An unwanted front cover

Normally the front page of The Radio Time is devoted to a puff piece article on an upcoming programme but this week is entirely different. The cover features current Radio 2 Drivetime hosts Simon Mayo and Jo Whiley though the article about them is not a happy one. Instead the article focuses on the current troubles that are plaguing Radio 2. Since the late 1990s Radio 2 has become the UK's most listened to radio station. However the ratings to the station have been on the slide for the past year. Breakfast host Chris Evans has seen his show sink to it's lowest ratings, Evans is now moving to commercial broadcaster Virgin with Zoe Ball taking over the show at the end of year. The Drivetime show has been the centre of much debate ever since Whiley joined Mayo as co-host. However this move proved unpopular with listener with some voicing hostile reactions with Mayo having to defend Whiley. It has since been announced that Mayo will be leaving Radio 2 (he will still his Radio 5 Live Film Show with Mark Kermode) with Whiley leaving the show to be replaced by Sara Cox. Another changes that have raised the ire of include the dropping of long time Blues music programme Paul Jones in favour of Cerys Matthews. One could compare the current situation at Radio 2 to that of Radio ! in the early 1990s that some would say led to Radio 2 gaining the most listened title in the first place.