MOTORMOUTH DJ Tommy Boyd has been axed from Original 106 after just eight months at the radio station, the Daily Echo can reveal.
The breakfast show presenter who is known for his controversial morning rants and strong opinions joined the south coast broadcaster in January but is the first high-profile casualty of a station shake-up by new owners.
Despite his contract being abruptly ended, the 55-year-old said the split from Original was a happy one and was due to changes at the station.
"I've had a very good time at Original and enjoyed working with the staff and the listeners," he said.
"My departure is a happy one from the station and I'm moving onto pastures new."
Tommy will be leaving behind the weekday 7am to 10am slot on the station, which was launched as a new alternative music station for adults across the south two years ago.
Known for being outspoken during previous shows on local BBC radio, Tommy challenged public opinion earlier this year by arguing that people should stop running marathons because they were producing more carbon dioxide than running a car.
His departure is part of a series of redundancies and changes at the station which was taken over by Celador Radio Broadcasting, a new branch of the Celador production company responsible for TV shows Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? and All Star Mr and Mrs.
The company bought Original 106, whose studios are in St Mary's Place, Southampton, from Canadian media giant Canwest Media for an undisclosed fee two weeks ago.
New managing director Kevin Stewart said that the loss of Tommy and other DJs was no reflection on the broadcasters at the station but they wanted to move Original in a new direction' to bring in more listeners.
"Tommy is an excellent broadcaster and he has a good team at Original. We wish him well in his future career but we have decided to end his contract.
"We took over two weeks ago and we are looking to move the station into a new format. So there will be some more changes that are still in the planning stages," he said.
It is thought other presenters could go as part of the shake-up.
Tommy will continue to host Original's breakfast show for the next four to five weeks as the details of his departure are organised.
He will then continue to make his voice heard across the airwaves as he looks to broadcasting across different formats.
"I'm heading to Sussex where I will be working in new media.
"I don't want to call it Internet radio because that conjures up images of geeks in their bedroom," he said.
"It will be a bit different to Original in that there will be more speech and a little less music,'' he said.
