BBC radio presenter reveals she was saddened by way her show exit was handled

Kirsty Lang has admitted she ‘lamented’ BBC bosses for the way they handled her exit from her Radio 4 show, after hosting the programme for 19 years.

The star, 60, who used to present BBC Radio 4’s Front Row, before moving to Round Britain Quiz, shared she was not allowed to say goodbye to her listeners.

She also explained that the company, who persuaded her to not bid her listeners farewell, did not announce her departure from the show.

Kirsty wrote on Twitter: ‘Like @revrichardcoles I also feel sad that @bbcradio4 never announced my exit from @bbcfrontrow & persuaded me not to say goodbye to listeners after 19 years of presenting.

After a series of angry messages from fans who were shocked at her admission, she later wrote: ‘Thanks for the lovely messages from @BBCFrontRow listeners.’

Sad: Kirsty Lang has admitted she ‘lamented’ BBC bosses for the way they handled her exit from her Radio 4 show, after hosting the programme for 19 years

She also clarified that she left voluntarily and added: ‘My lament was the lack of an official announcement or goodbye but I’m now very happy to be the new presenter of Round Britain Quiz.’

MailOnline has contacted BBC Radio 4 for comment.  

It comes after Reverend Richard was left feeling ‘frustrated and sad’ over the way his BBC Radio 4 departure has been handled after 12 years on air.

The clergyman, 60, is departing Saturday Live – which he co-hosts with broadcaster Nikki Bedi – after the show was relocated from London to Cardiff.

His exit comes amid a mounting ‘ageism’ row at the BBC following a major shake-up at sister station Radio 2. 

The broadcaster has faced a mass exodus of top talent, with stars Ken Bruce, Paul O’Grady, Vanessa Feltz and Craig Charles among those to have departed.  

Richard’s final show will be on Saturday and he has now addressed his exit for the first time, admitting it feels ‘a little bit rushed’.

He told The Guardian newspaper: ‘If you leave a programme after 12 years, a gentler process would have been nice. But what happens happens.

Unhappy: It comes after Reverend Richard was also left feeling 'frustrated and sad' over the way his BBC Radio 4 departure has been handled after 12 years on air

Unhappy: It comes after Reverend Richard was also left feeling ‘frustrated and sad’ over the way his BBC Radio 4 departure has been handled after 12 years on air

Sad goodbye: Richard's final show will be on Saturday and he has now addressed his exit for the first time, admitting it feels 'a little bit rushed'

Sad goodbye: Richard’s final show will be on Saturday and he has now addressed his exit for the first time, admitting it feels ‘a little bit rushed’

Moving on: The clergyman, 60, is departing Saturday Live - which he co-hosts with broadcaster Nikki Bedi - after the show was relocated from London to Cardiff

Moving on: The clergyman, 60, is departing Saturday Live – which he co-hosts with broadcaster Nikki Bedi – after the show was relocated from London to Cardiff

‘It just feels a little bit rushed. It’s been frustrating for me having to wait for an announcement, and now it’s my last programme on Saturday. I’d rather have had a longer goodbye to listeners.

‘It just feels a bit sad. I’m sorry to go; I’ve loved the programme, I’ve loved the people I’ve worked with, and it’s been a big part of my life. I shall miss it.’

Richard – who was one half of the 1980s British synth-pop duo the Communards –  said that it is a ‘shame’ the programme is unable to remain in London as he admitted he believes that the show is ‘doing really well’ there.

The decision to relocate the show comes as part of the BBC’s wider plan to move some key jobs and programmes out of London – to make the corporation more reflective of the UK as a whole.

A BBC spokesperson told the publication: ‘Richard has been brilliant on Saturday mornings and very much continues to be part of the Radio 4 family.

‘We look forward to working with him on future projects.’

Richard thanked listeners for their ‘kind comments’ in a post on social media – where he revealed he would be continuing with podcast ‘The Rabbit Hole Detectives’ on Spotify.

News of Richard’s departure left listeners saddened, with one person saying: ‘Disappointed to hear this news. Very much enjoyed Saturday Live with you at its helm. Hope enjoyable new projects beckon.’

Others vented their fury at the BBC, with one person saying: ‘The way the BBC is casually jettisoning its presenters at the moment is truly appalling.’

Listeners reacted with anger at news Richard would be departing from Saturday Live - with some lashing out at the BBC for 'casually jettisoning' its popular team of presenters

Listeners reacted with anger at news Richard would be departing from Saturday Live – with some lashing out at the BBC for ‘casually jettisoning’ its popular team of presenters

Richard took to social media to thank people for all their 'kind comments' following news of his departure from Saturday Live.

Richard took to social media to thank people for all their ‘kind comments’ following news of his departure from Saturday Live.

