“Sexual terrorist” leaves GaydarRadio as new line-up announced
Former Big Brother contestants Richard Newman and Lea Walker are to leave popular digital station GaydarRadio.
A new line-up from today includes a live Sunday night show hosted by DJ Gary H and an extended drivetime with Phil Marriott.
Maria Peters makes her UK commercial radio debut with Jukebox Requests on weekends from 3pm.
There will also be a new morning show hosted by Neil Sexton and Simon Le Vans.
As well as Newman and Walker, DJs Kris Di Angelis and Cliff Joannou will be leaving the station.
A Big Brother 7 contestant, Canadian-born Newman joined GaydarRadio in October 2006. He described himself as a “sexual terrorist” and came fourth in the reality TV show.
The Sony and Arqiva award-winning digital station’s programme controller, Robin Crowley, said:
“This new format capitalises on our creative talent and delivers yet more investment in live programming.
“The changes reflect our shift towards a younger audience base of gay, lesbian and gay friendly dance music lovers who want to be able to access the station across a variety of platforms of choice.
“GaydarRadio’s success is built on its interactivity with our community of users in the Gaydar chatrooms.
“The new weekend line up in particular allows us to extend that dialogue with them further and reach an even wider audience.”
GaydarRadio said its latest annual audience figures remain stable year on year at 337,497 listeners.
The universe measured is UK registered membership of the company’s dating websites, which has grown 19 per cent in the past year to 1.620million users.
GaydarRadio’s new audience figures are produced by Ipsos MORI and the total weekly reach figures are endorsed by RAJAR Ltd. The survey covers the period May 9 to July 2 2008.
More people are listening via DAB, with 44,000 additional people listening via that platform.
