Nihal Arthanayake is leaving his daytime BBC Radio 5 Live show.
The former music promoter and journalist, 52, announced his decision to step away from the show after eight years.
Taking to social media with the shock news, he said: ‘Hello everyone, some professional news from me.
‘I am leaving daytimes on @bbc5live to concentrate on the aspect of broadcasting I love most, which is in depth long form interviews, which I will continue to do on @bbc5live on Sunday evenings and the Headliners Podcast.
‘I also need more time to finish my second book! And have more time to do the things that I never seem to have time to.
‘Thank you for being such an incredible audience for the last 8 years! My last daytime show will be 27th June. let’s have a party.’
Fans took to his post saying how they would miss Nihal on his afternoon show, as Rowan Waller wrote: ‘I’m both gutted and excited to hear this – I absolutely love your show in the afternoon, but I also think you’re our country’s greatest interviewer and this is only going to make that so much better. Congratulations.’
Listener Paul Child said: ‘Every time I hear you interview somebody I think how good you are at drawing out something fascinating from every guest – and how you seem genuinely interested in what they have to say. You are a master of your craft.’
Anne Murray Cawthorne added: ‘Well this is one birthday present I won’t want to open. I don’t know how you do it, but when you have a guest on whose profession is of no interest to me, you manage to somehow bring out other sides of them, so thank you Nihal. It’s been great.’
On Instagram, Stacey Dooley commented on Nihal’s announcement with a heart, while Clara Amfo sent: ‘Salute!!’
This Morning star Dermot O’Leary said: ‘Great shift. Congrats buddy x.’
Nihal will front a new Sunday evening show from 8pm until 10pm for his long form interviews in the world of art, books, sport, film and TV.
Known for his top interviewing abilities, Nihal has chatted to the likes of Sir Elton John, Ricky Gervais, and Geri Halliwell-Horner over the years, having joined BBC Radio 1 back in 2002.
Now based in Manchester, Nihal began his broadcasting life in music, co-hosting a night time Asian Beats show on Radio 1 with Bobby Friction, which he ended up presenting alone with the slot renamed Asian Beats with Nihal.
In 2007 he bagged the Weekend Breakfast Show presenting gig on Radio 1 and a year later he was moved to afternoons on the station, eventually leaving in 2014 and ending up at BBC Radio 5 Live.
Heidi Dawson, Controller, BBC Radio 5 Live, said: ‘Nihal is an outstanding broadcaster and interviewer, and this new programme gives him the opportunity to showcase the best long form interviews that he is so good at.
‘The brilliant Headliners podcast is also going to be supersized – packed with all the interviews from the show plus exclusive unheard extras from the guests.’
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