Tarrant In Talks Over New Role With Capital

Capital FM boss Keith Pringle has confirmed that talks have been held between the station and outgoing breakfast DJ Chris Tarrant to discuss the radio stalwart fronting a new weekend show as soon as 6 months after his resignation.

The revelation comes just days after Johnny Vaughan announced his start date as the station’s breakfast host, taking over from Tarrant at the end of a marathon 16 year run at the show’s helm (see Vaughan Given Start Date as Capital’s Breakfast Host).

Pringle made his suggestion in an interview with Broadcast, stating: “We have talked about the possibility of Chris coming back to do a weekend show. But we will not rush into things and will wait until chris has had a rest.”

News of a return by Tarrant may signal Capital hedging their bets should Johnny Vaughan not prove successful in the station’s top spot. Tarrant was been credited with bringing in around 15% of the station’s revenue, a task which Capital may be concerned about handing over to a relative newcomer such as Vaughan.

Head of radio at the Media Planning Group, Priscilla Rogan, believes Tarrant should

Capital has recently become embroiled in a ratings war with rival London station, Heart FM. Last month saw Capital regain its crown as the city’s most popular station, after a short-lived period of victory for Heart, with a 1.5% period on period increase in weekly reach to 2,304,000.

Capital Radio: 020 7766 6000www.capitalradiogroup.com

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