BBC's oldest radio presenter, 92, blasts 'heartless' axing of iconic show | 50VFY93 | 2024-03-04 21:08:01
A person who was as soon as the BBC's oldest radio presenter before his show was axed on New Year's Eve has hit out on the 'heartless' determination.
Bill Rennells, 92, hosted the Concord Night time call-in programme on BBC Local Radio, which allowed listeners in Berkshire, Kent and Oxford request their favorite songs.
The programme was axed on New Year's Eve 2023, reportedly not resulting from price range cuts, and whereas the BBC praised Invoice for his 'dedication, time and power', but insisted the present was axed resulting from 'audience habits'.
Invoice had worked on the BBC for over 40 years, first becoming a member of as a information producer at Radio Oxford in 1970, and referred to as the decision 'cruel['.
Now the previous broadcaster has shared updates on his life on the Concord Night time website and his latest entry on March 3 contained some very robust words for the BBC.
He revealed in a submit that he and his associate Rita had listened to the last-ever Harmony Night time episode together, with 'combined emotions'.
'The uppers have been the heart-warming messages we acquired from you, the downers have been within the incredulity that the BBC ought to be so heartless as to destroy such a jewel within the crown as Harmony Night time and to cause such heartbreak within the course of.'
He went on to say: 'I discover no joy in predicting that inside 10 years or so, there can be no BBC.'
Invoice shared updates on his and Rita's family, including youngsters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and stated 'we wish this kind of happiness on all our extended Concord Night time household.
'Our joint love is something the BBC can't destroy.'
When Concord Night time was first axed, Invoice didn't maintain back in his thoughts with a press release to The Sun.
He stated: 'So many adjectives have been used for the destruction of our lovely Harmony Night time and the league leader of those is "cruel".
'Our last night time was so emotional. It's ludicrous that they destroyed us when the programme was at the peak of its power and popularity.'
A BBC spokesperson stated: 'We are grateful for the commitment, time and power that Bill put into the presentation and production of Harmony Night time and the years he labored as a sports reporter and commentator at BBC Radio Oxford.
'The price range for BBC Local providers has not been minimize, however audience habits are changing, and licence charge payers want extra content obtainable to them when they want it. So we now have invested in providing extra native digital news and we've got elevated the native content out there on BBC Sounds.'
After eight years at Radio Oxford, Bill joined Radio 2, initially on the Thursday night time graveyard slot as well as fronting Music From The Films.
By early 1984, he was internet hosting the early morning programme, and by the top of the yr he took over late night time show Nightride, which began a 14-year run till 1993.
He rejoined Radio Oxford in 2011.
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