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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Victoria Johns

Radio 2 bloodbath - all the stars leaving the BBC from Paul O'Grady to Vanessa Feltz

There seems to have been a bit of a bloodbath at BBC Radio 2 recently with a number of stars leaving the popular channel.

Paul O'Grady has just announced he's leaving his show after 14 years in news which will devastate his fans.

But he's not the only one jumping ship.

In a seismic shake-up Vanessa Feltz has quit, Steve Wright and Craig Charles' shows have been axed - and other presenters are losing their slots.

It's all change at the station, so here's the lowdown on who's hanging up their headphones.

Paul O'Grady

Paul O'Grady has quit his Radio 2 Sunday afternoon show after 14 years in the latest BBC shake-up.

Paul O'Grady has quit his Radio 2 Sunday afternoon show after 14 years in the latest BBC shake-up (paulogrady/Instagram)

The presenter, 67, was replaced on the show for a spell by comedian Rob Beckett in a schedule change, which didn't go down well with fans.

And now the Lily Savage star has decided to walk.

In a statement, Paul said: "I've loved doing my Sunday afternoon show for the last 14 years and I'm going to miss my listeners as well as the fun I've had with my producer Malcolm Prince, but I feel that now is the right time to go."

The BBC said: "We’re sad to say that after 14 years on Sunday afternoons, Paul O’Grady has decided to leave Radio 2. We wish Paul the very best of luck and hope to work with him again in the future."

The Beeb said it was said to see him go (SplashNews.com)

Paul's last programme on the station will be on Sunday August 14 as he comes to the end of his current 13-week run of shows.

The star's fans were bereft with many taking to Twitter to express their disappointment.

One said: "Paul O'Grady is a natural on the radio and his Sunday show has been a really good listen. All good things must come to an end but this is a real shame."

However another fumed at the beeb, saying: ""@BBCRadio2 your % of your audience ain’t 18yr olds downwards that’s Radio One. Getting shut of Paul O’Grady is stupid."

Steve Wright

Steve, 67, will bid farewell to Wright in the Afternoon, which is broadcast each weekday from 2-5pm, at the end of September.

He will be replaced by Scott Mills, 49, who will host a brand new show from 2-4pm, launching in the autumn.

As he left Wogan House after the news was announced, the veteran DJ told waiting reporters ''That's the way it goes... You know, sometimes people want you, sometimes they don't.

"Sometimes they want to make changes, give you another offer, and that's okay, I understand that, I really understand that."

The shake-up has caused a huge divide amongst listeners, prompting Steve to address the furore on his Sunday Love Songs show.

"Before we start the show proper, if I may, I'd just like to say thank you ever so much for all the messages that have come in, over the weekend after I announced on Friday on the afternoon that we are leaving the afternoon show," Steve began.

"This show stays," he confirmed, referring to his popular weekend programme, before assuring fans he will be doing ''other exciting projects for Radio 2 in the future.'

"So I'm not going anywhere. Not going anywhere!" he reiterated.

He concluded: "Thank you very much for the kind words. It really, really means a lot and I'm back on afternoons until the Autumn."

Vanessa Feltz

Vanessa Feltz has quit BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio London.

The star, 60, told Radio 2 Early Breakfast Show listeners last month she'll leave the station in August.

The Celebrity Big Brother star is also bidding farewell to her BBC Radio London Breakfast Show (7am-10am) after nearly 20 years.

In a statement Vanessa said "I have loved every moment with my Radio 2 'Early Birds' and will miss my Lovely Listeners, Jolly Good Fellows and beloved friends and colleagues at Radio 2 with all my heart. However, after almost 12 blissful years, I now need to step down to catch up on a much needed decade’s deficit of beauty sleep!

"It’s been an honour and privilege to be the Breakfast voice of BBC Radio London for 20 years and although I’m leaving the show, I’ll continue to expect hugs from my lovely listeners when I see them on the streets of London!

Discussing the presenter's pending exit, Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, says: "For almost 12 years, Vanessa has made her live weekday Early Breakfast Show her very own kingdom, and I’d like to thank her wholeheartedly for the thousands of middle-of-the-night starts she’s made to entertain the Radio 2 listeners."

Craig Charles

Sadly for fans, Craig Charles' House Party - which currently airs Saturday, 10pm–midnight - will come to an end.

RuPaul's Drag Race star Michelle Visage will kick off the change in proceedings with her own show in a primetime Friday night spot. as well series two of her BBC Sounds podcast, Michelle Visage's Rule Breakers.

Speaking after the announcement, Craig said: "Every party must come to an end and although I'm packing up my Trunk of Funk on Radio 2, I've loved bringing the party to its funky listeners each Saturday night."

However, Craig can still be heard on BBC Radio 6 Music each weekday, from 1-4pm, and The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show - which airs Saturday nights, 6-9pm.

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