Ageism row at Radio 2 after DJ, 88, is axed
THE BBC is at the centre of a fresh ageism row after it allegedly axed one of Britain’s oldest radio DJs against his will.
Brian Matthew, 88, has presented Radio 2’ s Sounds of the 60s for more than 25 years, but was replaced on the Saturday morning show after falling at home in November.
The BBC said it was mutually agreed that it was the right time for Mr Matthew ‘to step off the weekly treadmill of presenting the show’.
But yesterday the veteran presenter, who started at Radio 2 in 1954, hit out at the ‘horrible’ decision, and accused the BBC of rewriting history.
‘That’s absolute balderdash, I was ready and willing and able to go back, and they’ve just said they are going to put the programme in the hands of other people,’ he said.
‘I enjoyed doing the show very much indeed. I did it for 25 years. I feel very disconcerted, I must say.
‘I do admit I’m a bit of an antique, but that’s never seemed to matter until now.’ Sir Tim Rice, who at 72 is 16 years his junior, has been standing in for him.
Yesterday, Mr Matthews explained what happened. ‘I didn’t really have much in the way of ill health,’ he said. ‘I had a collapse at home at the bottom of our stairs, and my wife called the ambulance service.
‘They came and examined me and said it was a matter for appraisal at the hospital. They put me on a ward, I stayed there for a while and now I’m back at home.’
The BBC said: ‘We are discussing a series of special programmes with Brian and hope he’ll return to Radio 2 as soon as possible.’ Mr Matthew is among other well-known DJs to leave the station recently.
It has also axed the Monday to Friday live After Midnight slots to save money. Hosts Janice Long and Alex Lester have been replaced by re-runs of other shows.