BBC star Frank Skinner's brutal show axe which sparked ageism row

Frank Skinner left fans stunned earlier this year when he announced he was leaving his role at Absolute Radio after 15 years. The 67-year-old comedian claimed he had been "sacked" by the station, sparking accusations of "ageism" against the channel from his listeners.

Speaking in March, the Three Lions singer revealed that his breakfast show, which he co-hosted with Emily Dean and Pierre Novellie, would be wrapping up for good. "I'm not going to pretend I took it well," he candidly told fans.

The show's final broadcast aired in May when his contract ended, but the decision clearly came as a surprise to Skinner, who admitted: "I don't want to go."

The backlash was immediate, with both fans and fellow celebrities expressing their anger over the decision.

On social media, one listener shared: "Just reading an article about Frank Skinner being sacked from @absoluteradio. I for one will not forgive them. He's the best. I'll defect to whichever station he goes to. You'll lose so many listeners, think again and reinstate them."

Another wrote, "No more listening to @absoluteradio. Frank Skinner was my favourite show of the week. Wherever Frank goes, I will go. Cya Absolute! #frankskinner #Absoluteradio."

Comedian David Baddiel, Skinner's long-time friend, also took to X (formerly Twitter), commenting: "Frank Skinner's show on Absolute is brilliant and the decision not to renew it can only have been made by an Absolute t***."

Journalist Tristram Fane Saunders of The Telegraph chimed in as well, calling the decision "absurdly ageist" in a blistering column about the move, drawing parallels to Ken Bruce's controversial exit from BBC Radio 2.

In his announcement, Skinner explained how he found out his contract would not be renewed: "My manager [called]... you know every year, about this time, we've just celebrated our 15th anniversary on the show, so obviously that means the new contract is coming, and every year I do self-deprecating jokes about the fact that we probably won't get it renewed. Guess what? Yeah, we didn't!"

Reflecting on his time with the station, Skinner admitted: "We had a good run but I realise that in recent times I am ever more becoming Grandad from The Simpsons, but even so - I'm not going to pretend I took it well.

"I took it well in that we've had 15 years and Absolute have actually been very, very good to us in those 15 years but I didn't take it well."

Some fans even threatened to boycott the station over the decision. One shared their frustration, saying: "Getting rid of all the best people. Out of order," while another wrote: "Shocking news about Absolute cancelling Frank Skinner's Radio show." Another simply stated: "I'm gutted."