Former BBC radio presenter David Hamilton has slammed the BBC's decision to axe DJ Steve Wright from his BBC Radio Two show stating: "you can't be sexist, you can't be racist, but it seems you can be ageist".
The BBC have been accused of “ageism” 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.
The panel discussed the axing of Steve Wright
GB NEWS
Mr Hamilton condemned the broadcast companies decision, exclaiming: "Listeners do not like change, and I think the presenters develop a bond with the listeners and when they loose that microphone its a bit like loosing friends and family."
Former BBC Radio 1 DJ, Mike Read denied the claims of alleged "ageism" claiming "it happens throughout the years to everyone".
Peter Purves, former BBC presenter said "familiarity is what the audience like" and deemed the decision as "agism pure and simple".
The discussion follows the announcement from DJ Steve Wright, who said he was leaving his show later in the year, following two decades at the radio station.
The DJ announced his departure at the end of his daytime show, explaining the reasons behind his exit: "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.
“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 Two, and so how can I possibly complain?
"The support and creative freedom that I’m given is fantastic at Radio Two, and really I can’t hold the slot forever. So let’s give somebody else a go.”
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.