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The BBC faced fresh accusations of ageism today as two of Radio 1's long-standing women presenters lost their high-profile daily shows to younger rivals.
Jo Whiley, 44, and Edith Bowman, 35, were both moved to weekend slots in a schedule shake-up aimed at drawing younger listeners to the station. Fearne Cotton, 27, and Greg James, 23, will be given their daily shows.
As little as a week ago the corporation was accused of being biased against older women, after judge Arlene Phillips, 66, was axed from Strictly Come Dancing with 30-year-old Alesha Dixon replacing her. Equality minister Harriet Harman told the Commons today that she believed Phillips was a victim of “age discrimination”.
Cotton, who co-hosts weekend shows at the station, will take over the 10am to 12.45pm slot and Live Lounge shows presented by mother-of-four Whiley. Cotton said: “I love being at Radio 1 and taking on a weekday show is a dream come true. Jo is leaving very big shoes for me to fill.” Whiley said: “After eight wonderful years the time has come to move on and give someone else the privilege of entertaining the nation on a daily basis. I've had the most amazing time ever. The prospect of lie-ins, taking my kids to school and doing something new is, I confess, rather exciting.”
Radio 1 controller Andy Parfitt said: “BBC Radio 1 must continue to change to connect with a new generation of audiences and this is a significant move, promoting three of our up-and-coming broadcasters into the heart of the schedule.” The move comes after commercial radio executives called for an overhaul of the station, arguing that it had breached its remit by having an average listener age of 33.
In a report made to the BBC Trust, the commercial radio sector's trade body, the RadioCentre, said the station was eating into their audience instead of targeting the 15- to 29-year-old target age range.
The shake-up, which comes into effect on 21 September, will also see weekend breakfast host Dev moving to the early breakfast show vacated by James. Nihal Arthanayake, 38, loses his weekend afternoon show to Bowman. The station said Arthanayake would still present his weekly Asian music show.
The decision to replace Whiley and Bowman was met with disappointment by fans today. A listener on Digital Spy, ElecrobixGreen, posted: “I'm gutted about Jo Whiley being marginalised. I'm going to miss her show. She may be older, but I don't see why that means she can't be relevant to a younger audience. Are they going to stop playing Madonna because she's too old?” Another, Craig McLellan, said: “I would have preferred to see Edith in the 10-12.45 slot rather than Fearne.”
Ms Harman today publicly called on the BBC to bring choreographer Phillips back to the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel. During Commons questions on forthcoming business, she told MPs: “I think it's absolutely shocking. As equality minister, I am suspicious there is age discrimination there. So I'd like to take the opportunity of asking the BBC — it is not too late — we want Arlene Phillips in the next edition.”
Reader views (26)
I'm not going to resort to personal insults or anything like that but I will agree that I do not enjoy the morning or afternoon slots now Jo & Edith are gone. I know things change and lots of presenters have moved on from R1 in the past but I really don't think Fearne & Greg were the best choices (Greg has far too many opinions; just play the song dammit!!!)
Anyway, rant over...point being that the new lineup is tres disappointing :o(
- A Long, Cardiff
Fearne Cotton is disgraceful - particularly on radio - that grating, harping voice! Am now resorting to tuning in to Capital on weekday mornings - that's how much i despise listening to her.
Miss you Jo Wiley.... is there any chance she could come back?
- Bella, London
Bring back Edith bowmen!!! greg is crap!!! no offence m8 but ur nothing over edith !!! i will be tuning into kiss very soon, getting very bored with fearne and greg sorry guys just not as good as wiley or the ledend that is edith!!! BOWMEN!!!
- Sam, hertfordshire
as a R4 listener who is forced to listen to R1 at work, i'm sad that jo is going, but it could be worse, it could be sara cox and chris evans.
- B Jackson, banbury
Both Jo & Edith make me laugh out loud sometimes, they`re great! To be replaced by the bland boring Cotton & James is a sure way to get listeners turning off. They do not have radio voices, no charisma. They come on, I tune out. Wheres the save Jo campaign? I`ll sign it!
- A Lost Listener, Boston Uk
Sad day for Radio 1 here. I think they are seriously going to come un stuck by this. Has any one ever heard the saying "If it aint broke.... why fix it". Well Radio 1 has some of the best ratings over other stations so I dont see what they are going to achieve by this big over haul.... Ferne and Greg James are simply dull and pretty shallow with nothing of any note to say!
Big up Jo! I hope she gets another decent gig some where else..... Shes simply great!
