Rob Beckett has quit Radio 2, the BBC announced on Tuesday. 

The presenter, 39, who took over from Paul O’Grady after he stepped down in 2022, will broadcast his last Sunday afternoon show in April. 

Following a schedule shake-up, which saw him regularly swapping with Rob, Paul quit in August 2022 when he was told to share his duties with a younger presenter.

He admitted at the time that he left the station because he ‘wasn’t really happy with the 13 weeks on, 13 weeks off business’.

It came after a push by Radio 2 to attract younger listeners by recruiting younger talent sparked an ageism row and triggered an exodus of older talent including Ken Bruce and Steve Wright.

Rob has been hosting the 5pm-7pm slot every week since and although he will be stepping away from the show, he will remain part of the BBC Radio 2 family. 

Rob Beckett has quit Radio 2, the BBC announced on Tuesday (pictured in March 2024)

The presenter, 39, who took over from Paul O’Grady (pictured) after he stepped down in 2022, will broadcast his last Sunday afternoon show in April

He explained: ‘I’ve had such a laugh each Sunday getting to know the listeners, but as my tour schedule H๏τs up and my family forget what I look like, I’ve decided to step away from a weekly show. 

‘But you won’t get away from me that easily as I’ll be back presenting shows on Radio 2 later in the year when normal service is resumed!’  

Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, added: ‘I’d like to thank Rob for his brilliant work every Sunday evening. He’ll stay within the Radio 2 family and will be heard on the station at a later date.’

Elsewhere, Zoe Ball will soon return to Radio 2 to present a new show – two months after leaving her breakfast slot with the channel.

Radio presenter Zoe, 54, stepped down from her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show in December to ‘focus on her family’, bidding farewell to her lucrative £950,000 salary.

Her departure came after an extended break earlier in the year when her mother Julia died from cancer, and she is now enjoying some time off with her family before returning to airwaves in May with a new project.

On Tuesday Radio 2 officially announced new programme changes, including a new weekly show with Zoe.

She will also be hosting two specials including a BBC TV show celebrating Elaine Paige’s 60 year career in showbusiness. 

Rob has been hosting the 5pm-7pm slot every week since and although he will be stepping away from the show, he will remain part of the BBC Radio 2 family

Elsewhere, Zoe Ball will soon return to Radio 2 to present a new show – two months after leaving her breakfast slot with the channel 

Zoe will launch a Saturday show (1-3pm) from May, playing some of her favourite music and having lots of laughs reconnecting with listeners.

Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, said: ‘Zoe is one of the UK’s most loved presenters, so I’m thrilled to announce that she has a new home on Radio 2 on Saturday lunchtimes, plus she’ll be hosting various specials for us throughout the year.’

Zoe, who presented her last Radio 2 Breakfast Show on Friday December 20 after six years, most recently presented two episodes of Christmas Crooners over the festive period.

As previously announced, she will also host Elaine Paige: 60 Years in Showbusiness, a world exclusive concert honouring the extraordinary career of the station’s host of Elaine Paige on Sunday (1-3pm).