[Adam]

Christian O'Connell left XFM to become a national celebrity. Oops. His Sky One show bombed and his breakfast show on Virgin if faltering. Virgin management keep vetoing Christian's ideas as "too clever for our white-van man audience", and want him just to do a watered-down copy of his old show.

O'Connell burned his bridges with Radio One when he claimed, erroneously, to have turned down their breakfast show slot, but he and his agent have been talking to Radio Two, and a return to XFM can't be ruled out.

But while Virgin might no longer be in love with him they're keen to keep Christian. It would cost a fortune to pay him off (he's on 500k p.a.) and they have no real replacement. Clarkson has apparently been approached but turned them down.

Source: Popbitch

[David]

Speaking of returns to XFM - I listened to Richard Bacon this afternoon again for the first time since he returned to XFM and he was excellent... So much better than his Capital shows. The music was cracking, the content was brilliant too.

If you want an alternative from Scott Mills then give Bacon a go!

[Adam]

And if you're bored in the evenings between 10 - 1am, then tune into The Geoff Show on Virgin Radio.

[Quincy]

wheres pete?

[MC]

Radio 2/6Music. They went their separate ways at the start of the year.

[Dimon Trowel]

Christian O'Connell left XFM to become a national celebrity. Oops. His Sky One show bombed and his breakfast show on Virgin if faltering. Virgin management keep vetoing Christian's ideas as "too clever for our white-van man audience", and want him just to do a watered-down copy of his old show.

O'Connell burned his bridges with Radio One when he claimed, erroneously, to have turned down their breakfast show slot, but he and his agent have been talking to Radio Two, and a return to XFM can't be ruled out.

But while Virgin might no longer be in love with him they're keen to keep Christian. It would cost a fortune to pay him off (he's on 500k p.a.) and they have no real replacement. Clarkson has apparently been approached but turned them down.

Source: Popbitch

I wonder if this is true? It's very interesting. I haven't heard much about O'Connell for a while now. So he's not Virgin's favourite boy anymore?
Seems a little shame, he's not that bad.

[stevotrash Esq.]

I don't think dumping a truckfull of promotions into his show helps in any way. His show is now sounding like a local radio breakfast show but with multi national companies doing the sponsorship bits.

It's Virgin's fault for cramming their flagship show with lots of business plugs and watering down content to an un-pallateable weak lemon drink formula.

[Everlast]

Christian O'Connell left XFM to become a national celebrity. Oops. His Sky One show bombed and his breakfast show on Virgin if faltering. Virgin management keep vetoing Christian's ideas as "too clever for our white-van man audience", and want him just to do a watered-down copy of his old show.

O'Connell burned his bridges with Radio One when he claimed, erroneously, to have turned down their breakfast show slot, but he and his agent have been talking to Radio Two, and a return to XFM can't be ruled out.

But while Virgin might no longer be in love with him they're keen to keep Christian. It would cost a fortune to pay him off (he's on 500k p.a.) and they have no real replacement. Clarkson has apparently been approached but turned them down.

Source: Popbitch

I know this is a Moyles discussion board but i think O'Connell is brilliant and his show on Virgin is nowhere near as good as his XFM shows. Virgin have spent lots of money turning IMO a radio genius into a middle of the road DJ. Radio 1 could do a lot worse than give Christian a regular show and basically give him artistic freedom rather than Inane features like "would you rathers" and "TV theme doctor" and that would bring to everyones attention one of the funniest radio characters ever Damon in the Oval

[fish heads]

Would radio 1 have him though, with Moyles and Mills doing the business on the two important shows, where would he go - plus he would sound similar to these two shows and would just clutter up the schedule. Leave him where he is for now as an alternative to the BBC - IMO the BBC is too quick to pick up talent from outside instead of letting people with talent rise up through the ranks

[Dr. Nick]

IMO the BBC is too quick to pick up talent from outside instead of letting people with talent rise up through the ranks

Could this be why Chris Evans turned into such an absolute tosser? Fame and fortune went to his head too fast you think? Or was he just born a w*nker?

[Scottie]

bring to everyones attention one of the funniest radio characters ever Damon in the Oval

Totally agree everlast, surely Damon in the Greatest radio creation ever!