MY OPINIONS

WHAT I'M THINKING AND HOW I FEEL ABOUT ALL THIS

Tuesday 17th November 1998... Five days after the event and it's still hard to believe Nick has gone. Talk Radio is now clearly going for a new sound with extended news bulletins, sport every 30 minutes, rescheduled shows all of which now contain little or no humour. The station is a bore and one which I will very rarely, if ever, listen to.

In all honesty I doubt very much that Nick will be returning to Talk Radio under the Kelvin MacKenzie mafia. The only way that would possibly happen is if this new format flopped and a rethinking lead to the reinstallment of some of the former hosts, although for this to happen a minimum of six months would have to pass so as at least two sets of RAJAR figures would give the new management so idea of how they are faring listeners wise.

One thing is for sure - if the new format proves to be a success, Nick returning will be very unlikely.

Friday 13th November 1998... I have never felt so sick as I did when I returned home to check my e-mail on Thursday night. I had suspected the worst after turning on my car radio to hear James Whale on a couple of hours earlier than usual without him mentioning he was "in for Nick Abbot". My worst nightmares were confirmed when I began to read the flood of e-mails gathered in my inbox all baring the same hallmarks of shock, anger and disbelief.

Nick is without a doubt the greatest talent this country has ever produced in the field of radio. His on-air format was a style rivalled by nobody else and his unique broadcasting manner is without a doubt the greatest ever.

I can't help but feel that Nick was stabbed in the back over all this - James Whale obviously knew what was coming, as did certain other presenters at the station, it just disgusts me that they could stand back and let this happen to a fellow colleague.

Nick had built up a marvellous team in himslef, Kev, Niki the newsreader, Russ and SickBoy - they were a fantastic beautifully bonded group of people that made evening listening a real pleasure in this country. Sadly now it seems we're destined for James Whale's lacklusture, boring, tedious and tyresome style of presenting.