Simon Mayo

Simon Mayo (born 21st September 1958) is one of the most recognised and respected voices of radio in the UK, currently presenting a daily afternoon programme on BBC Radio Five Live.

Mid-mornings - then back to breakfast

Mayo officially gave up the breakfast show in 1993, though he had been on another extended period of paternity leave when the announcement was made, and his stand-in Mark Goodier was confirmed as his permanent replacement. Mayo moved on to the mid-morning slot from 9am-12midday, and survived the huge cull of a long-standing presenters which Radio 1 underwent the same year on the arrival of controller Matthew Bannister and his wish to rebrand the station as younger and more cutting edge.

Related Topics:
1993 - Mark Goodier - Matthew Bannister

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Mayo settled professionally and uncontroversially into his new show and stayed there for eight years, though briefly returned to the breakfast show when the maverick Chris Evans was dismissed after one absence too many. This short spell back on breakfast was seen by many as a breath of fresh air, but both Mayo and Radio 1 ruled out the possibilities of a permanent return to the flagship programme. On his first morning as breakfast stand-in, he read out an email from a man who had emigrated to New Zealand four years earlier and had arrived back in the UK that morning, and was "delighted to hear you're still doing the breakfast show".

Related Topics:
Chris Evans - Email - New Zealand

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