Posted February 18, 200916 yr Paul Gambaccini: sack Chris Moyles over Auschwitz comments by John Mair Source: guardian.co.uk Wednesday 18 February 2009 13.57 GMT Paul Gambaccini has called for Radio 1 breakfast show host Chris Moyles to be sacked following his recent comments about Auschwitz. Gambaccini, who hosts a two-hour show on Radio 2 on Saturday evenings, last night told an audience at Oxford University – which included the BBC's director of audio and music, Tim Davie – that Moyles should go following a series of controversial statements on his breakfast show. "I find his continual presence on Radio 1 unacceptable. Chris Moyles should be gone," Gambaccini said in a lecture. "His recent comments about Auschwitz involved real people and their ancestors. That is no joking matter for them. To encourage this or sit by whilst it happens is unprofessional. He has done it so many times. He has no sense of responsibility." Moyles caused controversy last month when he told listeners about his adventures filming the BBC1 genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are?. "Unlike a lot of the Who Do You Think You Are? shows I didn't go to Auschwitz," he said. "Pretty much everyone goes there whether or not they're Jewish. They just seem to pass through there on their way to Florida." The BBC said it regretted Moyles's comments, which "were misjudged and we are speaking to Chris". Gambaccini also condemned Moyles – who had audience of 7.3 million weekly listeners on average in the last three months of 2008 for his breakfast show – for his apparent homophobia towards the likes of singer Will Young, which he said merely reinforced negative stereotypes. Giving the last of his quartet of lectures as Oxford's News International professor of broadcast media, Gambaccini also condemned those at Radio 1 who defended Moyles. "I am nauseated by the Radio 1 press office constantly rationalising his behaviour," he said. "If we do not get our own house in order, then sooner or later somebody else will and they might break the furniture in the process." Davie, who had to deliver the vote of thanks for Gambaccini following his lecture, praised the veteran DJ and said of Moyles that "picking on people because of their sexuality was not appropriate to broadcasting". The BBC director of audio and music added that he had made his views on taste clear to Moyles in a face-to-face interview. In October last year Gambaccini strongly criticised Russell Brand and Lesley Douglas, the former Radio 2 controller who hired him, over the "Sachsgate" affair.
February 18, 200916 yr I totally agree. Chris Moyles makes Jonathan Ross seem as controversial as Alan Titchmarsh in comparison.
February 18, 200916 yr Chris Moyles is utterly vile. A DJ for people who really aren't that clued up not only on music -but everything else. Him and his bunch of dull hangers on - the insufferable Aled and the likes - ugh - get them off the air. His recent comments after the death of John Martyn were disgraceful, too. Well said Paul
February 18, 200916 yr Chris Moyles is just full of hot air, I hate him, all he does is waffle waffle and more waffle. Please get rid off...
February 18, 200916 yr Chris is entertaining and funny. He would make a good comedian but he is not a music DJ.
February 18, 200916 yr The listening figures will ensure that he won't be sacked - he has said 'f**king' (to a caller) and 'c*nt' (trying to say the album 'The Cult of Ant & Dec') by mistake on his shows before and has been let off. I'm not a massive fan, but I don't believe that he is a horrible man - he certainly isn't racist or homophobic but sometimes he does say things without thinking them through properly. I wonder if those quick to condemn would be happier having some unbearable bore doing the show who had little or no personality but was always PC and inoffensive. Thought not..
February 18, 200916 yr The listening figures will ensure that he won't be sacked - he has said 'f**king' (to a caller) and 'c*nt' (trying to say the album 'The Cult of Ant & Dec') by mistake on his shows before and has been let off. I'm not a massive fan, but I don't believe that he is a horrible man - he certainly isn't racist or homophobic but sometimes he does say things without thinking them through properly. I wonder if those quick to condemn would be happier having some unbearable bore doing the show who had little or no personality but was always PC and inoffensive. Thought not.. Actually, I would prefer a fresh face at breakfast - Chris was funny in the past (I used to be a big fan of his) but his show has gone very stale lately, imo. He really should think through some of the things he says though - he seems to think he can say what he likes and get away with it and one day he simply won't.
February 18, 200916 yr The listening figures will ensure that he won't be sacked - he has said 'f**king' (to a caller) and 'c*nt' (trying to say the album 'The Cult of Ant & Dec') by mistake on his shows before and has been let off. I'm not a massive fan, but I don't believe that he is a horrible man - he certainly isn't racist or homophobic but sometimes he does say things without thinking them through properly. I wonder if those quick to condemn would be happier having some unbearable bore doing the show who had little or no personality but was always PC and inoffensive. Thought not.. They only time I change my morning alarm to Radio 1 is when Scott "Stand In" Mills is on when Moyles is on holiday. Now he is what I call a quality daytime radio DJ, perhaps the best daytime mainstream Radio DJ "1FM" has to offer. In short he is a vast improvement on the lame unfunny shock joke and self proclaimed "Saviour OF Radio 1" which is about as ridiculous a statement as Simon Cowell calling himself "The Saviour of British Pop Music".
February 18, 200916 yr I've got to be honest - I wasn't actually offended by what he said. If someone like Frankie Boyle had mentioned it as a witty observation it would have no doubt been praised. <_< It's almost as if people are waiting for him to slip up.. just like they did with poor Russell. :( Scott Mills is one of the worst DJs on Radio1, I find him really annoying to be honest. Edited February 18, 200916 yr by Doctor Blind
February 18, 200916 yr I've got to be honest - I wasn't actually offended by what he said. If someone like Frankie Boyle had mentioned it as a witty observation it would have no doubt been praised. <_< It's almost as if people are waiting for him to slip up.. just like they did with poor Russell. :( Scott Mills is one of the worst DJs on Radio1, I find him really annoying to be honest. Funny, because I regarded his comments about Auschwitz anti Semetic, his comments regarding Will Young homophobic; his continued spat with Nicola (Girls Aloud) bullying and offensive. Whilst whenever I've had the misfortune of hearing him he comes across as an oafish loudmouth bully without any wit what so ever. Whilst his sychophantic entourage including comedy Dave and Aled (whom he consistantly seems to ridicule) are about as funny as the duo from Gavin & Stacey hosting The Brits were tonight. But he think Lily Allen is the best thing in Pop in recent times so I think that tells everything about his personality.
