‘It’s time for a bit more sleep’: Nicky Campbell announces he’s QUIT BBC Radio 5 Live’s Breakfast show after 20 years – but reveals he’s moving to a slot just HOURS later
- The broadcaster, 60, announced he’s landed his own show that will air just hours later, and see him spend more time talking to listeners through phone-ins
- In a statement about his departure, Nicky joked he has been waking up at 4am for 19 years and ‘it’s time for a bit of sleep.’
- The presenter set to replace Nicky, who joined 5 Live from Radio 1 in 1997, where he had worked for ten years, is yet to be announced
Nicky Campbell has quit the BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast show after nearly 20 years in a new station shake-up.
The new changes will see the broadcaster, 60, take on his own show which will be an extended version of his popular phone-ins that will air just hours later.
In a statement about his departure, Nicky joked he has been waking up at 4am for 19 years and ‘it’s time for a bit of sleep.’
New job: Nicky Campbell has quit the BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast show after nearly 20 years in a new station shake-up
The programme, which launches later this year, will run every weekday from 9-11am and the presenter will have more time to speak with listeners.
As well as his departure from the breakfast show, it will also mean he will be working separately from his co-host of 10 years Rachel Burden.
Speaking about the decision, Nicky said: ‘It’s why I love 5 Live – hearing from listeners and talking to people about what really does matter to them and their communities.
‘It’s a constant privilege hearing people’s passion, candour, anger and raw honesty. Our listeners make me listen. They make me think, laugh and cry. I can’t wait for this to start.
Throwback: The new changes will see Nicky, who joined the show in 1997 (pictured), take on his own show which will be an extended version of his popular phone-ins
‘Leaving Breakfast is really tough after so many unforgettable programmes with Rachel and the team, but I’ve been getting up at 4am for 19 years now so it’s time I had a bit more sleep!’
Taking to Twitter after the news was announced, Nicky said: ‘Never been more excited about a new programme. It’s like a dream move. Except. I am going miss Rachel Burden so much.’
His co-host replied: ‘End of an era. Beginning of a new one. And the show must go on.’
The presenter set to replace Nicky, who joined 5 Live from Radio 1 in 1997, where he had worked for ten years, is yet to be announced.
Icon: In a statement about his departure, Nicky joked he has been waking up at 4am for 19 years and ‘it’s time for a bit of sleep’ (pictured broadcasting from home during lockdown)
As well as his new show, he will also front a new podcast for 5 Live and BBC Sounds which is in the pipeline.
Heidi Dawson, Controller of BBC Radio 5 Live, says: ‘Nicky is the master of radio phone-in broadcasting. The last year with the pandemic has shown just how deep Nicky’s connection is with our listeners across the UK.
‘They have opened up to him about every detail of their lives through this difficult time. We want to give our audience more time on air and Nicky is the perfect presenter to enable that conversation.
‘So it’s exciting he’ll launch this new show for us, giving him more time to do what he does best.’
Shake up: The programme, which launches later this year, will run every weekday from 9-11am and the presenter (pictured in 2018) will have more time to speak with listeners