The BBC have been accused of “agism” after reportedly axing one of their veteran broadcasters.
Steve Wright announced he would be stepping down from his afternoon show at the end of September after 23 years as part of the station’s schedule shake-up.
But the decision has been criticised by fellow broadcaster Pete Price.
Speaking on GB News, Price said the announcement “stinks of agism” and suggested that Steve Wright was “axed”:
Broadcaster Pete Price
GB News
“Why do these bosses come in and think they know better than the presenters? They don’t. You want to get a life you stupid morons!
“How dare you get rid of Steve Wright!”
The 67-year-old broadcaster shared the news live during his show, Steve Wright in the Afternoon, on Friday saying: “I can’t hold the slot forever, so let’s give somebody else a go.”
Towards the end of the programme, he said: “I’ll try not to become emotional or self-indulgent, this is going to be a little bit difficult.
“At the end of September, I’ll be taking a break from daytime radio. In other words, stepping down from this programme.
Broadcaster Pete Price
GB News
“At the beginning of this year, my friend and boss Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said she wanted to do something different in the afternoons.
“I’ve been doing this programme for 24 years at Radio 2, and so how can I possibly complain? The support and creative freedom as I’m given is fantastic at Radio 2, and really I can’t hold the slot forever. So let’s give somebody else ago.”
He has presented Steve Wright in the Afternoon on the Radio 2 slot since 1999 and also presents Steve Wright’s Sunday Love Songs on the network.
He will be replaced by Scott Mills, who also confirmed he would be stepping away from BBC Radio 1