The sudden disappearance of Classic FM's Henry Kelly from their breakfast show has confused and enraged listeners with many registering their disgust on the station's website - some have even written to the programme's sponsor in protest.
Kelly, who has been with the station since its launch 11 years ago, has been replaced without warning by Simon Bates. The move has surprised many given the praise that GWR, Classic FM's owner, has lavished upon the presenter in recent months. Not least for his help in helping the station achieve record numbers of listeners. GWR said: "In the past year Classic FM's breakfast show presented by Henry Kelly has moved to a new time of 7am."
One protesting listener posted: "If you want Classic FM to take any notice it is better to write to the sponsor of the show [National Savings and Investments] - it is they who pay the money and whom Classic FM will actually listen to."
The station has refused to confirm whether Kelly walked out of the station or he was ousted, but said that they were "talking to him about his future at the station. It's unfortunate and not how we would have wanted it but, once the news was out there, it became untenable for [Kelly] to carry on."