Defiant Lauren Laverne vows to press on after she was criticised for her performance while standing in for Kirsty Young as host of BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs
- Lauren Laverne hosted BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs for the first time
- The 41-year-old was subjected to heavy criticism by Melanie McDonagh
- Writing in The Spectator, Mcdonagh said Laverne would ‘alienate’ listeners
- Laverne has seen a surge of support on twitter following the harsh criticism
Lauren Laverne, 41, came under fire from the spectator as her presence may ‘alienate listeners’ from Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs programme
Lauren Laverne has thanked fans for their support after she was criticised for her performance as host of Desert Island Discs, filling in for Kirsty Young.
The BBC asked Laverne, 41, to host after Young stepped away from the Radio 4 programme due to illness.
Young, 50, recently announced that she will not return, but no long-term decisions have been made about the popular show’s host.
In an article for The Spectator, headlined ‘Desert Island Discs has completely lost the plot’, writer Melanie McDonagh said that the BBC ‘is trying to attract under-35s’.
She wrote: ‘It’s the only possible reason why Lauren Laverne, DJ, pop musician, a face for television rather than radio, replaced Kirsty Young for her sick leave.’
‘She runs Kathy Clugston of Gardeners’ Question Time close as the worst appointment Radio 4 has made in its apparent effort to alienate its listeners.’
The =article has caused an outpouring of support from ordinary listeners as well as stars like funnyman Matt Lucas, broadcaster Sara Cox and Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh.
Posting on Twitter, Laverne said: ‘Today has been an entirely unexpected inventory of who is in my corner. I have to say I couldn’t be happier,’ she wrote on Twitter.
‘In fact, it’s been the best day in ages. Isn’t it funny how it goes that way sometimes? Thanks very much to everyone who has been so kind.’
She later added: ‘The wave of messages is as surreal as it is wonderful…….As a seasoned festival-goer I’ve had many surreal experiences while wearing a kagoule but this is a new personal best.’
In her corner: Despite the criticism Laverne has remained surprisingly upbeat, saying that the surge of support for her left her with ‘the best day in ages.’
‘Thank you all so much for your kind words. I hope to live up to them.’
Writer Caitlin Moran had written in support: ‘I thought she (McDonagh) had a point – You ARE too young and beautiful.’
Trainspotting author Welsh wrote: ‘You’re the best that there is and they are the absolute worst.’
Comedy star Lucas wrote: ‘You are the best’ and singer Tracey Thorn, who was previously interviewed by Laverne on the show, wrote: ‘I am in your corner.’
Young announced in July that she was stepping down permanently as host of Desert Island Discs, saying her break from the radio show has inspired her to ‘pursue new challenges’.
Kirsty Young, 50, will be stepping down from her usual spot as presenter of the show due to issue with her health
The broadcaster first presented the castaway programme 12 years ago but began a spell away from it last summer after being diagnosed with a form of fibromyalgia.
Young took over from Sue Lawley in 2006 and was praised for changing the feel of the show, in which guests share their favourite music while talking about their life.
Desert Island Discs was the creation of Roy Plomley – the idea came to him while he was at home and in his pyjamas.
The first broadcast was recorded in the BBC’s bomb-damaged Maida Vale studio on January 27 1942 and aired in the Forces Programme at 8pm two days later.
It was later presented by Sir Michael Parkinson, and Lawley became the first female host.
Laverne, also a 6 Music host, saw her salary increase by £75,000 to between £305,000 and £309,999, according to recently published BBC figures.