BBC host embarks on rant during final show to blast 'ageist' local radio cutsBBC Radio Norfolk
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00:00 final ever episode with me Sophie Little on BBC Radio Norfolk. I hope you don't
00:05 mind me taking a moment to say something but something that's always bothered me
00:09 is when an individual has any kind of platform and they don't use it to speak
00:14 up for others at a time when they should. So I hope you don't mind me taking a
00:17 moment on this final show to use this one. Local radio as I think we all well
00:22 know is a vital public service and it's my opinion that these drastic sweeping
00:28 cuts taking place to BBC local radio all across the country are not only
00:32 detrimental to everyone that enjoys switching on their local station and
00:36 hearing their favourite shows and detrimental to the local communities
00:40 who value it and use it but actually these cuts are unbelievably unfair to
00:46 those who need local public service broadcasting the most. Those who are
00:50 lonely and isolated or those who are unable to leave their house or unable to
00:55 use the internet or unable to pay for broadband or smart devices. Those who not
01:01 only take joy from company of a familiar voice coming out of their radio but who
01:05 truly rely on it to keep going and if you think that sounds dramatic I wish
01:10 you could be privy to some of the conversations I've had with listeners in
01:14 recent weeks they have reduced me to tears. The BBC's mission as defined by
01:19 Royal Charter to act in the public interest serving all audiences. I believe
01:25 in the BBC I believe in all that it stands for it's vital and it's
01:29 important but I will say this how I see it I feel the cuts are ableist, ageist
01:34 and they place economic barriers for some people too and I felt incredibly
01:39 nervous to say this thinking about the many bosses above my head and how this
01:44 goes against the grain of all of the training I've ever had in my 15 years
01:48 that I've been here but I remind myself that this is not their BBC it is our
01:54 BBC and like all of our public services it exists to serve you and so it must be
02:01 scrutinized and held to account to protect his own integrity. And while I'm
02:08 here can I just say thank you for all of the wonderful moments that we've shared
02:12 across these airwaves they have shaped me and I will never forget them.