The BBC’s most senior presenter has hit out at his former bosses after his show was axed on New Year’s Eve.
Bill Rennells, 92, said the “destruction” of his Harmony Night radio call was “cruel”.
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Bill Rennells, pictured here in 1978, lashed out at the BBC after his Harmony Night radio show was axed on New Year’s EveCredit: Jeremy Grayson/Radio Times/Getty Images
A petition to save the show was launched in vain, with listeners in Oxford, Kent and Berkshire able to request favorite songs.
Bill, a former Radio 2 presenter, said: “So many adjectives have been used to ruin our beautiful Harmony Night and the league leader is ‘cruel’.
“Our last night was so emotional.
“It’s ridiculous that they destroyed us when the program was at the height of its power and popularity.”
Petition creator Dilys Bound warned before it was axed: “Life would be a lot lonelier for many listeners as this program is a lifeline.”
One listener, Radio Fanatic, posted online: “Very heartbreaking and emotional.
“The bosses have no idea, it’s so cruel.”
Another, Trevor Rhodes, wrote: “Interesting but also heartbreaking and accurate about the devastation caused and the effect on loyal staff and listeners.”
The Beeb blamed budget cuts and audience habits, but said there was more local content on BBC Sounds.
A spokesman said: “We are grateful for the commitment, time and energy Bill has put into presenting and producing Harmony Night and for his years as a sports reporter and commentator on BBC Radio Oxford.
“We have consistently reiterated our commitment to providing a strong, creative local radio service for listeners across England and have retained all 39 local radio stations.
“The BBC’s local services budget has not been cut, but audience habits are changing and license-paying customers want more content available to them when they want it.
“That’s why we’ve invested in providing more local digital news and have increased the local content available on BBC Sounds.”
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