OHMYGOSSIP — Reverend Richard Coles has been left “frustrated” and “sad” over the way his BBC Radio 4 exit has been handled after 12 years on air.
The 60-year-old clergyman is departing weekend programme ‘Saturday Live’ – which he co-hosts with broadcaster Nikki Bedi – after the BBC opted to relocate the show from London to Cardiff.
Richard’s final show will be on Saturday (25.03.23), but the broadcaster didn’t make a statement about it until five days before his last episode, and the radio presenter admits 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.
“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 admits it is “a shame” the programme cannot remain in London, where he believes it was “doing really well”.
He said: “I’d have preferred the programme to stay in London. I think it would be better. I was happy doing it and I think it’s gone from strength to strength.
“Moving it to Cardiff, I don’t really see how that works, but that’s not my decision – that’s other people’s decision.
“I think the programme was doing really well, actually. We were both enjoying doing it and it’s a shame it can’t continue in the form it’s been in for a long time, which works, and which pleases listeners.”
The decision for Richard to depart the programme came weeks ago, after the broadcaster decide to relocate it to Cardiff, which 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.”

Source: VacationHunter.Online