BROADCASTER Sean Coyle says he still doesn’t know why the BBC axed his popular morning radio show.
The 72-year-old shocked listeners when he announced on Friday that he would not be returning.
It subsequently emerged that BBC bosses took the Derry man to a restaurant close to Radio Foyle’s headquarters earlier last week to inform him that his show was to be dropped.
Mr Coyle formed a long-running partnership with legendary broadcaster Gerry Anderson and took over his 10.30am slot after his death in 2014.
It is understood he walked out of the meeting at Jitter's restaurant after he was told the show would not be part of planned new autumn schedules. He also told listeners he was upset.
Mr Coyle said: “I don’t want to go but the decision has been made and I must abide by it.”
The news sparked a furious reaction among listeners. An online petition demanding that the BBC re-instate Mr Coyle had gained more than 5,000 signatures by last night.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood has also called for the show to be saved, while Sinn Féin Foyle MP Elisha McCallion has written to the BBC demanding clarity.
Lisa McGee, writer of hit Channel 4 comedy Derry Girls, also branded the decision “madness”.
Speaking to the BBC yesterday, Mr Coyle said he believes the decision was badly handled.
“I think there was another way out for me. If someone had come and talked to me and discussed it.”
He added: “They didn’t give me a reason. They said it was part of the new image of Radio Ulster, Radio Foyle. It’s a big vague, isn’t it?
“But no-one said to me ‘The reason you don’t fit in is because…’ I don’t know the reason, I don’t know why they picked me."
Mr Coyle added that he would take up an offer to work for the broadcaster in a different role.
