubt someone at Radio 2 management is working out what they can do to **** Ken Bruce off, so that he leaves of his own accord.

They tried to do the same with Tony Blackburn a few years ago (see Wikipedia) but it didn't work.

Paul O'Grady isn't the only famous face to leave Radio 2 recently - Vanessa Feltz did her last early morning show a couple of weeks ago.

None of this seems a bad thing to me! Get the old codgers out and some fresh blood in.

 

[Sprinter107]

Alex Lester was good. Think they binned him at the same time as Janice Long. Many of the programmes are all the same now, no individuality. Pity. The radio can be great company.

 

[DarloRich]

The radio can be great company.

But radio 2 isn't the only station for people ( like me) of increasing middle age. The market is so fragmented and with digital and internet radio the world is your oyster!

Greatest Hits radio has been mentioned and I would suggest Absolute. They have segmented stations for almost every decade and classic rock but they are commercial stations so you will get adverts.

 

[duncanp]

None of this seems a bad thing to me! Get the old codgers out and some fresh blood in.

I would dispute that people such as Alex Lester, Ken Bruce and Paul O'Grady are "old codgers".

"Our BBC" is always banging on about "diversity", and parrotting the usual phrases about making itself "...more representative of the community that we serve..." (I think that is this week's buzzword phrase, we'll have to see what they come up with next week)

Since a sizeable proportion of the Radio 2 audience are "old codgers", then they ought to have several "old codgers" on the station to fulfil their "diversity agenda".

It wouldn't be so bad if some of the fresh blood was any good, but Owain Wyn Evans to replace Vanessa Feltz and Rob Beckett to replace Paul O'Grady? - do me a favour please.

There again, since "our BBC" is itself celebrating its centenary this year, perhaps it is time to pension off this dinosaur and replace it with something more fit for the modern age.

 

[DarloRich]

There again, since "our BBC" is itself celebrating its centenary this year, perhaps it is time to pension off this dinosaur and replace it with something more fit for the modern age.

that is really what this is all about though isn't it?

 

[duncanp]

that is really what this is all about though isn't it?

True.

As I said, I only listen to Tony Blackburn and Ken Bruce regularly on Radio 2 now.

Greatest Hits Radio and Smooth Radio are an approximation of how Radio 2 used to be, and I also listen to an internet based station that plays calming meditation music 24 hours a day, which is very useful when trying to drift off to sleep.

So BBC Radio is becoming less and less relevant in my daily life, and I am sure this is the case with many other people as well.

 

[Sprinter107]

Smooth Radio seems to be more adverts than music, and the music seems to be just a few tunes on a loop. Thats not for me. I've got a smart speaker which I use more and more. Its great, but then you miss out on stuff you don't know about that you hear on the radio. And also there is no informative presenter. I'll try some of the other channels. Adverts both television and radio just drive me mad.

 

[computerSaysNo]

I can understand the points of view here. I listen to Ken Bruce, Steve Wright and Sara Cox mainly, and exclusively through the online BBC Sounds. Johnny Walker is good and I'm sure several of the others are good as well though I can't quite recall their names at the moment. Sophie Ellis-Bextor is good as well.
I can't stand Rylan's show, he was good on Supermarket Sweep but I'll go and find something else to listen to if he's on the radio. Same with Rob Becket, though I don't mind him so much and I think he would be far better if he managed to find his own "way" of presenting.

As much as the BBC keep pushing BBC Sounds, I do highly recommend using it, I use it all the time for:

• Listening to live or almost-live radio, e.g. you can start off listening live and then pause it e.g. if someone puts the kettle on and you can't hear it, and then resume playing it from the point you paused at;
• Catching up on a show e.g. if you missed the first hour of Ken Bruce and Popmaster you can listen to it but as put back an hour so that you can catch the whole thing;
• You can download complete shows to listen to offline e.g. if you're going on a long journey you can download Sounds of the Seventies or whatever, so that you don't have to rely on a data connection to stream it while you're travelling;
• If there's a song comes on you don't like you can just skip it (so long as you're not listening live).

I know that all reads like an advert but I do highly recommend it!

 

[yorksrob]

None of this seems a bad thing to me! Get the old codgers out and some fresh blood in.

Why ? Old codgers like listening to old codgers.

 

[TheBigD]

radio 1 is for people up to about 23!

Age or IQ?

 

[Busaholic]

Are we talking about the replacement for the Light Programme here? I'm a Home Service man myself, though it's not a patch since the retirement of Alvar Liddell.

 

[DarloRich]

Why ? Old codgers like listening to old codgers.

But why should us trainee codgers have to listen to actual codgers

Age or IQ?

both/either

 

[ChrisC]

But why should us trainee codgers have to listen to actual codgers

I'm now 65, so do I now qualify to be a codger? I suppose I probably do,

My music tastes are quite wide, and I used to think it ranged from pop to classical, but I'm not so sure these days. I just don't like so much of the modern music played on Radio 1 and most of the main commercial stations like Capital. I'm beginning to find that I'm also not too keen on lots of the music played on Radio 2 and BBC local radio these days. Although I'm perhaps now getting to codger age I do still like to go to concerts and in the last few years have seen The Killers, Stereophonics, George Ezra, Jake Bugg, Snow Patrol, Ed Sheeran to mention a few. It's mainly the street type music like rap, r&b and dance that I don't really like. Also don't like all this modern pop aimed at the teen audiences.

I rarely listen to Radio 2 these days and perhaps a sign that I am becoming a codger is that I've just discovered Boom Radio and really like it. It takes me back to Radio 2 how it was 30 years ago and also to the early days of commercial radio when great stations like Radio Trent in Nottingham began. Most of the presenters are codgers that were originally on these stations including Radio 2.

 

[Howardh]

I am so grateful we now have internet radio as British radio has been unbearable for years.

 

[alex397]

As someone who has gradually progressed from Radio 1 to Radio 2 (although I still listen to the occasional Radio 1 specialist programme), I would say that Radio 2 still has some great shows, but I’ll admit some of it feels a bit (apologise for the millennial phrase)… cringe. I like Jo Whiley and Sara Cox though, to some extent.

However I’m finding myself listening less to Radio 2 and more to Radio 6 Music. I’m a bit disappointed I’ve only discovered this station now. The first radio station I’ve listened to where I like the vast majority of music. The presenters are much more calm, and talk more about geeky aspects of the music rather than unbearable and painful inane chatter you hear on mainstream radio stations.

Not really related, but I feel that if someone needed to torture me, they’d just have to play Kent’s KMFM. Awful music, and incredibly irritating presenters who seem to be high on something.

 

[Jamiescott1]

I dont listen to radio 2 on a Sunday as although I'm in the target demographic for radio 2, Sundays feels like its aimed at people twice my age.

Radio 2 has improved massively in past few years getting rid of old codgers but as much as I rate Trevor Nelson and love his show, I do think evenings should have more specialist output