Nikki Bedi will continue to co-present the show. <\/p>
The Reverend Richard Coles has expressed his disappointment at having to leave his BBC Radio 4 show after 12 years due to a change in the recording location.<\/p>\n
Both he and Saturday Live co-presenter Nikki Bedi were offered the chance to continue with the show, but Rev Coles could not take up the opportunity as the programme is moving from London to Cardiff.<\/p>\n
The relocation is part of a broader push to spread BBC projects further across the UK, where before there has been a disproportionate amount of opportunity in England\u2019s capital city.<\/p>\n
However, Rev Coles is sceptical of the decision, telling The Guardian<\/a>: \u201cI\u2019d have preferred the programme to stay in London. I think it would be better. I was happy doing it and I think it\u2019s gone from strength to strength.<\/p> \u201cMoving it to Cardiff, I don\u2019t really see how that works, but that\u2019s not my decision \u2013 that\u2019s other people\u2019s decision.\u201d<\/p>\n The Reverend also took issue with how his final edition of Saturday Live \u2013 which will be broadcast this weekend \u2013 was not publicised by the BBC until a mere five days before, leaving many loyal fans in the dark about what\u2019s to come.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you leave a programme after 12 years, a gentler process would have been nice. But what happens happens,\u201d he said. \u201cIt just feels a little bit rushed. It\u2019s been frustrating for me having to wait for an announcement, and now it\u2019s my last programme on Saturday. I\u2019d rather have had a longer goodbye to listeners.\u201d<\/p>\n Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n Rev Coles added: \u201cIt just feels a bit sad. I\u2019m sorry to go; I\u2019ve loved the programme, I\u2019ve loved the people I\u2019ve worked with, and it\u2019s been a big part of my life. I shall miss it.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t heard from any listeners yet. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s been on Twitter or anything. Perhaps people just think, \u2018Oh well.\u2019 I\u2019ve been on the programme a really long time and have enjoyed a really great relationship with listeners, so I\u2019m sorry that\u2019s coming to an end.\u201d<\/p>\n A BBC spokesperson said: \u201cRichard has been brilliant on Saturday mornings and very much continues to be part of the Radio 4 family. We look forward to working with him on future projects.\u201d<\/p>