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I made Heart London's No1, not Mr Jamie come lately ...
SACKED Heart breakfast host Jono Coleman has hit out at radio bosses for dumping him - after his show was credited with pulling in the station's best ever ratings.
Heart 106.2 has leapfrogged rival Capital to become the most listened to commercial radio station in London. According to the latest Rajar ratings figures, published yesterday, it now boasts a seven per cent market share to Capital's 6.1 per cent.
And Coleman's breakfast show - which was ditched at the end of last month - played a major part in boosting audience share, scoring a massive 220,000 increase in listeners in the first three months of this year.
Today the Hackney-born DJ said he was "deeply disappointed" by Heart bosses' decision to axe him after seven years and replace him with Jamie Theakston - a move designed to lure in younger fans.
And he threatened to quit Heart company Chrysalis - for whom he is now hosting a show on LBC - in favour of rivals Radio 2, Capital or Virgin.
"I've been drinking champagne with the chiefs and they're all there shaking my hand and saying, 'well done, Jono'," he told the Standard. "My first thought when they told me they were axing my show was, they're crazy. They said they wanted to take the station younger but I think it's not the right move.
"I've had 3,000 emails from listeners. I don't think people like the idea that, because I'm 48, it's time to bring in a new model."
He added: "After building up seven years of loyalty they are going to get a backlash in the ratings.
"Jamie's a nice guy and I wish him success but they had a top breakfast radio show with me, with three Sony gold awards, and for the sake of age or whatever they've put all that in jeopardy.
Coleman said he would be talking to Radio 2, Capital Gold and Virgin about hosting shows on those stations. "I'm with LBC until the end of the year but after that, who knows?"
Heart director of programmes Francis Currie said the latest figures showed the radio station as a whole had achieved a great result "including breakfast," he added, "and we've Jono to thank for that.
"But the decision not to continue his contract was part of a drive to update the station."
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