When Chris Moyles announced last July that he was leaving Radio 1’s prestigious Breakfas
When Chris Moyles announced last July that he was leaving Radio 1’s prestigious Breakfast Show to be succeeded in September by Nick Grimshaw, speculation began as to where he would end up within the BBC. Millions of listeners had tuned in to hear his final programme as a video montage showed him departing the BBC’s iconic Broadcasting House building, closing the book on his time as the show’s presenter for eight and a half years.
As he went on tour to play King Herod in the play “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Radio 1 bosses had begun negotiations on future projects with the popular yet at times controversial DJ, including, as reports at the time had indicated, the possibility of a late night shift.
The late night shift had been given to Phil Taggart and Alice Levine after discussions broke down, but it is said after those negotiations that an appropriate slot has not been located for Moyles, according to a report in the Mirror cited by the Radio Today blog. Radio 1 had been under pressure to attract more listeners to the 15-29 year old demographic,
The report indicates that in addition to work at Radio 1, Radio 2 and 5 live had also been approached for possible programme work with Moyles. Yet, a BBC source told the Mirror that executives had difficulty in finding the best slot for him and adapting it for their respective audiences. This had now prompted a rumour that if Moyles were to make a radio comeback, it would not be with the BBC.
A spokesperson for Radio 2 said the network never reached out to Moyles. But, the spokesperson added, Radio 2 would never rule out working with anyone. A spokesperson for 5 live declined to comment for this story.
At Radio 1, a spokesperson said there had been no updates with regard to negotiations for future programmes with Moyles on the network. A request to Moyles’ management representation seeking comment was not returned.
It is also not clear if Moyles is being paid by the BBC still for his contract, which, the Mirror reported, had not been the case. Moyles’ contract is worth £1 million and is to expire at the beginning of 2014. The Radio Today report had added that Moyles is to continue with his duties as King Herod in another tour this October.
Moyles has already established himself with listeners across the UK because of his work at Radio 1. The outcome of the state of negotiations between Moyles, his representatives and the BBC is yet to be seen, however there are more questions at stake. If Moyles were to return to the BBC’s network of stations, or radio in general, what distinctions would there be in a new programme compared to the one he had previously presented? What would the approach be?
Yet, most importantly, would listeners tune in to hear it, as they did for eight and a half years? If Moyles does indeed make a comeback, the end result would be listenership, and the value listeners have in Moyles back on the UK’s airwaves, be it at the BBC or elsewhere.
What do you think? Would you listen to Chris Moyles if he returned to radio? Did you listen to his Breakfast Show? What is your perception of Moyles? Have your say in the comments section below, on Facebook or on Twitter.
