Radio Oxford reshuffles presenters

5:55pm Friday 7th September 2007

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By The Page Turner »

BBC Radio Oxford presenter Sybil Ruscoe is off again, prompting a reshuffle at the station.

And Mike Knibbs, the ex-police officer who does travel bulletins on the breakfast show, has been told his contract is not being renewed.

Managers at Radio Oxford said the changes had been prompted by Ms Ruscoe's departure, and were not due to financial cutbacks.

Ms Ruscoe, 45, was a popular replacement for Anne Diamond in the breakfast show slot last year, but quit after six months to concentrate on other projects.

She returned earlier this year to fill the afternoon slot but, after six months, she is leaving again.

Early morning show presenter Jo Thoenes will take her place, and Joel Hammer will take the 5am slot. The new line-up will begin on Monday, September 24.

Mr Knibbs, 63, from Oxford, known to listeners as 'the Nibbler', told the Oxford Mail: "I'm very disappointed - this came out of the blue.

"I was able to use my local knowledge to give listeners regular updates and now it will be done from a traffic link in London. They obviously don't know the roads and the area as well as I do.

"I gather this is all down to finances but I would even be prepared to do this on a voluntary basis because I think it gives the listeners a good service."

BBC bosses said last night they were looking at ways of keeping Mr Knibbs in the Radio Oxford family.

Ms Ruscoe, a former BBC Radio 1 and Five Live presenter, who lives in Stow-on-the-Wold, in Gloucestershire, said yesterday: "I only planned to do the afternoon show for six months because I want to get on with writing a novel.

"My novel will look at life behind the scenes in broadcasting - it will be Bridget Jones meets Smashie and Nicey with a bit of Jilly Cooper thrown in.

"I'm sure I'll be back at Radio Oxford to fill in for other presenters at some point. I love working there."

Radio Oxford fan Derek Honey, from Witney, said: "I'm sorry to hear Sybil's leaving again because she's the station's greatest asset.

"Mike Knibbs has done a good job with the travel bulletins and obviously knows the local area so it will be sad to see him go."

He added that he hoped the station could do more with presenter Tim Bearder.

Darren Gough, 42, from Banbury, said: "I'm shocked and saddened to hear that the Nibbler is going because he has got great local knowledge and now the travel will be done from London. Sybil is the best thing to happen to Radio Oxford since we lost Ali Booker, but Jo Thoenes should be a good replacement."

Radio Oxford assistant editor Will Banks said it was a great shame Mike Knibbs' contract was not being renewed and thanked him for "a first-class service".