Tony Blackburn has appeared to make a sly dig at the BBC over their radio schedule shake-up.
Paul O'Grady was the latest star to announce he's leaving his show after 14 years in news which will devastate his fans, whilst Vanessa Feltz has also quit and Steve Wright and Craig Charles' shows have been axed. Fans have been left livid by the various exits, specially in the case of the For The Love Of Dogs star and Steve Wright.
It has been a big change at the station, with fans concerned the BBC are trying to appeal to a younger audience and get more people on board and listening to the station, but radio icon Tony Blackburn has insisted the target market will always be an older one, and he just hopes today's generation will tune in once they get older.
Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain today, he said: "I think basically our audience is over 55, it will remain there. And the hope is that people, as they get older, they'll eventually find radio stations - particularly Radio 2.
"There are a lot of changes, Paul O'Grady's going. I guess that's his choice."
Presenter Richard Madeley then fumed about Paul exiting his radio show. He has not given any reason for his exit, but Richard believes it is linked to a recent announcement that he would be job sharing his slot with comedian Rob Beckett.
He said: "Well he's going isn't he - he's got such a strong fan base and you lose these fan bases at your peril as a radio station. He's going because they wanted him to job share, he'd do 13 weeks as a slot and then someone else would do the slot.
"Why would he share his slot? Why, because he's gone."
Tony was unable to respond to Richard's suggestion, and went on to joke about his own stint on the possibility of him doing even more radio: "Regrettably Richard, I'm not management, or I'd have myself on 24 hours a day."
Paul announced the sad news he was quitting Radio 2 in an emotional post, which he shared with fans.
"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," he said.
The BBC added: "We’re sad to say that after 14 years on Sunday afternoons, Paul O’Grady has decided to leave Radio 2. We wish Paul the very best of luck and hope to work with him again in the future."
