SIMON Mayo is a well-known voice on British radio, thanks to his long and successful career in broadcasting.
The 60-year-old’s popular drivetime show underwent a dramatic shift earlier this year that failed to impress listeners. Here’s what we know.
PA:Press Association
Who is Simon Mayo and how old is he?
Born September 21, 1958, Simon Andrew Hicks Mayo is the radio presenter of Simon Mayo and Jo Whiley Drivetime on BBC Radio 2.
The 60-year-old also co-hosts Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Simon previously hosted the Radio 2 Breakfast Show which was taken over by Chris Evans when he moved to the evening slot in 2010.
In 2008, he was recognised as the Radio Broadcaster of the Year by the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards.
Simon is the also the author of the acclaimed Itch trilogy and was one of the BBC’s highest-paid presenters.
How have listeners reacted to Simon Mayo and Jo Whiley’s drivetime show?
Simon Mayo and Jo Whiley’s drivetime show was on every weekday from 5pm-8pm and first aired on May 14, 2018.
However, Simon had presented the show on his own for the past eight years and some listeners haven’t been impressed with the changes to the hosting dynamic.
One Twitter user likened the pairing to “chocolate and cauliflower.”
The BBC acknowledged some “regular listeners are unhappy” but urged listeners to give the pair time, adding: “Every new show needs time to settle down.”
Why has he quit Radio 2?
On October 4, 2018, The Sun exclusively revealed Simon is in talks to quit BBC Radio 2 because he is furious about being lumbered with Jo Whiley on his drivetime show by PC bosses.
The star DJ is negotiating with Global Radio about joining easy listening station Smooth Radio in a mega-money deal.
A top radio source said: “Simon has held talks about joining Smooth FM. Global would love to take the station national but will need really big names at breakfast and drivetime.
“Simon fits that bill and is also deeply unhappy with the current situation at the BBC.
“He was an incredibly successful broadcaster with huge ratings who was essentially forced into having a female co-host in Jo because it helped with a gender imbalance.”
Who’s his wife?
Simon married American producer, editor Hilary Bird in October 1986.
Hillary studied Fine Art at the London Metropolitan University before beginning work at BBC Radio as a researcher.
The couple has three children together. Actress daughter Natasha Mayo, and sons Joe and Ben.
