The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Radio Tay shake-up as stars leave
Two of Radio Tay’s longest serving and most popular presenters are to leave in a major shake-up at the Dundee station. Bill Torrance and Ian Lees are quitting at Christmas when their freelance contracts run out.
TWO OF Radio Tay’s longest serving and most popular presenters are to leave in a major shake-up at the Dundee-based station.
Bill Torrance and Ian Lees are quitting at Christmas when their freelance contracts run out.
The veteran broadcasters gave differing reactions to their departures, with Bill Torrance saying: “I am leaving with a smile on my face” but Ian Lees saying: “I am very disappointed.”
The move marks a revamp of the Tay and other stations by owners Bauer Radio.
Tay AM, where they built up large and loyal audiences, will in January become Tay 2 and similar changes are afoot at other Bauer stations.
The last Bill Tor rance Sunday programme will be tomorrow and his final programme will be on Christmas night in his farewell to regular radio broadcasting.
Ian Lees will present his final selection of Scottish country and ceilidh dance music and traditional songs on December 27.
Bill Torrance, 68, said yesterday: “It was 40 years ago that I started my radio career with Radio Forth and it’s time for me to go.
“That’s been 40 years without a Sunday off, and not working on Sundays is one of the things that I’m looking forward to.
“I’ve hugely enjoyed my career on the station, broadcasting from a studio set up in my house and also getting out and about meeting people.
“So many people would call over to me and say ‘Hey Bill’ and not ‘hello Mr Torrance’, which I’ve taken as a sign of how well they’ve thought of me.”
From a folk music background, Bill Torrance has become one of Scotland’s best known broadcasters and entertainers.
His career has taken him to television where for 10 years he presented BBC Scotland’s Beechgrove Garden as well as to radio on the BBC and commercial stations.
One of Scotland’s most recognisable voices, he has a long list of voiceover credits for television, radio and corporate clients, and has also hosted Scotland’s longest running stage show at the Thistle Edinburgh hotel.
He is moving to France next year and although he is giving up regular radio broadcasting he will continue to carry out corporate work.
Ian Lees, 75, said: “I have been with Tay for 32 years and am sad that it has come to this.
“My Saturday night programme was carried by six stations but after December 27 there will be no programme of traditional Scottish country music on any commercial radio station in Scotland.
“It will be heard only on the BBC and on a few community stations, and I believe this has an impact on the preservation of Scottish culture.”