BBC Cuts

Slightly off-topic but I couldn't help noticing this...

Ref: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-45938829

Looks like Mayo has potentially been poached by a rival broadcasters as Mayo's twitter announcement mentions "other radio adventures beckon!". As others have commented as the BBC looks to cut costs it's easy pickings for commercial rivals who have higher budgets, and can offer higher salaries to tempt talent away from the BBC.

He is writing books so maybe not a full time gig at another radio station.

The rumour mill suggested not so long back that he could be on his way to Smooth. I'd be surprised if he didn't end up somewhere else, but I suspect commercial radio will be a bit more flexible with the time he wants to write books.

I'd suggest this one has been more prompted by the Beeb's decision to change drivetime into a hybrid show that never once looked like working - the decision not to keep Jo Whiley on the show when Simon leaves speaks volumes. That said, it probably is easier for a commercial station to persuade an obviously unhappy BBC jock to leave if you know their salary to start with.

There were also rumours around the time Evans' departure was announced that another Radio 2 presenter was also in talks with Wireless Group.

I could see a talkRADIO show being a possibility for Mayo given his track-record on 5 Live. He strikes me as having too much to say for Smooth's somewhat restrictive format.

If the BBC had any sense it'd get the excellent Richard Allinson back for Drivetime, rumours suggest otherwise though, with Sara Cox reportedly in the frame.

Wake up with Ball, go home with Cox. I like the sound of that.

Books and films of the books:

Juggling my writing and radio has become increasingly tricky (a nice problem to have). I’ve just signed a new 2 book deal with the nice folk at Transworld and they’ll be expecting something half decent before too long. On top of that my Itch books are about to be filmed for television in Australia and the work turning Mad Blood Stirring into a movie continues apace.

If they don't use that for the marketing, they'll have missed a huge trick.

Waking up with Johnny Ball?... I'd rather not.

You know those comments that you can't tell if somebody has massively missed the point or it's a really bad attempt at a weak joke?

Cue another Top 40 Shocking Celebrity show with Ashley Pearson talking about something that got a passing mention in the UK media like it was the headline incident it was in the USA.

And if you want to see what the idents would be like, just watch BBC One.