Campbell and BBC at odds over JY

The row over Jimmy Young's future intensified today with fierce denials that radio presenter Nicky Campbell had ever been offered the veteran broadcaster's job.

Campbell, 40, claimed in a newspaper interview yesterday that Jim Moir, Radio 2 controller, had offered him Young's job, telling him: "You are the anointed one." He added he had turned the job down.

Two BBC sources today said that Campbell was sounded out "quite seriously" for the job in 1999 but talks had "gone cold".

A statement issued by Radio 2 confirmed that "no formal offer" was made to Campbell, adding that "a number of soundings" were made to leading presenters "as part of the daily business of running a radio network". Young, 80, has been broadcasting for 50 years and his show has five million listeners. A BBC insider added that no decision had been made to remove Young, though he would not "go on forever".

Campbell was broadcasting today and unavailable for comment. But his spokesman stood by his claim. "He has been offered the job," he said.