Tony Blackburn is stepping down from his widespread BBC Radio present

Tony Blackburn has introduced that he’s stepping down from his widespread BBC Radio London present after ‘many glad years’.

The radio DJ, 80, took to Twitter on Thursday to share the information that he can be leaving the BBC Radio London present as a result of it’s ‘time to maneuver on’.

He confirmed that his final episode on Soul On Sunday will air on Sunday as he prepares to bid farewell to the present in a matter of days.

Tony clarified that he’ll nonetheless be persevering with along with his BBC Radio 2 programme in addition to different BBC reveals regardless of stepping down from BBC Radio London. 

Taking to X – previously generally known as Twitter – he introduced: ‘Hi everybody, simply thought I’d let you already know that after many glad years on @BBCRadioLondon I’ve determined to go away the station and this Sunday can be my final Soul On Sunday. 

‘Over the years we have now had numerous enjoyable with some implausible dwell reveals for Children in Need and have performed some nice music. 

‘I’ll nonetheless be persevering with @BBCBerkshire @BBCOxford and @BBCRadioSolent on Sunday afternoon and astray on the nice @BBCRadio2.

‘This is completely my resolution and due to the numerous glad years there, however time to maneuver on. Thanks for listening.’

In a follow-up put up, the previous I’m A Celebrity star thanked his ‘sort’ followers for his or her messages following his information and teased another thrilling reveals he has lined up.

He penned: Thanks very a lot for all of your pretty messages as we speak you actually are very sort. I sit up for taking part in a number of Soul Music for you sooner or later, in reality developing on @BBCRadio2.

‘I’ve two Sounds Of Soul reveals on December twenty sixth at 12pm and on New Years Day additionally at 12pm, so the nice music goes on and I hope you’ll be a part of me.’

Taking to social media, followers had been fast to share their devastation that he can be stepping down from his widespread present.

One wrote: ‘You will definitely be missed Tony, by me & many many others Wish You All The Best.! x.’

Another mentioned: ‘Goodbye farewell thanks for the laughs the music and also you Mr B,’ and a 3rd penned: ‘Good luck Tony.’ 

A fourth commented: ‘I want you properly Tony – you’re completely inside my music tapestry of my life as listened to you early on again in Seventies none extra keen about music than you sir – huge respect and gratitude to you really.’

And one other gushed: ‘Tony you deserve at the very least a little bit of a break out of your busy schedule.

‘Still onerous at it in spite of everything these years, you have got performed the sound tracks to so many lives in these years. Long May it proceed, you’re an inspiration.’

Earlier this yr, Tony briefly pulled out of his widespread Sound of the 60s Tour and Radio 2 present earlier this yr after he was taken in poor health.

At the time, he mentioned he had a chest an infection however in August, he confirmed he had life-threatening situations sepsis, pneumonia and blood poisoning.

He mentioned he had solely simply totally recovered over the summer season after he was discharged from the Wellington Hospital in London in May and continued to have each day injections afterwards. 

‘I used to be doing three every week at one time forgetting that I’m now somewhat bit older, so I ended up in hospital for 2 months with sepsis and pneumonia and blood poisoning,’ he mentioned on BBC Radio Scotland.

‘And I did not realise how unwell I used to be till in the future within the hospital my complete household had been gathered across the mattress. And I believed “this isn’t good”.

‘A few weeks in the past I went to see my specialist and he mentioned ‘you’re cured’, in order that was a pleasant factor to listen to.’

After a three-month break, Tony returned to his tour however solely went forward with one present every week, relatively than the three per week he had beforehand deliberate. 

Back in February 2016, Tony was taken off air by the BBC following the Dame Janet Smith overview into sexual abuse on the station.

He was sacked as a result of his proof to the Savile inquiry, which centred round an allegation made towards him in 1971, ‘fell quick’ of the requirements the BBC demanded.

However, Tony – who was the primary DJ to broadcast on Radio 1 upon its 1967 launch – claimed he was a ‘scapegoat’ after their resolution and he was reinstated months later.

At the time, Tony strenuously denied that he ‘seduced’ Hertfordshire teenager Claire McAlpine within the Seventies and contended that he was by no means questioned in regards to the allegation by his bosses.

