A petition has been launched to save a popular radio show on BBC Newcastle weeks before its set to end
BBC Radio Newcastle host Simon Logan(Image: BBC)
Hundreds of people have now signed a petition to save a popular presenter’s radio show on BBC Newcastle. And the campaign to keep it on the airwaves comes just days before its due to come to an end.
Over the last few years, the landscape of local radio has changed quite dramatically. It’s now been six years since the Newcastle based breakfast shows at both Capital and Heart folded, as they were both nationalised. And, while both stations maintained North East based drivetime broadcasts in late afternoon, they are also no more, with presenters moving to host shows on the national network.
It was a similar pictures at Metro Radio. After a rebrand to Hits Radio last year, it too has lost its North East specific output, with much loved double act Steve and Karen hosting their final North East breakfast show earlier in the summer, before then launching their own breakfast programme on brand new station Hits Radio 90s.
And now it’s the BBC that is seeing big changes, with Simon Logan one of the local hosts at BBC Radio Newcastle affected by the restructure, as his popular Simon’s 80s and 90s show, going out on the airwaves every Sunday afternoon since 2021, earmarked to come to an end on August 31, with a shift to ‘All England’ network output in its place. So annoyed that their favourite show is under threat, hundreds of people have headed to Change.org to sign a petition to try and save it.
The petition, which has so far gathered 430 signatures, reads: ‘Simon Logan’s 80s and 90s on BBC Radio Newcastle/Tees is the MOST listened to BBC Sounds programme for the whole of the North of England and is one of the most listened to BBC Local Radio programmes. There is a Facebook community online with thousands of members who love both Simon and the show.
The show is a huge mood boost for many listeners, not only in the local area, but across the UK as well as Australia, New Zealand, even America!’
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