I was axed by text: Caroline Feraday is second DJ to rage at BBC chiefs

A BBC radio presenter today launched a stinging attack on Corporation bosses after she was axed by text message.

Caroline Feraday, whose show Overnight on BBC London 94.9 has been cancelled due to budget cuts, claimed station chiefs failed to speak to her in person.

The 35-year-old DJ, who broadcast the four-hour phone-in programme for the last time last night, said BBC staff felt “frustrated and demoralised” because of the Corporation’s cost-cutting programme Delivering Quality First, which she branded “a euphemism for giving people the elbow”.

The presenter, who dated comedian Frank Skinner and Strictly Come Dancing star Anton Du Beke, is engaged to lawyer Mark Lewis, who represented many of the News of the World’s phone hacking victims.

Ms Feraday said she was in the running for a new radio show but was informed via text message that she had lost out. She told the Evening Standard: “I was told by text on a Sunday night. I was told to give them a call which I did and they never returned my call.”

In November popular DJ Danny Baker launched into a two hour tirade against BBC bosses, branding them “pinheaded weasels” live on air before quitting his radio show.

Ms Feraday, who lives in Clapham, said she was informed her show would be axed around the time of Mr Baker’s outburst, but did not know for sure it would be ditched because the corporation had already made U-turns over plans to close 6 Music and the Asian Network.

She said listeners had protested outside BBC offices against the scrapping of her show, adding: “It’s not about me. I’ll be alright. It’s the nature of the business and I’ll get another gig. But a lot of people who listen to the show are perhaps housebound or isolated and they are the people the BBC should be working for as licence fee payers.”

A BBC spokesman said: “We appreciate Caroline and BBC London listeners may be disappointed. However, changes to the schedule are a result of the BBC’s savings programme agreed with the BBC Trust and have been planned for some time.

“There has been extensive communication to staff. The editor met with Caroline to discuss the changes.”