Radio 2 fans have criticized the BBC for putting ‘constant pressure’ on Paddy McGuinness and giving him a new regular Sunday show.
Paddy, 50, has also landed a gig fronting a brand new Sunday show on Radio 2, taking over from Michael Ball, but fans claim ‘all the shows he’s in have been cancelled.’
Michael, 61, currently presents on Sundays from 11am to 1pm and it has now been confirmed that from June he will present Love Songs With Michael Ball from 9am to 11am, taking over Steve Wright’s Love Songs following the sudden death of the experienced DJ earlier this year.
Following the announcement, Radio 2 fans took to
Radio 2 fans have criticized the BBC for ‘constantly putting pressure’ on Paddy McGuinness and giving him a new regular Sunday show
They wrote: ‘@BBCRadio2. While I applaud you for giving the ‘Love Songs’ slot to Michael Ball, I can’t believe his current show has been given to Paddy McGuinness. He’s ruined Question of Sport, so what’s he going to do with that Sunday morning slot?
‘Paddy McGuinness will now decimate Radio 2. Sunday was the only day I kept listening to it.”
“Why oh why Paddy McGuinness, that’s another letdown. All the shows he’s in have been canceled.”
In December, the BBC axed Question Of Sport after 50 years, with Paddy at the helm.
The TV star then said he was going back to stand up because “the money has run out.”
Another of his shows, Top Gear, has been suspended after Freddie Flintoff was injured.
He temporarily left the TV show Stand Up To Cancer: Don’t Look Down due to ‘family reasons’, but returned a few weeks later.
In February 2020, Paddy’s once-popular ITV dating game show, Take Me Out, was axed after nine years as bosses feared it had ‘run its course’.
Following the announcement, Radio 2 fans took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to claim Paddy has some sort of anti-Midas streak.
The BBC announced on Tuesday that Michael Ball will host Steve Wright’s Love Songs on a permanent basis following the veteran DJ’s sudden death earlier this year.
Wright, who died aged 69, was found dead in his £2million flat after paramedics were called to an ‘incident’, MailOnline revealed.
It has now been confirmed that Michael, 61, will present Love Songs With Michael Ball from 9am to 11am from June.
Paddy, who recently held the fort for Rylan Clarke’s show, will then take over Michael’s 11am to 1pm slot with a brand new look.
Michael, 61, currently presents on Sundays from 11am to 1pm and it has now been confirmed that from June he will present Love Songs With Michael Ball from 9am to 11am, taking over Steve Wright’s Love Songs following the sudden death of the experienced DJ earlier this year
The BBC announced on Tuesday that Michael Ball will host Steve Wright’s Love Songs on a permanent basis following the veteran DJ’s sudden death earlier this year.
Steve has fronted the show since 1996, featuring classic romantic songs, along with devotions and real-life love stories.
The late DJ continued to work for the BBC and presented Sunday Love Songs even after being axed from his afternoon show in July 2022.
His friend of 40 years, publicist Gary Farrow, said he believes Wright “died of a broken heart” after being “devastated” when he lost his popular Radio 2 afternoon slot in 2022.
Speaking to The Sun, he said: Steve lives for the show, he absolutely loved it – and the listeners loved him. My opinion is that he died of a broken heart.’
Steve, who was replaced by Radio 1’s Scott Mills, also presented the long-running show Pick Of The Pops, previously fronted by Paul Gambaccini.
Following his tragic passing, Michael said he was “extremely excited and yet a little nervous” to continue Steve’s “extraordinary legacy.”
He said: ‘Steve made an ‘appointment to listen to the radio’ with Love Songs. I am extremely excited and more than a little nervous that I will have the opportunity to continue his extraordinary legacy.
‘Beautiful, moving, relaxing and uplifting music to lift the soul on Sunday morning, combined with the stories, suggestions, requests and cherished memories of you, the listener, will ensure that this is not just MY show, but OUR show.
Steve has fronted the show since 1996, featuring classic romantic songs, along with devotions and real-life love stories
The late DJ continued to work for the BBC and presented Sunday Love Songs even after being axed from his afternoon slot in July 2022.
“I hope you’ll join us as we continue to share the love.”
Meanwhile, comedian Paddy said: “I loved keeping Rylan’s seat warm on Saturday afternoon and returning to the airwaves at Easter.
‘It is a dream come true to have my own regular show on the legendary Radio 2.’
Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said: “While these are changes we would rather not make in the circumstances, I am delighted to welcome Paddy and Michael to their new Sunday slots on Radio 2.
‘I’m looking forward to Michael’s new previous show, where he will entertain his ‘lovelies’ as he always has, and Paddy made a huge impression on our listeners when he filled in for Rylan and with his Easter specials.
‘I would also like to thank Nicki Chapman for presenting brilliant editions of Sunday Love Songs over the past few weeks.’
Steve’s Pick of the Pops replacement is yet to be announced, with Gary Davies remaining as the show’s interim host in the meantime.
Emergency services rushed to the star’s home in Marylebone, central London, just after 10am on February 12, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service said: “We have sent a number of resources to the scene. Very sadly, one person was pronounced dead at the scene.”
His ‘unexpected’ death is not being treated as suspicious and a report is being prepared for the coroner, police said.
The radio personality presented programs for BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2 for more than four decades.