- Andrew, Isle of Man
love Jo whiley and I would say she is completely happy with Fern as her replacement (one cool girl stepping into another cool girl's shoes) Wish them both the best in their future careers! Go for it girls !!! Love them both x J
- Janice, milton keynes
Fearne Cotton is the most boring DJ on Radio 1. We always turn her weekend shows off with Reggie or if she's sitting in for someone. The only way to get the younger people to listen is to play less mainstream tunes more often and not just late at night. Hang onto the good DJ's and change your attitude to your 'boring' playlist. Radio 1 was at it's best when the shows were shorter and there was more diversity in the programming.
- Amy, Greece
Well, I'm 35 myself and if they wanted to get rid of listeners my age then they have finally succeeded. I refuse to listen to Fearne Cotton's utterly vacuous drivel. Radio 2 here I come!
- Valjohno, Lancaster, England
This is awful. I'm 22 but for me Jo Whiley and Edith Bowman are legends of Radio 1 and part of the reason I tune in. If the Beeb think the inane and saccharine Cotton who has as much 'cool' as my left sock is going to draw in listeners they're wrong. It's not about age but about ability.
- Hazza, London
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!
Jo Whiley has finally gone.
I dont care who replaces her as long as I do not have to hear her go on!
Shame about Edith though, she actually has some talent and is also entertaining
- Jason, Wiltshire
The Ferne and Reggie radio show on Sunday is the biggest heap of dross ive ever heard, theyre like a pair of schoolkids...
- Dac - Ealing, London
Whilst I believe this "swap" maybe beneficial to the Beeb, I do not agree with the "alleged" sentiments. Anyhow, shouldn't Chris Moyles be replaced as he is clearly over 35! And the fact that he's "rubbish" at presenting a morning radio show.
Bring back Chris Tarrant - all is forgiven.
- Jonathan Pewter, London, England
They are both rubbish and the radio station is guilty of playing safe and unchallenging music. The music industry hasn't moved on since John Peel died and the presenting has become an awful lot worse.
- Paul R, London
O.M.G.I just don't get what "people" see in Fearne.Not for the first time Radio 1 has put age before quality
- N Truter, rochdale
You lot make me sick!!! John Peele was on R1 for years and no one complained about him! Then he died and the nation was in mourning! WTF! I bet the people who wrote prev notes are over 30!!!! Fearne Cotton is good lookin but a rubbish presenter/DJ!She cant even turn up to the chart show most weeks cos shes off doin TV ******!
JO is an institution and the festival queen as was John Peele.
- Louis, WINCHESTER
It isn't always a matter of "ageism" - or any other "-ism" for that matter. Sometimes it's just time to move on. The up and coming presenters have a right to their time in the sun too, y'know. Surely there is a disconnected between a 40 year old and the teens and 20-somethings that are her presumed audience.
That isn't ageism - it is just life (and for the record, I'm 20 years older than her!)
- Rogan, Irving
I don't care how old the DJ is as long as they play good music. And since the Radio 1 playlist is set in stone (with few exceptions) it shouldn't matter if the DJ is 25 or 95! We're listening to them, not having sex with them, so what difference does it make how old they are?
- Gary G, New York, NY
Thank god Jo Whiley is being replaced. Cant stand her and i normally switch over after Moylesy!! Cant say Fearne is the best replacement, but cant knock her enthusiasm!!
- Ritchie, St Neots
Ferne is not a pretty girl keith!
have you seen her?
not even a brown bag could sort that out.
- David M, London
Can't say I listen to Radio 1, but my only experience of Jo Whiley was farcical at best. I was seeing Pulp do a Radio 1 show at the Hackney Ocean (I believe that was the venue's name before it closed), and she just had to do a one-sentence introduction...she had to do about 5 takes before she got a simple segue right.
- Ken, London
Why are we paying this corrupt and self-serving organisations licence fee/tax under pain of imprisonment?
Scrap the licence fee.
- Eric Muldownie, London
Cannot bear that lisping Ferne Cotton -Everytime she is on the radio, I switch to another channel. Jo Whiley on the other hand is a true professional. Nothing about music that this woman does not know! Ferne is frequently guilty of over familiarity, and as for her grammar... did she ever go to school? Save Jo and Edith.
- Maya, London
Jo Whiley is a class above the pretty girl who is replacing her. There are better jobs for her than Radio 1 anyway, Who on earth would want to work alongside Chris Moyles anyway ? All he ever talks about id TAKE THAT !
- Keith Price, Luton, England
About time - radio 1 is supposed to be a youth station. Jo, along with Pete Tong should be on 6 Music (if on BBC radio at all). Radio 1 is currently a 30-40+ trendy station rather than for the under 25's. Radio 2 and 6 music need to be the station for most of the current crop of djs
- Mad Tony, LEEDS
Maybe people just weren't listing to here no more? I think as well a DJ must realize there is an age were you are you not "hip" enough for a daytime top 40 station?
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London
