Virgin Radio, the BBC, podcasts or Boom Radio?
Frank Skinner might have lost his Absolute Radio show but rivals will be forming a queue to snap up the comedy veteran, insiders said.
Skinner shocked listeners when he revealed that Absolute Radio was pulling the plug on his Saturday morning programme after 15 years.
“I’m not going to pretend I took it well,” admitted Skinner, with listeners echoing his disappointment and slamming the decision by the Bauer Media-owned station.
A popular figure with Absolute’s advertisers as well as listeners, Skinner was taken aback when his manager informed him that his annual contract would not be renewed in May.
“It all happened very quickly. He doesn’t have a new show to step straight into,” said a friend of the comic.
But one radio executive said: “Frank is a great radio performer and he will be in demand. He would appeal to the BBC 6 Music audience but the best fit could be Graham Norton’s slot on Virgin Radio.”
Norton quit his Virgin Radio weekend morning show in February, opening up a slot for a new high-profile presenter.
The News UK-owned Virgin Radio, where Chris Evans presents the Breakfast show, has yet to announce a replacement for Norton. News UK declined to comment on speculation that it could approach Skinner.
Skinner is highly thought of within the BBC and currently presents a Radio 4 panel show, One Person Found This Helpful.
An Absolute Radio source admitted Skinner’s departure was “the end of an era – Frank’s been doing the show for 15 years, so it’s just a case of a new start”.
Skinner’s Absolute poetry podcast is set to continue for a further two years.
Some listeners blamed “ageism” for the decision – Skinner is 67, a little outside of Absolute Radio’s target audience of 25 to 54-year-olds.
Fellow comedian Jason Manford, who presents the Sunday morning Absolute Radio show, is 42.
Skinner’s appeal transcends age, said one radio insider, who predicted he could rebrand his show, which he presents alongside co-hosts Emily Dean and Pierre Novellie, as a podcast.
“Look at the audience at Frank’s sold-out stand-up shows, his appeal is across the age range,” they said.
“He could keep his team and reinvent the show as a weekly podcast with special guests. He would have complete editorial freedom and it would easily attract sponsors and make money.”
Matt Deegan, a leading radio industry consultant, added: “It’s a great show and will have no trouble existing as a profitable podcast, and I’m sure there’ll be interest from other radio stations too.”
Skinner’s shows are made for Absolute by Avalon. The leading talent management and programme production company manages Skinner, so if he were to move to another radio station, he is likely to want the show to remain in Avalon’s hands.
Skinner could provide a youthful voice for Boom Radio, the fast-growing alternative to Radio 2 which has given a new lease of life to broadcasting legends like 85-year-old David Hamilton.
Bauer can counter “ageism” charges by pointing to its move to poach Ken Bruce, 73, from Radio 2 for its Greatest Hits Radio station.
A weekend merry-go-round among celebrity radio presenters has also seen Claudia Winkleman leave her Saturday morning Radio 2 show.
But there is no vacancy for Skinner there with comic Romesh Ranganathan taking over the Strictly presenter’s show.
The BBC, Boom Radio and Frank Skinner were approached for comment.
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