Scottish broadcaster Ken Bruce, 72, announced he would be ending his 45-year career with the BBC last month. He is joining rival commercial station Greatest Hits Radio

Scottish broadcaster Ken Bruce, 72, announced he would be ending his 45-year career with the BBC last month. He is joining rival commercial station Greatest Hits Radio

New role: Paul O'Grady has joined rival radio station Boom eight months after quitting Radio 2 following an ageism row

New role: Paul O’Grady has joined rival radio station Boom eight months after quitting Radio 2 following an ageism row

Out with the old: Radio 2 fans have accused the BBC of ageism as a string of older DJs step back, including Paul O'Grady, Steve Wright, Ken Bruce and Simon Mayo

Out with the old: Radio 2 fans have accused the BBC of ageism as a string of older DJs step back, including Paul O’Grady, Steve Wright, Ken Bruce and Simon Mayo

While another added: ‘So sorry you’ve been treated this way by the BBC, you’ll be missed.’ 

Last month it was revealed that broadcasting veteran Ken Bruce would be leaving Radio 2, to join rival station Greatest Hits Radio next month – and bringing his popular midmorning music quiz Popmaster with him. 

He said: ‘It’s great to be working with the team at Boom again. It already feels like my new radio home. My producer Malcolm and I are looking forward to our special TeamPOG show on Easter Sunday – who knows, this could be the start of a regular gig.’ 

Earlier this week it was revealed that Paul O’Grady has joined a rival radio station eight months after quitting BBC Radio 2.

The presenter, 67, hosted a Sunday show for 14 years on the BBC station before he quit the station amid a mass exodus of popular talent at the corporation.

He will now be reprising his show on Boom Radio and will host his first Sunday show on Easter Sunday alongside regular sidekick, long suffering producer Malcolm Prince.

The Liverpool-born star enjoyed more than a decade at Radio 2 hosting the Sunday afternoon show.

But the host was unhappy about being asked to share duties with Rob Beckett, 37, which saw the comedian taking over for two three-month stints each year.

Speaking last month, Paul confirmed the schedule’s shake-up was the reason behind his departure.

He told Metro: ‘I was disappointed because I’m a great believer in continuity.

‘If you go off for 13 weeks and somebody else comes on, the listeners don’t know when you’re back on.’

He also questioned Radio 2’s desire to appeal to younger audiences, saying: ‘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.’

He added: ‘Radio 2 was always for an older audience’.

In the past three years, BBC Radio has also lost big-hitters Graham Norton, who quit the station just before Christmas in 2020 but whose talk show is broadcast on BBC One, and Simon Mayo.

Radio 2 has been trying to woo younger listeners with fresh talent including ex-Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK judge Michelle Visage, Waterloo Road actress Angela Griffin, and DJ Spoony, while also reducing the bill it pays some of its big-hitters.

Bruce was the latest star to depart Radio 2, hosting his final show earlier this month after 31 years.

He accused bosses of hastening up his departure following his move to commercial radio.

The 71-year-old Scot Tweeted ahead of his final show: ‘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.’

A Radio 2 spokeswoman said: ‘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.’

Bruce is being replaced by presenter Vernon Kay, 48, as part of Radio 2’s bid to rejuvenate the station’s line-up.

Other veteran stars including Vanessa Feltz, 61, Craig Charles, 58, and Simon Mayo, 64, announced their departures over the past months, having been replaced by younger stars, sparking complaints from listeners, accusing the station of ageism.

Steve Wright, 68, also left his weekday afternoon show last year, replaced by former Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills, 49.

It comes amid a wider ‘brain drain’ after journalists Dan Walker, Jon Sopel, Emily Maitlis and Andrew Marr all ditched the corporation for high-paid jobs at rival broadcasters including LBC and Channel 5, where they are not bound by the BBC’s strict impartiality rules.

Radio 2 is still the UK’s most popular station, but its overall weekly audience has fallen by 580,000 to 14.29million.

The BBC has lost more over-45s (798,000) than those aged 15-44 (479,000) in the last year.

Commercial stations have gained 802,000 over-45s, an increase of 4.2 per cent.

Radio 3 has suffered the biggest station-wide drop, down 6.3 per cent to 1.8million, while Radio 1 – home to DJs including Greg James and Clara Amfo – is down 4.6 per cent to 7.7million listeners a week. Radio 4 has dropped 3.8 per cent to 10million.

Overall, the weekly reach of radio in the UK is up from 49.4million to 49.6million per week.

Boom Radio is an independent UK radio station aimed at baby boomers and bosses hope to lure Radio 2 listeners put off by the introduction of younger DJs.

On Christmas Day, Paul hosted a one-off show which pulled in a record number of listeners to the station.

Speaking about Paul’s new show, Boom co-founder Phil Riley says: ‘It’s a testament to the success of Boom Radio that a broadcaster like Paul, at the top of his game, has agreed to join us for this Easter special.

‘We know our audience loved him at Christmas, so it’s great to have him back.’

Paul’s Easter Sunday show on Boom Radio starts at 2pm.

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