#BringBackBrian - The Story So Far ...

Brian Matthew has been broadcasting for the BBC since 1954. He has presented Sounds Of The Sixties at Radio 2 on Saturday mornings since 1990. In November 2016, Brian had a fall at home and had to take some time off work. Brian's managers at Unique then did not allow him back, and in late January 2017 they met him to tell him they were dropping him from the show. BBC Press Office released a statement saying that Unique had met Brian and "agreed" that he should be replaced, but that they hoped to do some special shows with Brian in due course. Anita Singh at the Telegraph interviewed Brian, who told her the statement was "balderdash", the decision was "horrible", and that "he would dearly love to return to his show". Listeners raised a change.org petition, which started to gain thousands of supporters. Brian was then told that they will give him one show at Easter, and that this will be his "farewell" show. The Daily Mail made a false report that this offer of a farewell show constituted "victory" for the petition campaign. The petitioners refuted this, but the paper failed to correct it. Despite all this, the petition continues to grow, and it currently has over 8,500 supporters. Links: https://www.change.org/p/bbc-reinstate-brian-matthew-as-presenter-of-sounds-of-the-sixties http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/27/radio-2-takes-horrible-decision-replace-britains-oldest-dj-brian/ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/31/radio-2-invites-brian-matthew-record-goodbye-sounds-60s-avid/ http://radiotoday.co.uk/2017/01/brian-matthew-leaves-radio-2-sounds-of-the-60s/ http://radiotoday.co.uk/2017/02/brian-matthew-to-record-final-radio-2-show/ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4174016/Listeners-threaten-boycott-Radio-2.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4178212/Radio-2-DJ-Brian-Matthew-air-say-goodbye.html