BBC Radio presenter quits after an astonishing 31 years on air

04 December 2023 , 17:03

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BBC Radio presenter quits after an astonishing 31 years on air

Legendary BBC Radio presenter Andrew Peach has quit his role with the broadcaster after an astonishing 31 years.

Andrew, who first joined the BBC aged 19 years old, is famed for his daily news and phone-in show on BBC Radio Berkshire. He had been on that particular show for the past 18 years before he made the shock decision to walk away and bid an emotional farewell. Speaking about his life of early starts, he once said: "If you'd told me my alarm clock would still be going off at 04:00 to present the Breakfast Show 31 years later, I would not have believed you."

Andrew Peach has quit his role on BBC Radio after 31 years

Over the span of his career, Andrew has interviewed Prime Ministers including Theresa May and he also covered the death of the Queen, last year. And just two years ago he picked up an industry award for having the best local radio in the UK.

Looking back on his glittering career, he said: "I've broadcast from Washington DC, Rome, Prague and Dusseldorf - and I've endured the ups and downs of being a Reading FC fan through countless play-off final defeats and our promotion to the Premier League in 2006. This job has been the greatest privilege. Daily radio shows like this are, above all, a relationship. A warm and authentic relationship with the audience."

He added: "We've chosen to spend time together day after day, month after month, year after year. That relationship is so precious and I know I will miss it desperately. The programme has brought people together, applied a bit of pressure here and there and meant that, from time to time, we've changed things for the better."

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He ended his heartfelt statement saying: "Although it's time for me to find some new mountains to climb, I am so grateful to have enjoyed more than 30 years in my dream job." As yet it remains unknown what Andrew's future plans are but comedian and TV personality Romesh Ranganathan will replace Andrew.

But he is not the only well-known name to quit their role on the airwaves - so too is Strictly star Claudia Winkleman. The presenter confirmed that she would be leaving her BBC Radio 2 show in March next year. In a statement she said: "I would love to share mind, firstly, I'm going to say it out loud and with vim, I love Radio 2. It is an absolute privilege to be here every Saturday, chatting to amazing guests, being with Sally and mainly read your fantastic messages. But here's the thing and it is such a boring cliché so I apologise. Time is going too fast. My daughter is getting ready to leave home and she was 3 about 5 minutes ago. "

She added: "I still have a little one who wants to be with me. I don't know how long that will last and I just need to be at home more.So my news at 10 is that I am leaving - but I have two pieces of exceptional news. One – the person taking over is one of the funniest and smartest people on earth. We are going to love listening to him every Saturday at 10. Think of this if you will as an early Christmas present. The one and only Romesh Ranganathan is going to be here from April and he is majestic. "

She continued: "Number two, the second piece of good news, is before I leave in March the bosses have said I can play, and I'm unapologetic about this, an obscene amount of this."

Lucretia Munro