A "HUGELY popular" radio presenter is leaving the BBC after 21 years this week.

Andrew Easton announced earlier this month that he would be leaving BBC Hereford and Worcester amid ongoing national changes at BBC local radios.

The BBC confirmed that no other main presenters are going to be leaving the station at this time. His last show will be today (Saturday, September 30).

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In an announcement he made on the radio and posted to his social media followers, he said: "I've got a bit of news, and that news is this. You are going to need a calendar and you are going to need to be able to cross the days off it.

"This show is coming to an end. That's it. This show is coming to an end. You may or may not have heard, read or sensed that certain changes are happening right across this radio network.

"BBC Hereford and Worcester is one of those stations where there will be some changes, those changes will not involve me. So this show comes to an end."

Andrew Easton did his first show at BBC Hereford and Worcester in 2002, on the early breakfast show.

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Mark Hellings, executive producer for BBC Hereford & Worcester said: “Andrew has been a hugely popular presenter for BBC Hereford & Worcester, and also a well-known and respected voice in the rugby world locally. 

"He has been behind some great radio moments in that time. We thank him for everything he has done for our audience and anticipate working with him on future projects.”
 
According to the BBC, he arrived in the UK in 1993 from Christchurch, New Zealand, and has always had a passionate interest in radio.

The BBC announced plans to reduce local radio services across England earlier this year which prompted strikes, including at BBC Hereford and Worcester, in March and June.

In June, the latest RAJAR figures for radio listenership showed that BBC Hereford and Worcester reached an average of 84,000 listeners each week in the six months to March. This was down from around 90,000 in the six months to March in 2022.