Popular DJ Danny Baker has announced his hit radio show on BBC London is to be axed as part of the corporation's planned cuts.
This morning he tweeted: "So the BBC London
afternoon show – current Sony Gold Holder – is to be part of the
Delivering Quality First cuts. The logic of Genius.
Delivering Quality First to let you know how valued you are.
#CrapOutFirst
"Just off up the end of the garden with 3 Sony Gold
awards (one current, one not even mine) and a stick of dynamite.
#DeliveringDynamiteFirst'
And then, in reference to the high-cost of some adverts made by the BBC, he
posted a link to a promo for Zane Lowe's radio show and wrote: "The BBC
cuts are essential & I am happy to fall on their sword. I mean, how
else are they to fund ads like this?"
The announcement was met by
widespread outrage from fans, with numerous petitions springing up
calling on the BBC to save his popular radio show.
Absolute Radio host Christian O'Connell was one of the
first people to pledge his support for Baker, as the DJ's name rapidly
became a top trending topic on Twitter.
BBC director-general
Mark Thompson
yesterday announced plans to cut 2000 jobs as part of its Delivering Quality
First strategy, which will cut £700million of spending from the
corporation's £3.5 billion budget.
The BBC had to make savings of billions of pounds after the annual television licence fee was frozen at £145.50 for six years.
While prime-time programming will be protected, BBC
Two's daytime programming is to be scrapped in favour of repeats of
'outstanding' shows while BBC3 and BBC4 will change focus to play more
of a supporting role to the main channels.