Mayo is victim of Drivetime car crash
I AM sure I am not the only Radio 2 listener who is sad that outstanding presenter Simon Mayo is to leave the Drivetime show (Mail). Thirty years ago, when he was hosting Radio 1’s breakfast show, it was always a laugh a minute. His confessions slot, where listeners admit to an indiscretion, reduced me to fits of the giggles. Simon is the most gifted and eloquent of broadcasters. His shows revolve around his listeners, unlike other DJs who just shout about themselves. I fear the next to face the hatchet will be his fellow stalwarts, Ken Bruce and Steve Wright, who are excellent and entertaining presenters. For any listener over 50, there is a shortage of interesting presenters. As far as BBC radio is concerned, we are past it. At least we still have Tony Blackburn, firing on all cylinders. Goodbye, Simon Mayo, it was a pleasure and a treat to listen to you.
GERRARD JONAS, Standlake, Oxon. THE BBC gets it wrong again. I’m all for equality, but the Corporation takes it too far. First, it changes the presenters across the board to allow for diversity. Then women take over the sports programmes. Simon Mayo and Jo Whiley had good individual shows, but it was a serious mistake to put them together to co-present Drivetime.
TERRY AUSTIN, Totnes, Devon. WITH the sad news that Simon Mayo is leaving Radio 2 comes the good news that Jo Whiley will return to her evening slot. Can the Beeb go one step further and lose Ana Matronic’s disco show, which is a waste of airtime? I suggest the BBC diversifies by replacing director of radio James Purnell with a woman.
CLIFF BOULTON, Ashford, Kent. EVERY time there’s a change of leadership at Radio 2, it’s a disaster. Hubristic, politically correct bigheads pursue their own agendas while displaying a breathtaking contempt for the listeners. The Radio 2 audience loved Simon Mayo’s original Drivetime, but we weren’t allowed to carry on having what we wanted.
M. BRADLEY, Hampton, Middlesex. THE Drivetime car crash is a classic example of why tokenism should never replace selection based on merit. Simon Mayo had spent years finely honing a wonderful programme that had developed organically. It was warm, humorous and inclusive. But an order from management decreed ‘gender representation’ must reign supreme and a token female presenter was parachuted in, despite her unsuitability. Protests and complaints to the BBC were met with standard bland responses. Everyone loses, including Jo Whiley, who experienced constant complaints from furious listeners.
CRAIG LOAN, Waterlooville, Hants.