Sir Terry Wogan bids farewell to popular breakfast show

Posted by Nigel Slater on Dec 18th, 2009 in Entertainment | 1 comment

There was a sense of sadness earlier today as Sir Terry Wogan bid farewell to listeners on his final ever breakfast show on BBC Radio 2.

Wogan told his listeners at the end of the show, which he has hosted for 27 years: “The years together with you have not only been a pleasure but a privilege.”

Wake Up To Wogan is the UK’s most popular breakfast radio show, attracting a massive 7.93 million listeners each week.

In January, former ‘The Big Breakfast’ presenter Chris Evans will take over from Wogan – with the legendary presenter presenting a new Sunday show for the station.

The show included a tribute from Prime Minister Gordon Brown who fittingly said he “shaped the popular imagination of British listeners and viewers.”

Wogan responded by telling his colleagues: “How dare you slip that across me. Are you trying to make me cry?”

Throughout the show, he read out cards and emails from listeners wishing him all the best. Wogan said: “I’m surrounded by farewell poems – I wish I could reply to all of you because I feel as if we’ve met.”

The decision to replace Sir Terry with Evans earlier this year caused some controversy and anger with fans but Wogan said he wanted his listeners to wish the new presenter all the best.

Wogan said: “I know you’re going to welcome Chris Evans with the same generosity of spirit that you have always shown me.”

Evans, who officially takes over on January 11, came on as a guest on yesterday’s show and told listeners how hard it will be for him to fill Sir Terry’s shoes.

He said: “They’re massive shoes and a little me. No-one can come close to you. I know this is embarrassing for you, I know you don’t want to hear it but it’s all true.”

Fellow Radio 2 presenter Johnnie Walker will stand in to host the breakfast show until Evans’ arrival.

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