Dame Janet Smith – writer of the Savile overview – described his proof as flawed and it was ‘rejected’ as a result of it ‘fell quick’ of the requirements the BBC demanded.

Tony claimed he was advised if he resigned from the BBC there can be a possibility for him to return, however he refused ‘as a result of I’ve acquired nothing to cover’.

He was later reinstated and admitted he discovered it ‘troublesome’ to speak in regards to the scenario as he tried to place the scenario ‘behind’ him.

After he was reinstated, the BBC mentioned it stood by the findings of Dame Janet Smith’s overview, which made no findings as to any allegations regarding his relationship with the woman, and the choice to take Blackburn off air at first of this yr.

Tony is the newest star to step down from a BBC Radio present, after Clara Amfo give up her presenting job on BBC Radio 1’s Future Sounds earlier this week.

The DJ, 39, who competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2020 with Aljaz Skorjanec, issued an announcement on Tuesday and shared a put up of her within the recording studio on Instagram.

She penned: ‘With immense gratitude and thought given, I’ve made the selection to say goodbye to Future Sounds on @bbcradio1.⁣

‘I’ll save the lengthy paragraphs (cos you already know I really like ’em!) for my remaining present however for now, I’ll say I’m so pleased with the work I’ve been capable of do on each kind present over time from the eighth ground, up and down UK and random pop stars homes! 

‘I’m grateful to have had the ears of the listeners who’ve persistently proven up for me.⁣

‘I’m enamoured by each manufacturing group I’ve had the privilege of working alongside for each broadcast.⁣ 

‘I’m so honoured by the unimaginable artists and their hardworking groups who’ve chosen the present to share their work and intimate ideas, always offering probably the most treasured issues all of us have to maintain going on this wild world’.

She concluded: ‘I’m energised and excited for my subsequent chapter as a part of the community and past!⁣ ⁣See you at 6pm Clara x’.⁣

Clara, thought to earn round £150k per yr, was flooded by feedback from her followers and well-known mates, with fellow Radio 1 star Greg James writing: ‘Love yeeeeeeeeeew ❤️’ and Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball gushing: ‘oh clara new adventures forward. large like to you goddess x’

Strictly’s Angela Scanlon penned: ‘Yes babs!! Up up and away xx’ whereas Loose Women’s Judi Love added: ‘The world is prepared on your subsequent transfer!!’

Stacey Dooley commented a sequence of clapping fingers emjois, whereas Claudia Winkleman posted a string of hearts. 

Jack Saunders – who presents the station’s Future Artists and The Official Chart reveals – can be taking up Clara’s function from April 15. 

He took to his personal Instagram to announce the information, and shared a slew of throwback snaps of himself as a youngster beginning in radio.

Alongside he wrote an earnest caption, writing that he had been impressed by Radio 1 DJs as a toddler and had lengthy held a dream to current Future Sounds.

Jack wrote: ‘The present (and it is earlier entities) is the premier style making music present. It has influenced the music style of generations and I’m so BLOODY EXCITED THAT I BROKE DOWN IN TEARS AT A RESTAURANT YESTERDAY WHEN I FOUND OUT that I’ll get to be the brand new host of Future Sounds from fifteenth April 2024.

‘You and me and one of the best new music on the planet, I could not consider a extra good strategy to spend my weekday evenings. We did it’.

Clara beforehand defined how she had needed to be on the radio since she was a toddler, telling Metro in 2021: ‘I’ve actually distinct reminiscences of being in my room alone as a child and simply listening to the radio for hours, pretending to be the presenter.

‘I’d both repeat their phrases or remix, pondering my 10-year-old self may do higher.’ 

She began out as a common workplace assistant at Kiss FM earlier than changing into a presenter there and joined BBC Radio 1Xtra as host of the weekend breakfast present in September 2013.

She joined Radio 1 in 2015, taking on from Fearne Cotton to host the Live Lounge and interviewed Jay-Z, Dua Lipa, Kendrick Lamar and Ariana Grande in that point.

Clara then took on Annie Mac’s Future Sounds present on Radio 1 from July 2021 till her exit this week.

Outside of radio she has appeared on Strictly, Celebrity Gogglebox, The Weakest Link and RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs the World.

