BBC Radio Devon

A social media revolution is growing over the decision by BBC Radio Devon boss Mark Grinnell to axe the Judi Spiers show.

Hundreds of people have taken to Twitter and Facebook to express their anger and dismay.

A Facebook post announcing Judi’s last show this morning had received more than 100 comments in just over an hour meanwhile, a statement made online by Mr Grinnell yesterday has attracted a whopping 550 responses.

A campaign set up on both twitter and facebook called Bring Back Judi has almost 1,000 followers.

Typical of the comments was that made by...

BBC Radio Devon managing editor Mark Grinnell has finally broken his silence about the decision to sack popular presenter Judi Spiers.

After four days of saying nothing he has published a formal statement via the station’s Facebook page.

It said the following:

“Thank you to all who have posted messages about the Judi Spiers Show on BBC Radio Devon.

“As Managing Editor I am responsible for the station’s schedule and would like to explain my decision.

“First of all I want to assure you that the decision was not taken lightly. Judi has presented in the...

Picture the scene…

As a management team you’ve had months to plan the departure of one of your radio station’s biggest stars.

Not only that she has served you for 15 years.

Not only that, you are the BBC.

Smooth, slick, organised, disciplined, measured, understanding conciliatory.

All the things you’d expect. Except that didn’t happen!

Instead there was, in the words of one insider, “pandemonium”.

I have been told that the BBC Radio Devon executive team simply were not prepared for the volume of calls and emails they received after...

The departure of Judi Spiers from BBC Radio Devon also looks set to herald the end of daytime live broadcasting from Exeter.

From Monday, Chris Diniss's Radio Exe programme will be the only daytime radio show – commercial or BBC – to broadcast from Exeter.

Radio Exe’s managing director Paul Nero told the Daily: "Clearly some listeners may be unconcerned that shows that purport to be local actually come from Plymouth, as with the BBC from next week, or London, as with Heart.

"We’ve long been the only professional station that’s made in Devon, all day, every day. Now...

BBC Radio Devon today (2 December) announced Simon Bates as its new Breakfast presenter, his new show will start on Monday 12 January 2015. Simon, who lives on a farm near Tiverton, mid-Devon, is joining BBC Radio Devon to present a mix of news and music each weekday morning between 7.00 and 10.00am.

As ever, quality local journalism will be the cornerstone of the new programme, and Simon Bates will use his interviewing skills honed over decades of broadcasting to interview the day’s newsmakers. Simon will also be out broadcasting from around the county and hearing from BBC Radio...

A Devon pensioner discovered she was unwittingly growing a 5ft (1.5m) tall cannabis plant from a pack of bird seeds - after phoning a BBC Radio Devon phone-in programme.

Patricia Hewitson, from Exmouth, contacted the station's Sunday gardening programme asking for help identifying "a weed".

After discovering it was an illegal cannabis plant the police were involved.

Officers said Mrs Hewitson was growing the plant illegally but in good faith.

Mrs Hewitson said: "I sent a picture in via email and I got a couple of interesting emails back, including one from...

Devon’s own success story ‘Casitas’ are back in Devon for a homecoming gig on Friday 18th April at the Tobacco Factory in Exeter.

Casitas, consisting of Barney, James, Ed, Felix and Jack, are returning to Devon after uprooting to London to further their music career.

Originally from Exeter, they will perform at the Tobacco Factory in the city on Friday 18th April at 7pm.

As well as their Exeter performance the group, who were recently featured on Dermot O’Leary’s Radio Two show, are also set to perform a live session for BBC Introducing in Devon on Saturday 19th...

Starting on Monday 24th February an interesting new radio programme 'World War One at Home' will air across local radio stations across the country, with programmes documenting experiences from particular regions.

The first of a 100 World War One stories will be broadcast on BBC Radio Cornwall, BBC Radio Devon, BBC Radio Jersey and BBC Radio Guernsey, BBC Spotlight and at www.bbc.co.uk/ww1 .

World War One At Home, a UK-wide project, will broadcast over a thousand powerful stories throughout 2014 and 2015 - all linked to specific places across the country - in a way never...

It was somewhat apt that there was no room at the inn when BBC Radio Devon recorded its annual Christmas carol service at Exeter Cathedral last night.

More than 1,000 people packed into every available space to hear music from performers such as the Choir of St Michael and All Angels at Mount Dinham and the Big Noise Chorus.

They also heard bible and poetry readings from some of BBC Radio Devon’s famous voices including presenters: Judi Spiers, Matt Woodley, Michael Chequer, Tony Beard and John Govier.

Rebecca Shaw, 37, from Christow, said: "The queues were long but...