Radio 2 changes tune by dropping older men
BBC Radio 2 has dropped three of its longest-running shows and their veteran presenters in a shake-up that replaces them with women. Listen to the Band, a weekly mix of brass and military band music hosted by Frank Renton, 78, is to go, as is The Organist Entertains, presented by Nigel Ogden, 63. Sara Cox will host a new “upbeat” late-night show. Paul Jones, 75, the former Manfred Mann singer, also sees the end of his blues show. Cerys Matthews will take over his slot.
BBC Radio 2 has axed three of its longest-running shows and their veteran presenters in a shake-up that replaces them with women.
Listen to the Band, a weekly mix of brass and military band music hosted by Frank Renton for 23 years, is to go, as is The Organist Entertains, presented by Nigel Ogden.
Renton, 78, and Ogden, 63, will be replaced in their late-night slots by Bolton-born Sara Cox, 43, who will offer an “upbeat playlist” and interviews with celebrities. The former Channel 4 Big Breakfast presenter has covered for numerous presenters on Radio 2.
Paul Jones, 75, the former Manfred Mann singer and presenter of a rhythm and blues show for more than 30 years, also departs. Taking over his Monday night show is Cerys Matthews, 48.
Simon Mayo remains in his drivetime slot but will now share it with Jo Whiley, right. It is the first time in 20 years a woman has presented a weekday prime time show on the station.
Explaining the moves, Lewis Carnie, head of Radio 2, said the station needed to “refresh” its genres. The shows by Renton and Ogden “have been longserving programmes on Radio 2, but as the audience evolves we have to reflect what best serves their needs”, he said. Between them, the shows had weekly audiences exceeding 400,000.
Carnie said the programmes would be “resting”, but Renton, former principal conductor of the British Concert Orchestra, said: “The programme is finished. I have been doing it for 23 years. I’m very sad.” There was a big band culture in Britain and “they enjoyed their weekly outing, but now they have lost it”.
He added: “I’ve been there a long time so they treated me with great respect, but at the end of the day you’re getting the sack.”
The BBC said brass music would continue in other programmes.
Ogden said it had been a privilege to present his organ music show for 38 years. “Nothing lasts for ever and it has had a great run. Obviously, people in higher places than me have plans for Radio 2. It’s sad that it has come to an end,” he said.
“We had a good and loyal audience. I think were the programme to remain, that audience would also remain.”
The Organist Entertains began in 1969 with Robin Richmond as presenter. Ogden took over when Richmond retired in 1980.
Jones thanked listeners for tuning in over the decades but said it was time “to hand over the baton”.
Announcing the changes, to take effect in May, Carnie said: “I’d like to thank Frank, Nigel and Paul for entertaining their listeners for many years, and on behalf of the listeners and everyone at Radio 2 wish them the best of luck for the future.”
In cost-cutting measures announced last year, the BBC cancelled After Midnight, but following an outcry, live programming will return to Radio 2 overnight with a midnight to 3am show presented by OJ Borg.
“We’re responding to listener feedback and savings elsewhere on the network have allowed us to do this,” Carnie said.
Gary Davies, a Radio 1 disc jockey in the Eighties who had been presenting a daytime show on Radio 2, has been invited to host a weekly Friday night-time show.
‘I’ve been there a long time so they treated me with great respect, but at the end of the day you’re getting the sack’