Penk Set To Depart Virgin Breakfast Show

Virgin Radio breakfast show presenter Steve Penk is believed to have quit the station just seven months into his three-year contract.

Penk, who took over the breakfast show last June following the controversial departure of Chris Evans (see Virgin Terminates Evans’ Contract), is thought to have walked out after disagreements over the format of the show.

A spokesman for Virgin Radio today denied that Penk had left the company but confirmed that he will no longer present the breakfast show. He said: “A new version of the breakfast show presented by drive-time DJ Daryl Denham will begin on Monday.

He added: “Steve came in at a difficult time and to take over from Chris was always going to be an uphill struggle.”

Virgin refused to confirm speculation that Penk could take over the drive-time slot from Denham, saying only that “talks are being held.”

Last October Virgin Radio claimed that Penk attracted 300,000 more listeners to the breakfast show in his first quarter at the station than Evans did in his last (see Virgin Radio Shows Signs Of Life After Evans). The release of the RAJAR data for the period ending December 2001 next week will reveal whether Penk has managed to maintain this popularity.

Virgin Radio: 0207 434 1215 www.virginradio.co.uk

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