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Celebrity in reverse

kb's picture

In our celebrity-obsessed Britain, it's good to see someone going in the opposite direction. Good on him - must be making an helluva financial sacrifice too.

Jonny swaps Radio 2 for the classroom

Radio 2 breakfast sports news presenter Jonny Saunders is to leave the show to take up a career in teaching instead.
He’ll be replaced on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show by Vassos Alexander, who joins from 5 Live Breakfast.
36-year-old Johnny said: “I come from a teaching family so it’s always been something I’ve wanted to do.”
He added that he wanted to teach English at secondary level and hoped to keep his hand in with his other passion – radio – by possibly continuing his work as a weekend sports commentator and presenter at BBC Radio Berkshire.
This is the first change to the on-air team for Evans’ breakfast show since it started last January. Chris, who previously worked with Jonny on Drivetime, said: “Five and a half years Jonny has had to put up with me. No one should have to go through that. I don’t know what crime he committed, but I’m glad he’s finally served his sentence. Now, whoever gets him next, in whatever he chooses to do, will be getting a helluva guy. As long as it doesn’t involve driving that is. My mum – on her mobility scooter – has an average speed twice that of any journey Jonny has been behind the wheel for.”
Jonny’s spent the last five years as a sports presenter at Radio 2, before that he mainly worked at 5 Live after joining the BBC Radio Sport team in 1999. Previously he worked as a sports reporter at Capital Radio.
Lewis Carnie, Head of Programming for Radio 2, said: “Jonny has established himself as a firm favourite amongst the Radio 2 listeners and will be sorely missed by them and everyone on the show, and we wish him the very best of luck.”

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I'm amazed at this

He always sounds like a total dimbulb to me. Good for him.

1
Five-Centres | 8 July 2011 - 10:11am

It's an admirable thing to do

I've great respect for anyone who goes into teaching; I certainly couldn't do it.

However, wouldn't it be nice if Chris Evans could just give him a good send-off and wish him well rather than make a series of "wacky" jokes and digs? I'm sure it's all done in the best of intentions and I don't believe there's any bitterness behind it, but it looks like a means of getting Evans to be the centre of attention in what is someone else's story.

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Joe R | 8 July 2011 - 11:00am

Sincere, I think

The above was a press release type thing in Radio Today. He was very gracious this morning I thought, and sincere. Jonny plays the role of 'butt' pretty well.

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kb | 8 July 2011 - 11:16am

I thought he gave him a nice send-off

But as with any job change there must have been a seed of doubt in his mind that he was doing the right thing, which can't have been helped by a whole host of famous people phoning up to say "you're leaving Radio 2 to teach, are you mad?"

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Simon Ford | 8 July 2011 - 11:54am
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