“Radio 2 has changed, it’s not what it was. They’re trying to aim for a much younger audience, which doesn’t make sense because you’ve got Radio 1 [for that],” Paul O’Grady recently stated to the Metro.
“Radio 2 was always for an older audience,” the For The Love of Dogs star added sorrowfully.
Vanessa Feltz, who is 61, then claimed there could be “ageism” involved and suggested that older personalities are less “valued”.
However, Radio 2 adamantly denied her claims in a statement in which it added that the channel “is hugely proud of having a range of presenters from their 30s to 80 years old”.
The station added that the age range “hasn’t changed in decades” and that Ken had been with them since the age of 32.
The statement concluded: “[We] will continue to be a multi-generational radio station that serves a 35-plus audience with listeners tuning in each week to our brilliant range of programmes, hosted by some of the UK’s best-loved presenters.”
Meanwhile, Ken has stated to the Daily Mail that he is “disappointed” and “a little surprised” that he could not continue at the BBC until the end of his contract.
Some loyal and dedicated fans have blasted the channel for its “classless” decision to drop him sooner than necessary, but have vowed they will now join him on his new radio journey.
Ken’s last show for the BBC is at 9:30am on Friday March 3, while the podcast interview with Simon Mayo can be found here.
