Furious BBC guest refuses to show up after company lays off local radio heavyweight
The comedian was scheduled to go on BBC Look North but refused to attend as she was too "p****d off".
The BBC lost its own guest after sparking outrage by telling a local radio heavyweight he "will no longer be needed as a presenter" amid cuts to local radio stations. David Burns on Monday announced he was forced to stop his decades-long career, bringing an end to The Burnsy Show on BBC Radio Humberside. As part of the backlash, comedian and Hullraisers star Lucy Beaumont cancelled her interview on BBC Look North, saying she is "too p****d off" to attend.
In a statement, shared on Twitter, David Burns wrote: "The BBC has told me I won’t be needed as a presenter.
"I’m eternally grateful to them for the opportunity, I’ve loved every minute, though the last few months have been unnecessarily painful.
"I think I made a difference and I couldn’t have done it without you as an audience."
It follows changes to local radio programming by the BBC, which has led to strikes by various members of staff.
BBC management wants local radio stations to share programs across the network from 2pm on weekdays and at weekends, going from more than 100 hours of local programming on every radio station every week, down to just 40.
The result is that key figures in local radio have lost their jobs and journalists are having to re-apply for their own jobs.
Ms Beamont detested on Twitter: "I am not doing the @BBCLookNorth interview today, I know its TV but I'm too pissed off that @RadioHumberside are getting rid of @bbcburnsy when it's as popular as ever and the people of Hull love him.
She then added: "If you want to know about new music, comedy or theatre- you ask Burnsy- he'll have been to a gig the night before to support people."
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The exact date when David Burns will officially leave BBC Radio Humberside has yet to be confirmed.
Many users agreed with Lucy’s comments. One user wrote: "I agree with you entirely Lucy, you definitely made the right decision, as sad as it is"
Another said: "Well Done Lucy... anyone would have bet their mortgage on Burnsy being the last one to go, not the first?
"I feel sorry for not just the lonely people but everyone in the area who tuned into Burnsy including my late Aunty Lilly, he is our voice!"
I am not doing the @BBCLookNorth interview today, I know its TV but I'm too pissed off that @RadioHumberside are getting rid of @bbcburnsy when it's as popular as ever and the people of Hull love him. He has supported my career from the beginning, as he has many local artists.
— Lucy Beaumont (@LucyABeaumont) April 25, 2023