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Andy Kershaw radio show dropped by BBC Radio 4
A BBC radio programme which was scheduled to feature Andy Kershaw was dropped at the last minute and replaced by a show featuring Satanic Verses author Salman Rushdie.
Radio 4's On The Ropes programme is presented by John Humphrys, who talks to successful people who have weathered storms in their careers.
Mr Kershaw, who has a home in Peel, was due to talk about rebuilding his life and career after losing his BBC radio show and spending time in prison for breaking a restraining order.
The show was due to be broadcast at 9am today, but because BBC bosses had concerns about its content it was replaced by a programme featuring author Salman Rushdie discussing The Wizard of Oz.
An announcement at the end of the 30-minute broadcast said the Salman Rushdie programme had replaced the scheduled edition of On The Ropes.
Controller of Radio 4 Mark Damazer explained the reasons for the decision in a blog on the BBC's website.
'It is not often that we remove a programme from the schedule at short notice,' wrote Mr Damazer.
'The "On The Ropes" we had hoped to broadcast this morning in the end did not work.
'We were mindful of the background and, in particular, the strained domestic circumstances surrounding the break-up of Andy Kershaw's long-term relationship and the legal order, the result of which makes it very difficult for him to have significant access to his children.
'We had hoped that we could explore the events leading to his personal and professional crisis and his subsequent efforts to recover while bearing in mind the interests of other parties and providing them with the appropriate degree of privacy.
'In the end that was not possible.
'The programme was recorded and edited close to the day of transmission – hence the lateness of the decision.'
A statement from Radio 4 said Kershaw's behaviour throughout the interview was in no way an issue and had nothing to do with the decision to drop the programme.
Promoting the programme on BBC Radio 5 Live yesterday afternoon On The Ropes presenter John Humphrys said Kershaw 'cuts a very sad figure 'but was 'coming out the other side'.
Mr Humphreys said that Kershaw hadn't been drinking for 10 months and seemed to be in control of himself and desperately keen to get back on the air.
'I would like to think one of these days we will hear him on the airwaves again,' said Humphrys.
The On The Ropes show that was due to feature Mr Kershaw was publicised on yesterday (Monday) morning's Today programme on Radio 4.
The BBC's website previewed the show saying that Mr Kershaw would be talking about his fall from grace.
'Andy has enjoyed a highly successful broadcasting career, winning a brace of Sony Radio awards and receiving critical acclaim for his reports from Rwanda, Angola, Haiti and Iraq,' said the BBC preview.
'However, his outspoken opinions led to him being dropped by Radio One; he openly attacked Bob Geldof over his stance on Africa and in 2007 his personal life began to suffer.'
In December last year Mr Kershaw was given a suspended prison sentence for breaching a restraining order against him. He was also ordered to attend an anger management course by the court.
The restraining order was brought in following the break up with his partner Juliette Banner and he had already been behind bars three times for breaches of the order.
In 2007 he was given a suspended sentence for drink driving.
At his last court appearance in December, High Bailiff Michael Moyle told Mr Kershaw: 'Over the last 18 months you have been a pathetic figure of bitterness and rancour who has failed to recognise his own part in his downfall.'
On The Ropes was also scheduled to be repeated at 9.30pm this evening.
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Weather for Isle of Man
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 8 C
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