Outcry by listeners after Mack is axed

11:00am Saturday 10th November 2012 in News By Scott D'Arcy

Graham Mack Graham Mack

THE BBC has again defended the decision to axe popular breakfast show host Graham Mack following an outcry by his devoted listeners.

The Adver has received several letters bemoaning Mack’s loss in the week the new BBC Wiltshire breakfast presenter Ben Prater took up his new role.

Graham was axed without warning as part of the corporation’s 20 per cent budget cuts, even though his contract with the BBC was not supposed to end until February 2013.

As part of the BBC’s Delivering Quality First proposals, it was announced in October 2011 that split breakfast programmes in BBC English Regions in Devon, Cambridge, Wiltshire and Three Counties would cease.

After a consultation, the Swindon and Wiltshire breakfast shows were combined into one new show, presented by Ben, who arrived from BBC Radio Bristol.

Geoffrey Heaford, of the Green, Highworth, said: “The BBC has treated Graham Mack, Heather Skull and Mark Jones in a deplorable way. It is compounded by the reluctance of the station manager to explain his failure to stand up to the bullyboy beancounters of regional and national service.”

Mrs P Phillips, of Beaufort Road, Wroughton said: “Where, oh where is Graham Mack?

“What bright spark made him redundant? He was a presenter who did a lot of good for the town.”

Lynne and John Edwards, of Tweed Close, wrote: “Talk about killing the goose that laid the golden egg. Listeners weren’t even given the opportunity to say goodbye to Graham. It really is Swindon’s loss.”

A BBC spokesman said: “Following the public consultation on the DQF proposals the saving requirements for Local Radio were significantly reduced.

“Combining the breakfast programmes has helped BBC Wiltshire to deliver these savings. “We are confident that BBC Wiltshire will continue to offer a local and relevant news service.”

Comments(19)

Robh says...
11:32am Sat 10 Nov 12

As part of the BBC’s Delivering Quality First proposals and after a consultation!!

What a load of cobblers it is all about saving money and two fingers to the listeners.

Where did they have a public consultation as it couldn't have been in or around Swindon.

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WoodsideLady says...
11:41am Sat 10 Nov 12

Well that's me done with that radio station, Graham Mack was the only presenter worth listening to - always brightened up grey days!!!!

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faatmaan says...
12:45pm Sat 10 Nov 12

odd that BBC Oxford retains its local identity, yet Swindon is sacrificed, could the fact that Oxford is the local radio station for Cameron to relevent.

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batch says...
1:04pm Sat 10 Nov 12

There was a consultancy, it was an online questionnaire. I can only assume it was ignored.

The new breakfast show is pretty poor. Who really wants to listen to Salisbury news when living in Swindon. And vice versa. It used to be a good source of finding out what was going on in the local council and area in general. Early days but now it seems very a very watered down one-size fits all show. Thank the Governments license fee freeze for the cutbacks :( I've switched to listening to 5 live on the way in to work.

Still baffled by not employing Mack as the presenter. My guess is he was either more expensive than his replacement, or the BBC were running a last in first out policy.

BBC Wilts still has a few good things left. Mark O'D is excellent, shame he is on in the 9am timeslot as a lot of us are working by then. He was the best football show host **ever** too when he did it a couple of seasons ago. Talking of which, at least we still have Swindon live commentary and BBC Introduces on a Thursday. Every cloud...

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Morsey says...
1:31pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Currently, though apart from football coverage, when I now rarely tune to BBC Radio ex-Swindon, I have found Swindon playing second fiddle to anywhere else in the county. Pathetic!

It is an appalling state of affairs and there must surely be a disciplinary factor involved between the station manager and Mr Mack, just cannot see the treatment was what would have been given to someone who 'fitted in'?

Still there's Heart and 'Jack' and Radio 2 , Radio 4 ... but can't seem to tune 105.5 very well on most radios we have?

