Roman Kemp has announced some ‘pretty big news’ on Capital Breakfast, confirming he is leaving the station.
Speculation over his departure has been rife over the weekend but Roman officially announced he is leaving Capital after almost a decade, and six years on Breakfast.
His replacement has not been mentioned so far, but many media outlets are reporting Jordan North is taking over, following his sudden exit from Radio 1 last week.
Roman will leave in six weeks time.
Speaking directly to Capital breakfast listeners, with co-hosts Sian Welby and Chris Stark, Roman said: “What I can tell you is I’m not saying goodbye right now, I’m not leaving the show today and that’s it, but it’s not far away. It will come and that goodbye will come in five to six weeks.
“It’s not a decision that has come overnight either, it’s massive, I’ve not found it easy at all. Capital is my family, you as the wonderful listeners that you’ve been, you’ve been with me at my best times and my absolute lowest. […] Capital and Global have helped changed me. I was 22 years old when I first joined Capital and it’s built me into the man that I am today, it is all that I know. But I know that now is the right time to leave and now is the right time to move on.
“You listening, and the people in this room, every single person in this room, my producing team, Sian and Chris, Sonny who has done it in the past and Vick Hope who had done it in the past. It’s everyone.
“The next couple of weeks as I kind of approach the end of my time here on Capital, it’s going to be so tough. I love this place so much, I love it. I love the station, I love everything about it, Capital is my family. And I also love the connection that you and I, the listeners, have built together. It’s changed. I know that it started out as me being just Martin Kemp’s son, I hope that now you can call me your friend.”
Roman Kemp said: “I’ve loved every single moment of my time at Capital. The last 10 years have been amazing and hosting the legendary Capital Breakfast is the best job ever.
“But after almost seven years of early alarms, I’m looking forward to some lie-ins and it’s time to hand over the baton! It’s been a privilege and an honour to wake up millions of people every day. It’s the best job in radio and I’ll miss our listeners and the team at Global lots. Whoever the next host of Capital Breakfast is, they’re in for the most incredible ride.”
Ashley Tabor-King CBE, Founder & Executive President of Global, said: “Roman, it’s been a pleasure. You’ve been a fantastic host and custodian of one of the biggest shows in UK radio, the Capital breakfast show. I’ve loved watching you grow and grow as a broadcaster and as a person and I wish you all the very best for whatever comes next.”
James Rea, Chief Broadcasting and Content Officer at Global, said: “Roman has been a first-class presenter and it’s been fantastic to have him on the team. I want to thank him for the incredible job he’s done for Capital over the last 10 years. We look forward to announcing the new Capital Breakfast soon.”
This story first appeared on radiotoday.co.uk