The Radio 1 disc hockey Mark Radcliffe joked yesterday that it took half an hour to negotiate the removal of the stations showcase breakfast show up the M1 from London to Manchester.
Radcliffe, 38, from Bolton told Matthew Bannister , Controller of Radio 1, that that was the price he would have to pay to persuade him and him partner , Marc Riley known as The Boy Lard ,to succeed Chris Evans.It was not money he said as he was wheeled out by BBC public relations officers at thte Lass O'Gowrie public house around the corner from the BBC's northern headquarters.
Asked what set him apart from Evans, he said: "About 25 million, i would imagine" Then headded: "There is a kind of illusion that there is this big bag of money with 'breakfast show' written on it left at the reception desk every Friday and that they have Tippexed out Chris Evans's name and put ours on. I can assure that is not the case. We are getting considerably less than Chris Evans, but we are happy with the money."
There are many more differences between Radcliffe and his predecessor. Radcliffe, the son of a journalist, has a grounding in clasical music , specialised on his late-night Radio 1 show in promoting smaller indie bands and cultivates a caustic but affectionate wit. Unlike Evans, a Manchester United supporter, he follows the un-fashionable Manchester City.
Breakfast time for millions of youngsters will be les of the rollercoaster ride it wasunder evans.The new team , responsible for bringing the current No1, Whitetown, to a wider audience, have some assurances that they will be able to play their own type of music.
Radcliffe played down his more sophisticated style by posing with Riley, pint of Manchester's finest in one hand and a cigarette in the other, with a gritty northern city backdrop. He refused an outsize alarm clock proffered by one hopeful photographer.
Told to smile and look happier by the phalanx of cameramen , Radcliffe shot back :"We are miserable as sin. We dont want to do the breakfast show because it means gettign up at 5 o'clock in the morning."
Evans, who's independant production company was reputed to earn £1.4 million for the contract, left after he was told that he could not work a four-day week. Radliciffe, who also presents Channel 4's music program The White Room, takes over the show from February 17.