New year deadline for BBC Radio Shropshire changes
Major changes to BBC Radio Shropshire's programme schedule – which will see four shows axed or downsized as part of national cutbacks – will take effect in the new year.
Ian Perry's early morning show, Jim Hawkins' Saturday night programme and Keith Middleton's Sunday show will all go, while Tuesday night sport will also be dropped when there are no Shrewsbury Town or AFC Telford United matches.
A tweet from the BBC Shropshire's official Twitter account - @BBCShropshire - to its 6,600 followers yesterday reminded listeners of the changes due to come into place from January 7.
Programmes such as Colin Young's Trunk of Funk and Jazz with John Hellings are to move time slots to make way for a new nationwide show for BBC local radio stations presented by former Classic FM DJ Mark Forrest from Leeds. Mr Forrest's new show will run on weekdays from between 7pm and 10pm.
But concerns have been raised about whether the new evening show will be able to represent local areas properly.
The changes are part of the BBC's response to budget cuts due to a freeze in the licence fee until 2017. No-one from BBC Radio Shropshire was available to comment.
Mr Perry's early show will be replaced by Five Live's Morning Reports, followed by business, personal finance and Wake Up to Money. But Mr Perry will still report during Eric and Clare's breakfast show, which will start at 6am.
Saturday Night with Jim Hawkins will be replaced by Country with Marie Crichton – which will move to Saturday between 6pm and 8pm. The Trunk of Funk will move from its traditional Thursday evening slot to 10pm on Fridays while Jazz with John Hellings will now be broadcast on Sundays from 8pm.
When the changes were announced in October it emerged four jobs would be lost at BBC Radio Shropshire.
