Skip to content

Paul O'Grady quits Radio 2 show saying it's the 'right time to go'

Getty Images Paul O'Grady smiling while wearing a suit at an eventGetty Images
Paul O'Grady said he will miss his listeners

Paul O'Grady is leaving BBC Radio 2, saying it was "the right time to go".

The 67-year-old has been at the station for 14 years and has hosted the Sunday afternoon slot since 2009.

His last show will be on Sunday 14 August, with his regular features including Lost TV Theme and Thank You Letter Of The Week.

A shake-up recently saw him share the slot with comedian Rob Beckett, where they would host shows alternately, each for 13 weeks at a time.

O'Grady said: "I've loved doing my Sunday afternoon show for the last 14 years and I'm going to miss my listeners, as well as the fun I've had with my producer Malcolm Prince, but I feel that now is the right time to go."

Allow Twitter content?

This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read  and  before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The presenter, also known for his drag queen persona Lily Savage, previously told his Instagram followers the arrangement with Beckett was "nothing to do with me".

Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said she was "sorry to see him go".

She added: "I wish Paul the very best of luck for the future and hope to work with him again as the door is always open to him here at Radio 2."

Beckett will return to Sunday afternoons for his next 13 week run of shows on 21 August.

Future plans for the slot will be announced at a later date.