Simon Mayo says he left BBC Radio 2 because his classical station is a more "thrilling way" to spend his next few years.
Simon Mayo
The 60-year-old DJ left his Radio 2 Drivetime Show with Jo Whiley last year amidst claims he was unhappy that he had been forced to work with a co-host.
At the time he claimed he would be filling his time focusing on his novel writing career, however, Simon was recently announced to be hosting a mid-morning classical show on brand new station Scala Radio when it launches on March 4.
Simon has dismissed any suggestion that he was pushed out of Radio 2 of that Jo was the reason he left the station insisting that despite some "awkwardness to start with" they ended on a "point of strength".
In an interview with The I Paper, he said: "It was written that my show with Jo was a disaster whether that was true or no. But thousands of listeners did not desert the show. We finished on a point of strength with 6.2 million listeners. We weren't taken off air we weren't taken off air. I left.
"There certainly was some awkwardness to start with which was probably entirely my fault, but the show was a hit.
"Radio 2 wanted me to stay but I just thought Scala Radio would be a more thrilling way to spend the next few years on air."
Simon promises that his new show will provide "classical music for modern life" six-days a week and the presenter says he feels listeners will be surprised at how "accessible" his new station will be.
He said: "The exciting thing is to be at the start of something new. I've never had the chance to do that before. I think a lot of people will be surprised at how accessible classical can be."
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