Radio broadcaster Mark Radcliffe has admitted his “surprise” at having his afternoon show taken off him, at a time he was still undergoing treatment for cancer.
Until last year, Mark and Stuart Maconie fronted BBC 6Music’s afternoon show, but in August 2018, their presenting slot was cut from five days a week to two, as they were moved to the weekend breakfast show.
This change took place at a time when Mark was still battling his illness, having been diagnosed with head and neck cancer towards the end of last year, which required him to have surgery to remove tumours.
Mark – who is now in remission – told Radio Times the decision had left him both “surprised” and “disappointed”.
“Some of the things they [the BBC] have done mystify me still, but actually, in terms of my health, it’s probably better not to have to do three hours a day, five days a week,” he added.
A BBC rep told HuffPost UK: “Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie’s brilliant radio partnership is very much part of the 6 Music line-up and we know listeners are enjoying their new Weekend Breakfast Show which we launched earlier this year as part of wider schedule changes on the network.”
While he was receiving treatment, Stuart Maconie presented their usual show solo, but Mark joined him for the last half hour of their final show in their weekday slot in December last year.
Reflecting on how his illness has changed his attitude, Mark noted: “People always say: ‘You’ve got to stay positive.’ Easier said than done. But when it comes to the crunch, what’s the alternative?”
He also joked: “At first, I was a bit like a religious zealot. People would say: ’I’m not sure about this new Radcliffe, where’s the cynical one?”
Read Mark’s full interview in the new issue of Radio Times.