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Discuss your favourite podcast, radio show or The Archers episode.

Steve Allen leaves LBC 'with immediate effect'

133 replies

newnamethanks · 25/02/2023 09:04

Blimey. 44 years at LBC, I thought he was immovable. I'd love to know what happened to cause this without even a wave of farewell. He'd have made a right meal of it on his programme if it had happened to someone else.

OP posts:
Hohofortherobbers · 25/02/2023 09:52

I agree, he's been blowing his trumpet recently about his long secure contract, even after the tilly ramsay issue, so something must have happened very suddenly. I liked him, it was nice to have a light, zone out, presenter amongst all the heavy debate on LBC

newnamethanks · 25/02/2023 13:20

He was unique, as far as I know, 3 hours, 4-7am, 5 days a week with no callers and, apparently, no script. Very difficult to do, not many would attempt it. However, a small amount of SA went a very long way. I think he frequently didn't know where to stop and could be unapologetically and massively offensive. I'm surprised they've let him go though, he had legions of fans who were faithful listeners. And he was due to do an 'evening with' this Sunday. Sold out and now cancelled. Odd, must be more to it.

OP posts:
Nimbostratus100 · 25/02/2023 13:23

That is sad - he is my regular early morning company - last time I listened to him really meant something to me, it was my first day of chemo, and he happened to say something so encouraging and supportive about starting chemo

CharlotteStreetW1 · 25/02/2023 13:23

He's quite marmite isn't he? But I do admire his broadcasting skills.

He has some health issues - maybe it's to do with that?

Parroteets · 25/02/2023 13:29

Someone on twitter made reference to him using 'he' when talking about Sam Smith.

I'm glad he's gone tbh, his shows were far too repetitive and he crossed the line so many times. I think he thought he could get away with it because, well, he had for many years!. He had been there for 44 yrs and seemed to rule the roost as it were.

He used to boast at his in-person shows that he knew the Ofcom rules so well that he could be offensive without crossing the line. He'd become v boring, bitter and needed to move on.

Thesharkradar · 25/02/2023 13:32

Crikey, what a shock 😲

GordonGarden · 25/02/2023 13:34

Oh is he the one who used to just do a long, ranty monologue? I used to catch the end of his show sometimes if I left for work early for some reason. It was awful, just angry verbal diarrhoea about whatever happened to be on his mind. I could never fathom how he had a career in radio but had no idea he'd been doing it for that long! Was that always the format??

MidlifeWhatNow · 25/02/2023 13:36

Oh, not surprised. He always struck me as a nasty little misogynist, ranting away to himself first thing in the morning. I used to have to switch over to the Today Programme, fgs.

WinterMusings · 25/02/2023 13:37

@Nimbostratus100

i hope your treatment goes well 💐

im sorry for you that he's gone.

However, I'mpleased he's gone! He's got a hateful attitude to many people and is so FULL of himself.

I listen to LBC almost exclusively when driving, but every morning I end up turning it off until Nick Ferrari. He has his moments too but I can usually listen
to him without turning off.

vonsudering what DA got away with, I'm very curious to know what occurred for this to happen!!

Nimbostratus100 · 25/02/2023 13:43

I do agree he could be pretty offensive too, he wasn't always great

Themsmedaps · 25/02/2023 13:43

Apparently it was for misgendering Sam Smith? He said something like "I'm not going to say they, it's stupid, it's he"

Nimbostratus100 · 25/02/2023 13:49

Themsmedaps · 25/02/2023 13:43

Apparently it was for misgendering Sam Smith? He said something like "I'm not going to say they, it's stupid, it's he"

really! That is terrible

Nimbostratus100 · 25/02/2023 13:50

Themsmedaps · 25/02/2023 13:43

Apparently it was for misgendering Sam Smith? He said something like "I'm not going to say they, it's stupid, it's he"

but surely these days you can't lose your job for that, - a few years ago, maybe, but not now?

If that is true, I hope he sues and wins

userno777 · 25/02/2023 13:53

I thought he was brilliant. Soon we won't have any humour left - we're not allowed.

Belindabelle · 25/02/2023 14:03

I will miss him even although he did make me cringe at times. I haven’t been listening as regularly lately so didn’t hear what he said about Sam Smith.

I see that Darren Adam has also left. I wonder who will get the slots permanently. Ian Payne was standing in for Steve this week with Ben Kentish doing his 10pm slot. I don’t really like Ian Payne at either the 10pm or 4am slot.

