Radio icon blasts 'cruel' BBC after his show is suddenly axed on New Year's Eve

08 January 2024 , 09:49

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The BBC's oldest host saw his radio show axed suddenly on New Year's Eve (Image: Jeremy Grayson/Radio Times/Getty Images)

The BBC's oldest radio host has slammed the corporation over its decision to suddenly axe his show on New Year's Eve.

It was a "cruel" blow to 92-year old former Radio 2 presenter Bill Rennells, who was left to rue the "destruction" of his Harmony Night phone-in programme. Listeners of the show, which aired on BBC Radio Oxford, Kent and Berkshire, previously started a petition to save the broadcast, but it appeared to fall on deaf ears.

In a statement to defend its decision, meanwhile, a Beeb spokesperson explained that budget cuts and audience habits were the reason behind the move. The broadcaster added that local content can instead be found on its streaming service, BBC Sounds.

92-year old Bill hosted the late night programme Nightride on BBC Radio 2 for 14 years (Getty Images)

Sad Bill told the Sun: "So many adjectives have been used for the destruction of our beautiful Harmony Night and the league leader of those is 'cruel'. Our last night was so emotional. It is ludicrous that they destroyed us when the programme was at the height of its strength and popularity."

After learning Bill's show was facing the chop, listener Dilys Bound tried in vain to intervene, but her petition was only met with 203 signatures of its 500 target. Warning others that Bill would be taken off air, she penned: "Life would be much lonelier for many listeners, as this programme is a lifeline to the outside world for them, being a rare opportunity for contact they would otherwise not have. Bill Rennells has stated: that the programme means so much to him, as he values all his listeners."

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One avid listener hit out in response: "This has been the best, the most family oriented programme on the BBC for years so WHY take it off now? There will NEVER be another programme like it, which is why I no longer listen to the BBC!"

Another agreed: "This programme has been a pleasure to so many over the years. Listeners have looked forward to Sunday evenings. Now the music played will be lost, it was the music that we all enjoyed to remember the past years. Shame on the BBC."

And a third explained: "For over 20 years Bill has been a treasured companion on Sunday nights, bringing joy and pleasure to me and my wife, and, no doubt, tens of thousands of other listeners around the South of Britain, and also many people overseas who listened on BBC SOUNDS. Why chase away one of your dwindling number of "golden goose" presenters, whose audience never wavered, in the alleged pursuit of economy?"

The BBC's statement in full read: "We are grateful for the commitment, time and energy that Bill put into the presentation and production of Harmony Night and the years he worked as a sports reporter and commentator at BBC Radio Oxford. We have consistently said that we are committed to providing a strong, creative, local radio service for listeners across England and we have maintained all 39 Local Radio Stations.

"The budget for BBC Local services has not been cut, but audience habits are changing, and licence fee payers want more content available to them when they want it. So we have invested in providing more local digital news and we have increased the local content available on BBC Sounds."

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Alan Johnson