...for the show Absolute just axed

Frank Skinner has been nominated for the most prestigious awards in radio – days after he revealed his show had been axed.

The comic’s Saturday morning show on Absolute Radio has been shortlisted for the comedy award in the Arias, the leading industry awards.

Yet on this weekend’s show he revealed that station bosses were pulling the plug after 15 years, with the 67-year-old saying: ‘I’m not going to pretend I took it well.’

Some listeners blamed ‘ageism’ for the decision, though a number of rival stations are said to be interested in signing him. And on social media Skinner’s former double-act partner David Baddiel said the decision ‘can only have been made by an Absolute twat.’

In total nine shows and podcasts have been nominated for the comedy award.

They are

• Forth at the Fringe - Forth 1
• Help I Sexted My Boss - podcast with William Hanson and Jordan North 
• IM1: A New Hope Live - Manx Radio
• Laura Smyth: I Don't Know What To Say - BBC Radio 4
• Springleaf – James Acaster’s podcast
• Tell Teresa - BBC Radio Ulster
• The Frank Skinner Show - Absolute Radio
• The Skewer - Radio 4 
• Where There's a Will, There's a Wake - podcast with Kathy Burke

Springleaf  was also up for best new podcast, while Best Medicine, the medical-based panel show presented by Kiri Pritchard-McLean on Radio 4 was among those shortlisted for best new radio programme. 

Alice Levine and Romesh Ranganathan will host the ceremony at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane on May 7.

Published: 27 Mar 2024