Clara’s shock exit is the newest in a mass exodus of radio presenters from the BBC lately.

Earlier this month, Claudia Winkleman introduced she can be quitting her Radio 2 present after 15 years on air, with Romesh Ranganathan set to take over. 

The presenter, 51, shared the information together with her listeners throughout her present admitting she needs to spend extra time together with her kids.

She shares Jake, 20, Matilda, 17, and Arthur, 11, together with her movie producer companion, Kris Thykier, 50, who she married in 2000.

Claudia’s remaining present will broadcast in March, after which she can be changed by Romesh from April. 

The media persona defined the way it had been an ‘absolute privilege’ to host the present as she thanked her listeners. 

She started: ‘I’d like to share thoughts, firstly, I’m going to say it out loud and with vim, I really like Radio 2.’

‘It is an absolute privilege to be right here each Saturday, chatting to wonderful friends, being with Sally and primarily learn your implausible messages. 

‘But this is the factor and it’s such a boring cliché so I apologise. Time goes too quick. My daughter is on the point of depart dwelling and he or she was 3 about 5 minutes in the past. 

‘I nonetheless have somewhat one who desires to be with me. I do not understand how lengthy that may final and I simply must be at dwelling extra. 

‘So my information at 10 is that I’m leaving – however I’ve two items of remarkable information. One – the particular person taking on is without doubt one of the funniest and smartest individuals on earth. 

‘We are going to like listening to him each Saturday at 10. Think of this if you’ll as an early Christmas current. 

‘The one and solely Romesh Ranganathan goes to be right here from April and he’s majestic. 

‘Number two, the second piece of fine information, is earlier than I depart in March the bosses have mentioned I can play, and I’m unapologetic about this, an obscene quantity of this.’

She went on to play Oasis’ hit observe You Gotta Roll With it. 

Claudia joined BBC Radio 2 in 2008 to host comedy quiz sequence Hot Gossip earlier than transferring to Friday nights to host the Claudia Winkleman Arts Show. 

In 2016, she started presenting Claudia On Sunday and moved to her Saturday morning slot in February 2021, changing Irish broadcaster Graham Norton who moved to current a present on Virgin Radio.

The identical week of Claudia’s exit, beloved BBC radio presenter Andrew Peach additionally hung up his headphones after 31 years working on the company.

The star hosted BBC Radio Berkshire’s breakfast present, which he branded The Peach Show, for 18 years having beforehand labored elsewhere on the Beeb.

He labored on a variety of excessive profile tales, together with the protection of Queen Elizabeth II’s demise and in addition interviewed Prime Minister Teresa May. 

Reflecting on his profession, Andrew mentioned: ‘I’ve broadcast from Washington, Prague and Dusseldorf – and I’ve endured the ups and downs of being a Reading FC fan by numerous play-off remaining defeats and our promotion to the Premier League in 2006…

‘This job has been the best privilege. Daily radio reveals like this are, above all, a relationship. A heat and genuine relationship with the viewers…

‘We’ve chosen to spend time collectively day after day, month after month, yr after yr. That relationship is so treasured and I do know I’ll miss it desperately…

‘The programme has introduced individuals collectively, utilized a little bit of strain right here and there and meant that, occasionally, we have modified issues for the higher…

‘Although it is time for me to seek out some new mountains to climb, I’m so grateful to have loved greater than 30 years in my dream job.’

Last month, Carol Vorderman was axed by BBC Radio Wales for breaching the broadcaster’s new social media pointers.

The former Countdown star, 62, who has been on the station for 5 years, mentioned she was ‘not ready to cease’ venting her ‘sturdy beliefs’ on Twitter and Instagram. 

Carol shared an announcement confirming she had left the station, saying she was not keen to surrender voicing her opinions on the UK authorities on-line.

She mentioned: ‘The BBC lately launched new social media pointers, which I respect. 

‘However, regardless of my present being light-hearted with no political content material, it was defined to me that, as it’s a weekly present in my title, the brand new pointers would apply to all and any content material that I put up all yr spherical.

‘Since these non-negotiable adjustments to my radio contract had been made, I’ve in the end discovered that I’m not ready to lose my voice on social media, change who I’m, or lose the power to precise the sturdy beliefs I maintain in regards to the political turmoil this nation finds itself in.

