News / bbc

These are the BBC Radio Bristol presenters who are leaving

By Martin Booth  Friday Apr 21, 2023

Claire Cavanagh, Joe Lemer, Laura Rawlings and Steve Yabsley are the presenters at BBC Radio Bristol who have not been offered a show in the station’s biggest ever presenter shakeup.

Bristol24/7 understands that John Darvall is on a slightly different contract so is staying for the time being, with Ali Vowles also considering her future at the station.

It means that almost the entire Radio Bristol lineup could be going as part of changes as BBC bosses aim “to achieve a better balance between our local online and broadcast services at a time when millions of people increasingly turn to their mobile first for news and information”.

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Breakfast show presenter James Hanson announced his departure on Friday, ten days after Geoff Twentyman also revealed he was leaving.

Hanson was one of the few presenters at the Whiteladies Road studios to be offered a show, but instead has decided to leave for London in order to pursue a freelance career.

BBC senior head of content production, West and South West, Stephanie Marshall, said that everyone “will miss him, his wonderful good nature and cheerfulness but we wish him every success in the future”.

A source close to the BBC, who wanted to remain anonymous, told Bristol24/7: “We’ve had hours of interminable Zoom meetings from managers blathering on about ‘digital first’.

“At no stage did anyone say, ‘we are going to sack all the presenters’.

“These are talented people who care deeply about their listeners and the community they represent. In some cases they’ve given decades of service to the BBC.

“In the end, big companies are all the same – completely heartless.”

BBC staff went on strike in March to protest about the proposed cuts to jobs – photo Rachel Sutherland

The BBC press team said that they were unable to comment on individual contracts.

In a statement, a BBC spokesperson said: “Many of our presenters will continue to present on local radio at the end of this process in new presenter/producer roles but we appreciate change like this is really difficult and we are supporting our teams closely through this.

“Our aim is to achieve a better balance between our local online and broadcast services at a time when millions of people increasingly turn to their mobile first for news and information.

“The changes see no reduction in funding or overall staffing levels across our 39 local bases in England.”

BBC staff are due to strike for a second time in 2023 on May 5, the day of the local election results, with a picket line on Whiteladies Road.

Main photos: BBC

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