Spare us Chris Evans!

Her post alone drew more than 340 responses, the majority restating their opposition to Evans and accusing the controller of ignoring their concerns.

There were also claims from regular contributors that their comments were being 'hidden' from view or removed.

Radio 2 has built up a huge following in recent years by hiring well-known personalities as DJs - including Michael Parkinson, Jonathan Ross, Rowland Rivron and Elaine Paige - and is the country's most popular radio station.

The decision to give Evans a daily show appears to be a step too far for traditionalists. One listener said Evans was 'just a gob, a loud one at that, he can't entertain and he can't just deliver to the listener, he has to do the ME, ME, ME thing constantly.'

Others were worried that Evans didn't know enough about music, while some feared Radio 2 was being 'dumbed down'. 'Radio 2 is rapidly descending into Radio 11/2,' said one listener.

Evans, 39, was once one of the most powerful men in broadcasting, with hit TV shows such as The Big Breakfast and Don't Forget Your Toothbrush. He also hosted the Radio 1 breakfast show, and pocketed £75million when he sold Virgin Radio in 2000. Since then, however, his golden touch appears to have deserted him.

Virgin, where he had remained as a DJ, sacked him for failing to turn up for work and after a two-year legal battle he was ordered to hand over £7million in costs and damages.

Then there was a succession of television flops and the collapse of his marriage to Billie Piper.

The BBC yesterday denied that it was censoring critics. Messages were checked by staff before being posted on the website and were usually only barred if they were libellous or broke 'house rules', it said.

But one listener said she had had been posting messages for 'almost three years and I've never seen it like this'. 'The censorship is rife, right across the Radio 2 boards today... It would seem you just have to mention the name Evans and not being in favour and out you go,' she said. Another regular contributor said: 'I too have never had a post modded [moderated] before today. At the last count I was up to three. It is known as "censorship".'

A Radio 2 spokesman said: 'The BBC message boards are intended to encourage discussion so the idea they are censored is nonsense.

'Bearing in mind Radio 2 has an audience of over 13million listeners, we have only received a small number of complaints about Chris Evans being appointed.'

Radio 2 has become something of a sanctuary for former Radio 1 DJs in recent years. Others who have joined include Steve Wright, Mark Radcliffe and Janice Long.