‘My resolution has been to proceed to criticise the present UK Government for what it has finished to the nation which I really like – and I’m not ready to cease. 

‘I used to be introduced as much as combat for what I imagine in, and I’ll keep on. Consequently I’ve now breached the brand new pointers and BBC Wales administration have determined I need to depart. We every should make our selections.

‘I’m unhappy to have to go away the great mates I’ve made at Radio Wales. I want them, and all of our listeners, all of the love on this planet. We laughed rather a lot, and we are going to miss one another dearly. But, for now, one other fascinating chapter begins.’ 

The BBC mentioned: ‘Carol has been a presenter on BBC Radio Wales since 2018. We’d wish to thank her for her work and contribution to the station over the previous 5 years.’ 

In addition to her weekly present on BBC Radio Wales, Carol additionally hosted topical information quiz present Have I Got News For You on BBC1 in May this yr.

Carol had been accused of ‘flagrantly breaching’ the BBC‘s impartiality guidelines together with her anti-Tory outbursts, which have included calling ministers ‘a mendacity bunch of grasping, corrupt, harmful, hateful, divisive, gaslighting crooks’.

The BBC introduced in new social media guidelines for its presenters following outrage earlier this yr over Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker’s tweet which evaluating the Government’s Rwanda coverage to Nazi Germany. 

These forestall high-profile stars from attacking political events and particular person politicians in addition to weighing into controversial points earlier than elections or referendums. The guidelines apply when their present is on air and in a two-week window earlier than and after. 

Earlier this year, Ken Bruce also jumped ship from the BBC after 45 years for commercial rival Greatest Hits Radio, declaring: ‘I’ve done everything it is possible to do at Radio 2’.

At the time the Scottish broadcaster, 72, said ‘the time is right’ for him to move on from the weekday mid-morning show he’s presented since 1986 – with just a two year gap between 1990 and 1992 – having first walked into the corporation in 1977.

In January, he informed his 9million listeners he was leaving, but insisted he is not retiring, but heading into commercial radio and taking his much-loved PopMaster quiz with him. 

But in September Ken revealed he decided to jump ship before he started to become ‘bitter and entrenched’, saying: ‘It was a long time and I thought I’m doing the same thing every day.

‘There was a point of saying that I can’t enthuse over all the new music I’m having to play as much as I could over the old music. And I didn’t want to get to the stage where I was badmouthing some of the music [or] pretending to like it.’

The father of six elaborated: ‘I certainly did think I’ve got a bit more to offer. I didn’t want to be declining over the next three or four years and still doing the same show, but everybody around me getting younger and thinking, ‘Am I the old bloke in the corner here?’

‘I was the youngster on the station and then almost overnight I became the veteran, and I didn’t want to become the old grump in the corner saying ‘things aren’t what they used to be’, or [to] any new idea say, ‘No, we tried that, didn’t work’, which does happen. I just felt I would get more bitter and entrenched.’

Ken then claimed BBC bosses terminated his contract early, stating he intended to work right up until the end of March, but his final show aired March 3.

He said on Twitter: ‘I will be presenting my last show on Radio 2 next Friday. I had intended fulfilling my contract until the end of March but the BBC has decided it wants me to leave earlier. Let’s enjoy the week ahead.’

In response, a BBC spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘Ken decided to leave Radio 2 and it’s always been known he’s leaving in March. 

‘Returning to Wogan House for a week after a month of broadcasting the Piano Room sessions at Maida Vale provided a natural break. We wish Ken all the best for the future.’ 

His slot was then taken over by Vernon Kay, but lost 1.4 million listeners in its first three months without Ken.

BBC Radio fans have repeatedly accused the network of ageism as the late Paul O’Grady, Steve Wright, 69, Graham Norton, 60, and Simon Mayo, 65, all left and were replaced with a younger line-up in the last couple of years.

The month before his tragic death, Paul admitted: ‘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.’

Vanessa Feltz, 61, and Craig Charles, 59, have also moved on, with Vanessa saying her exit in August 2022 was because she was a woman over the age of 60 and claiming older presenters are ‘not valued in the same way’.