Gossip Desk

James Whale has impressed the bosses at LBC during his stint covering for Clive Bull and has now been rewarded with a drive-time slot on LBC 97.3FM competing directly with an ailing BBC London 94.9fm and Capital 95.8fm.

Whale is to begin presenting from November weekdays between 4pm - 7pm.

Jonathan Richards, programme director at LBC 97.3, says: “James is a quality broadcaster, a talk radio natural, who loves the medium and loves engaging with his listeners”.

According to second quarter Rajar figures, LBC’s audience reach dipped 6.8% year on year and dropped 15.3% quarter on quarter.

Global Radio the holding company for LBC recently announced job cuts at LBC and the potential that 1152AM may see all of its staff replaced by pre-recorded shows.

BBC London is rumoured to be looking to revamp its drive time slot which is seen as a particularly weak slot with Eddie Nestor presenting, Kath Melandrie who used to co-host the show has now taken up a position in production at the BBC.

photo credit: James Whale website