MissPoldark · 25/02/2023 14:15

Themsmedaps · 25/02/2023 13:43

Apparently it was for misgendering Sam Smith? He said something like "I'm not going to say they, it's stupid, it's he"

Was it really? Is there a source for this? I often listen to LBC but not this early. If he has actually been sacked or forced to leave over such a trivial issue I’m going to stop listening and go back to radio 4.

Belindabelle · 25/02/2023 14:18

I actually think you are more likely to lose your job for that now.

Nick Ferrari has become very middle of the road lately too. I think management have had a word and told him to dial down the dog whistle rhetoric.

LBC are trying to become more mainstream, less controversial. Not a good move imo.

HaveANiceFuckingDay · 25/02/2023 14:31

I ADORED Steve Allen i get up very early and listen to him for the best part of 2.5 hours. Absolute shame.l lsitened to Ian Payne banging on about why is belly button fluff blue If you wear a white t shirt!!! Fucking really?? , needless to say I switched off . I don't know who the alternative is ?
Steve Allen was so so funny . Something has definitely happened for him to leave like that. I think a lot of colleagues were baying after him after the Tilly Ramsey thing calling him a dinosaur

PetitPorpoise · 25/02/2023 14:37

It will be interesting if he has gone for misgedering Sam Smith after everything he has saod about Katie Price, Gemma Collins, Kerry Katona, Tilly Ramsey and other women over the years.

Very interesting.

DysonBison · 25/02/2023 14:40

Of all the DJs who didn't look how I pictured them, Steve Allen tops the list by a looooong way.

OneFrenchEgg · 25/02/2023 15:43

PetitPorpoise · 25/02/2023 14:37

It will be interesting if he has gone for misgedering Sam Smith after everything he has saod about Katie Price, Gemma Collins, Kerry Katona, Tilly Ramsey and other women over the years.

Very interesting.

Yup.

Mellymoon · 26/02/2023 05:29

Didn’t know this! That’s good. He’s pretty vile. And doesn’t half love to bang on about himself. He’s very much stuck in the gay stereotype persona of Uber bitch.. I did like playing dale bingo though.. one time he managed 9 dale name drops. Sad man really

daisychain01 · 26/02/2023 05:43

Nimbostratus100 · 25/02/2023 13:50

but surely these days you can't lose your job for that, - a few years ago, maybe, but not now?

If that is true, I hope he sues and wins

Sue for what? He wasn't an employee of LBC/Global Radio, he was on a rolling contract. So they will just pay him to the end of his contract and a bit on top, but he wouldn't have any grounds to go to a Tribunal.

Im massively shocked though Shock - Ian Payne has been covering for him this week and just said "Don't worry, I'm just covering for Steve for a couple of days .... " because he never normally takes time off even at Christmas.

Despite him being massively inappropriate, I don't think anyone could have predicted him leaving (his fans were called "The Spikers" because at 4am when he came in air, the audience figures used to spike.)

Between SA, Nick Ferrari and James O'B they were the LBC stalwarts even when all the other presenters came and went.

SA was really not keeping up with the times. He used to say inappropriate things like "Shamima Begum can rot in hell" and used to give the Beckhams and Katie Price a good slagging off on a regular basis

He was so wedded to that radio station I actually fear for his health, it was his life for 40 years and now he has had it taken away.

daisychain01 · 26/02/2023 05:49

HaveANiceFuckingDay · 25/02/2023 14:31

I ADORED Steve Allen i get up very early and listen to him for the best part of 2.5 hours. Absolute shame.l lsitened to Ian Payne banging on about why is belly button fluff blue If you wear a white t shirt!!! Fucking really?? , needless to say I switched off . I don't know who the alternative is ?
Steve Allen was so so funny . Something has definitely happened for him to leave like that. I think a lot of colleagues were baying after him after the Tilly Ramsey thing calling him a dinosaur

You're not Sidcup Julie are you Grin

or Kevin the Milkman maybe Grin

if I remember correctly 'back in the day' he used to have a few people who dropped in and out of his show that he would chat with. That was in the era of "The Bitch is Back" which was his theme tune, very appropriate really.

Wasn't he given Presenter of the Year Award at the Radio Awards only about a year ago?

He was literally in tears on the radio when Dale Winton died, they were great friends. Oh and Barbs Windsor.

so many memories of Steve.

BatshitCrazyWoman · 26/02/2023 05:55

Thank goodness! I couldn't stand him, just bitchily ranting away to himself, no humour, just all bitter and twisted. I don't need that in the morning. Don't care why he's gone, tbh, just thankful!