February 18, 200916 yr They only time I change my morning alarm to Radio 1 is when Scott "Stand In" Mills is on when Moyles is on holiday. Now he is what I call a quality daytime radio DJ, perhaps the best daytime mainstream Radio DJ "1FM" has to offer. In short he is a vast improvement on the lame unfunny shock joke and self proclaimed "Saviour OF Radio 1" which is about as ridiculous a statement as Simon Cowell calling himself "The Saviour of British Pop Music". :o :o :o :o I'm SO shocked at this post Rich. Scott Mills personnifies EVERYTHING I loathe about Radio One.... his music selection is like some naff provincial gay disco, he has about as much musical knowledge as Louis Walsh, has the personality of a dead rat and absolutely no rapport whatsoever with his listeners. He's absolutely my least favourite radio DJ - I'd even listen to Moyles over Mills.... but that's like saying $h!t's better than diarrhoea.
February 19, 200916 yr I stopped listening to Radio 1 over 15 years ago, most of the music they play is just crap. Chris Moyles, never heard him much, but don't like him, comes across as an ignorant fat prat.
February 19, 200916 yr Moyles has always struck me as a talentless windbag who loves the sound of his own voice He should move to Talksport where he belongs as he is just another Jon Gaunt / Caesar The Geezer (although 1/10th the talent of Caesar)
February 19, 200916 yr :o :o :o :o I'm SO shocked at this post Rich. Scott Mills personnifies EVERYTHING I loathe about Radio One.... his music selection is like some naff provincial gay disco, he has about as much musical knowledge as Louis Walsh, has the personality of a dead rat and absolutely no rapport whatsoever with his listeners. He's absolutely my least favourite radio DJ - I'd even listen to Moyles over Mills.... but that's like saying $h!t's better than diarrhoea. i agree... mills is like an unfunny schoolboy. moyles ruins himself.... he can be quite funny, his comedic take on current tracks can be ammusing ( i predict a diet lol) , but his talent (what little there is) is deeply hidden behind a tirade of loudmouth, oafish, rants. he is vulgar, course, crude and unpleasant to listen to. whether or not his anti semitic referance was really a sackable offence or not is open for debate, to me it wasnt offensive, but im not jewish.
February 19, 200916 yr I hardly think this was that offensive a comment (although I'm sure others disagree). It was a comment about the programme and how awful, predictable and manufactured it is, not directly related to Jewish people at all...
February 20, 200916 yr Has anyone got a full transcript of what was said ... because if the fullness of it was what I have already read ... his comments were aimed at the awful 'ancestry chasing' show ... not at Auschwitz or the victims of Auschwitz. Chris Moyles is an annoying buffoon but the only reason I'm not too fond of him ... like so many others these days ... he seems to love the sound of his own voice. Consequently music isn't the focus of the his show ... its all talk, talk, talk. I agree that his wind up of Will Young (I think it was on Will's birthday) was not amusing at all and the picking on of the girl in Girl's Aloud went on for way too long - although I think they've reached a truce on that score. To call for his sacking is ridiculous. As was all the furore over Brand and Ross. Has someone resurrected Mary Whitehouse? Because if it goes back to those days ... we'll all be watching Blue Peter - and they may change the name of that because it could be construed as pornographic. Norma
February 20, 200916 yr Has anyone got a full transcript of what was said ... because if the fullness of it was what I have already read ... his comments were aimed at the awful 'ancestry chasing' show ... not at Auschwitz or the victims of Auschwitz. Chris Moyles is an annoying buffoon but the only reason I'm not too fond of him ... like so many others these days ... he seems to love the sound of his own voice. Consequently music isn't the focus of the his show ... its all talk, talk, talk. I agree that his wind up of Will Young (I think it was on Will's birthday) was not amusing at all and the picking on of the girl in Girl's Aloud went on for way too long - although I think they've reached a truce on that score. To call for his sacking is ridiculous. As was all the furore over Brand and Ross. Has someone resurrected Mary Whitehouse? Because if it goes back to those days ... we'll all be watching Blue Peter - and they may change the name of that because it could be construed as pornographic. Norma indeed i too think people are getting too sensetive and are overreacting. as it happens we are off to see russel brand tonight in nottingham.
February 20, 200916 yr as it happens we are off to see russel brand tonight in nottingham. TBH, I'd rather have Russell Brand doing that show than the ignorant, stupid, lardy loudmouth that is Chris Moyles..... In fact, better yet, Adam and Joe..... Or maybe they're just a bit too "clever" for the masses..... :rolleyes: TBH though dunno why you guys would want to waste your time or money going to see Brand and his rather dull Eddie Izzard/Rob Newman-lite routine.....
February 20, 200916 yr TBH, I'd rather have Russell Brand doing that show than the ignorant, stupid, lardy loudmouth that is Chris Moyles..... In fact, better yet, Adam and Joe..... Or maybe they're just a bit too "clever" for the masses..... :rolleyes: TBH though dunno why you guys would want to waste your time or money going to see Brand and his rather dull Eddie Izzard/Rob Newman-lite routine..... its a (late) surprise birthday przzy from clare. hes ok, can be funny, like his obscure referances he uses, dislike his overt sexism and childish pranks .... we will see.
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