Radio legend, 92, slams ‘ludicrous’ and ‘cruel’ BBC for ‘destruction’ of his show after it was axed on New Year’s Eve

THE BBC’s oldest host has slammed 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-in was “cruel”.

A petition was started in vain to save the show, where listeners in Oxford, Kent and Berkshire could request favourite tunes.

Bill, an ex-Radio 2 presenter, said: “So many adjectives have been used for the destruction of our beautiful Harmony Night and the league leader of those is ‘cruel’.

“Our last night was so emotional.

“It is ludicrous that they destroyed us when the programme was at the height of its strength and popularity.”

Petition creator Dilys Bound warned before it was axed: “Life would be much lonelier for many listeners, as this programme is a lifeline.”

One listener, Radio Fanatic, posted online: “Very heartbreaking and emotional.

“Bosses have no idea, so cruel.”

Another, Trevor Rhodes wrote: “Interesting but also heartbreaking and accurate about the devastation being wrought and the effect on loyal staff and listeners.”

The Beeb blamed budget cuts and audience habits but said more local content is on BBC Sounds.

A spokesman said: “We are grateful for the commitment, time and energy that Bill put into the presentation and production of Harmony Night and the years he worked as a sports reporter and commentator at BBC Radio Oxford.

“We have consistently said that we are committed to providing a strong, creative, local radio service for listeners across England and we have maintained all 39 Local Radio Stations.

“The budget for BBC Local services has not been cut, but audience habits are changing, and licence fee payers want more content available to them when they want it.

“So we have invested in providing more local digital news and we have increased the local content available on BBC Sounds.”