BBC Radio 2 listeners say they feel “bereft” after Liverpool-born legend confirmed she has left the station following nearly 20 years on air.
Actor and broadcaster Liza Tarbuck, who grew up on Merseyside and is the daughter of Liverpool comedian Jimmy Tarbuck, had presented the station’s Saturday evening show since 2012 and had been part of the Radio 2 line-up since 2007.
Her absence from the 6pm–8pm slot in recent weeks had prompted speculation among listeners, with Tarbuck confirming the news in a farewell message posted to Instagram.
In the post, she wrote: “I think you’ve guessed, some fool left a door open and I sneaked out – a French exit.
“Together we made 2hrs of radio feel like a private members club, that’s the stuff of dreams, thousands of people enjoying each others’ company like great friends. Imagine what else we could do. Thank you for letting me in, it’s been a privilege. [TARBUCK doffs a battered bowler hat & bows deeply] See you on the ice.”
The understated exit quickly sparked reaction from fans who had made the Saturday night programme a regular ritual. “This should be discussed in Parliament. It’s a national disaster,” wrote one listener online, while another added: “This is the most bereft I have felt since the untimely passing of Steve Wright.”
Others called for every episode of Tarbuck’s show to be preserved on BBC Sounds “for eternity”, with one declaring they would “Turn off Radio 2 forever”.
Traffic reporter Sally ‘Sally Traffic’ Boazman said she would miss the hugs the pair shared at the station, while Shaun Keaveny – currently covering the slot until the end of March – described Tarbuck as “among the greats” and said he hoped she would return to the airwaves.
Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, said: “Every Saturday evening, Liza created a truly magical, fantastical world. She was beloved by everyone at the station and all her listeners, and the door at Radio 2 will always be open for her. Liza will be hugely missed and we wish her the very best of luck for the future.”
An announcement about a permanent presenter for the Saturday evening slot is expected in due course.
