Radio 2 Drivetime - Simon's leaving

[wowfudge]

Announced a few minutes ago on BBC News: Simon is leaving Radio 2 and the show in it's current format is ending with Jo Whiley going back to her 7-9pm slot.

What a shambles and what a shame they've elbowed Mayo out.

I thought this might happen. What a total mess. I wonder if Sara Cox might get a look in with that one.

I'd enjoy listening to Sara in that slot.

Doyoumind Just posted the same on another thread, I think it would be a great slot for Sara Cox.

It would be quite a thing if the two main shows were presented by women given how few there were in prime slots not too long ago.

Simon's put a positive spin on things, but it feels as though they pushed him out tbh.

and Jo back on the 7 pm slot, where she was good

Very sad news. But there is a silver lining in that at least Jo whiley won't be staying on and moving back to a more natural slot for her. They should never have tampered with the format in the first place, it was a great show. Will miss Simon's style and wish him luck. Maybe this will be a good fit for Sara Cox.

Wasn’t there something on here recently about him about to leave for Smooth Radio (or was that a joke? Is there even such a thing ).
Shame either way as I used to listen to him everyday on the way home and gave up after this debacle.
Interesting to see if we see the BBC acknowledge that they got it so wrong.

I really enjoyed Simon and Jo when they did their separate shows but just didn't like them together.
I wish the drivetime would go back to how it was.
Very sad to hear Simon is leaving.

Oh I’ve just read Simon’s leaving statement so something from the BBC won’t be forthcoming.
But I’d be straight back to listening to the drivetime show if it’s Sara Cox as the new presenter

I have a 2 hour commute home and really enjoyed listening to Simon. I put up with the new show as I like listening to him but think I'll need to find something else now. Really don't know why they had to tamper with it to start with!
(Have really enjoyed Sara Cox in the morning covering for Chris Evans last week - particularly with the new travel person (Rachel??) and the sports woman (Carthy?). Work well together IMO. Shame that couldn't be the morning format come January)

Jo is going to her Dream Show,
that is what she was doing before

It's Karthi - she contributes to lots of BBC programmes on TV and radio. I like her too. She has a warm personality.

Perhaps he is going to Virgin, or SMooth Radio after all

All of this points to Radio 2 cobbling something together in order to satisfy diversity quotas rather than thinking it through properly. Or perhaps Simon had intimated he was going to leave at the end of his contract and the co-presenting was a way of replacing him with Jo, but it hasn't worked out.

Imo the Drivetime slot needs to be uplifting and a laugh.

He's doing 5 Live, which he already does, and other non-radio work.

So glad that shitshow (literally) combination of Simon and jo is going. Sad to see him leave though.

Time Steve Wright buggered off - all that “serious jocking” is seriously cringy

I wonder if he wanted to leave or felt pushed out. Maybe Sara could take over from Steve Wright. I agree, he really needs to go.

Oh no - that's really bad news.
I think Simon Mayo is really good in that slot, and I find Sara Cox a bit grating (although not as annoying as Jo Whiley)

I'll be switching over to listen to Richard Allinson on Magic