A late-night "shock jock" hired by radio group Chrysalis to front the late show on its newly acquired talk station LBC is being investigated by the Radio Authority after listener complaints against the presenter. Adrian Allen has been filling in on the station’s late night show to ‘test him out’ as a full time late night presenter when the station relaunches in the new year.
Allen is used to courting controversy on air. He got in trouble in June 2000 when he told listeners to the East Midlands Century station that Romania was unable to field a football team because they were "all over here claiming benefit". In January 2001 a listener to Real Radio in South Wales complained about allegedly sexist, homophobic and racist remarks he made – the complaint was upheld on the grounds of racism.
The Radio Authority will now investigate the latest complaints – again relating to racist or tasteless remarks. The Authority can order an apology and make a fine, though they will be wary of any action that makes the show ‘infamous’ – something which can often win the station new listeners.