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fatman says...
2:21pm Sat 10 Nov 12

BBC does not give a sh-te about quality as long as the presenters are drab and they are not more exciting watching paint dry they will be safe in their jobs . The dumb blond on points west the other week said on air " BELIEVE YOU ME " ,unless your pure thick ,everyone knows it should be Believe me you , emailed points west to point this out never even replied

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stu2010 says...
2:39pm Sat 10 Nov 12

The headline should have read "Mack the Knifed"

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docklander2 says...
3:22pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Perhaps he was put on gardening leave quickly to avoid his listeners contacting the BBC heirachy to complain of their intention to remove Graham from post.
His team wins awards, one for Best Breakfast Show, and the BBC decide (apparently) that the award is not justified by axing it.
The New guy tries his best but his voice is (for me) better for a late night show, it hasn't woken me up, hence the "Off" button has been used every day since the change.
I wonder if the "Mack" brought on his own demise by re-enacting the old Railway Hooter as it seems someone has had the hump by bringing about the change. Just hope they don't think of changing other presenters about .

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Old_git says...
6:47pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Best thing the BBC ever did, getting rid of Mack.

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choccie says...
8:13pm Sat 10 Nov 12

I miss Graham Mack. Could be OTT sometimes but neverless a very good listen and good fun way to start the day. I don't see why he couldn't have done the new joint breakfast show rather than bringing in a new guy who I can't get into at all. I thought Heather Skull had chosen to leave for another job, so surprised to hear she got the push as well.

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Mr Time says...
8:42pm Sat 10 Nov 12

Great shame to see him go... this guy did so much for the town. Very professional & lively debates in the morning, can't say much about the new guy.... sends me to sleep.

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umpcah says...
9:07am Sun 11 Nov 12

BELIEVE YOU ME is not a phrase I`m inclined to use but is the one I`m familiar with so please dont include me in the " everyone " !

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Al Smith says...
10:07am Sun 11 Nov 12

fatman wrote:
BBC does not give a sh-te about quality as long as the presenters are drab and they are not more exciting watching paint dry they will be safe in their jobs . The dumb blond on points west the other week said on air " BELIEVE YOU ME " ,unless your pure thick ,everyone knows it should be Believe me you , emailed points west to point this out never even replied
There are records of the phrase "believe you me" being used as long ago as the 1840's. It's basically an emphatic form of "believe me".

The use of "____ you me" dates back to the time of Shakespeare.

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fulhamfred says...
3:27pm Sun 11 Nov 12

I am glad that Graham Mack has gone, now do something about Marie Lennon and Mark O Donnell and I can listen in to the radio more.

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Phantom Poster says...
7:15pm Sun 11 Nov 12

fatman wrote:
BBC does not give a sh-te about quality as long as the presenters are drab and they are not more exciting watching paint dry they will be safe in their jobs . The dumb blond on points west the other week said on air " BELIEVE YOU ME " ,unless your pure thick ,everyone knows it should be Believe me you , emailed points west to point this out never even replied
So you're also calling me "pure thick" are you, as I've only ever heard use of the phrase "believe you me"?

I also like your use of the "dumb blond" stereotype. I'm curious, what's your hair colour and how does it correlate with your intelligence?

Looking at your login name, perhaps there is also a correlation with weight?

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Russell Holland says...
8:55pm Sun 11 Nov 12

It is a real shame Graham has gone. I enjoyed his no nonsense interview style. More importantly he really cared about the town. Looking at how much the staff in London get paid, I'm sure they could do more for local radio. The Council did do a motion supported by all political parties urging the BBC to reconsider.

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Empty Car Park says...
9:36pm Sun 11 Nov 12

Shame indeed about the loss of Graham Mack.

I agree with the comment about Mark O'Donnel . That show has more padding than DFS

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olivia aldbourne says...
9:43am Mon 12 Nov 12

if any of you had bothered to read the Conservative's manifesto in 2010, you'll know that the BBC's budget, across the board, was always going to be cut.
so how many of you voted for this?

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PJC says...
10:18am Mon 12 Nov 12

Phantom Poster wrote:
fatman wrote:
BBC does not give a sh-te about quality as long as the presenters are drab and they are not more exciting watching paint dry they will be safe in their jobs . The dumb blond on points west the other week said on air " BELIEVE YOU ME " ,unless your pure thick ,everyone knows it should be Believe me you , emailed points west to point this out never even replied
So you're also calling me "pure thick" are you, as I've only ever heard use of the phrase "believe you me"?

I also like your use of the "dumb blond" stereotype. I'm curious, what's your hair colour and how does it correlate with your intelligence?

Looking at your login name, perhaps there is also a correlation with weight?
It was the 'your pure thick' (sic) that made me chuckle. 'Believe you me' is a phrase I don't use, but I too have only heard it said that way round.

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