BBC Radio 2 is engulfed in ageism row over 25-year age gap between ousted DJs and new presenters 

Four long-standing Radio 2 stars are set to be replaced by presenters who are on average 25 years younger.

The BBC has been accused of ‘rank ageism’ after Vanessa Feltz, Paul O’Grady, Craig Charles and Steve Wright – whose ages range from 58 to 68 – announced their departures.

Now chiefs are looking to make Richie Anderson, 34, who reads the travel news on Radio 2, one of their next big names after testing him with holiday cover slots.

He will also appear on Strictly Come Dancing as part of a wider BBC bid to make him a household name. Using Strictly to raise the profile of fledging stars is a tactic bosses have used before.

Last year former rugby player Ugo Monye and deaf EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis were given places on the dance show while employed by the Beeb.

Others set to be added to the Radio 2 roster are Fearne Cotton, 40, Owain Wyn Evans, 38, and O J Borg, 43 – full name Oliver James Borg D’Anastasi – who hosts an overnight show but has been deputising for Wright and Charles.

Their combined average age is 38.75 while Feltz, O’Grady, Charles and Wright’s average is 63.25.

Ms Cotton, who already has a music show on the network, is highly rated by bosses, while Wyn Evans, who is also a weather presenter, has stepped in for Ms Feltz for some time.

Radio 2 recently gave shows to RuPaul’s Drag Race UK judge Michelle Visage, 53, Waterloo Road actress Angela Griffin, 46, and DJ Spoony, 52. Former Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills, 49, will replace Wright.

A BBC insider said: ‘It’s so blatant what is going on here – these younger hosts are being tested out over the summer which is the perfect time to do so. But the age difference between them and the outgoing lot is massive.’

Sources close to Paul O’Grady (pictured), 68, have told The Mail on Sunday that he feels there was an age issue surrounding his departure

Sources close to O’Grady, 68, have told The Mail on Sunday that he feels there was an age issue surrounding his departure.

He had to share his slot with comedian Rob Beckett, 36, with each doing three months on, three months off.

The recent departures have led to much criticism that Radio 2 is ageist.

In July, former BBC radio presenter David Hamilton, 83, said of the decision to axe Wright from his show: ‘You can’t be sexist, you can’t be racist, but it seems you can be ageist.’