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Top names on the airwaves in Bahrain have lost their regular shows in a sudden broadcasting rescheduling turn of events believed to be brought on by budgeting restraints, writes Mai Al Khatib-Camille.
Radio Bahrain stalwarts Ian ‘The Fish’ Fisher, Marie-Claire Honeywill and Paul Fraser have vanished from the daily line-up as the station celebrates its 40th anniversary as the first English language music and news service in the Gulf region.
Salah Khalid, chief of Bahrain radio stations, told GulfWeekly: “We have changed the programming. We are in the process of adjusting according to the budget that we have.”
Marie-Claire, a former GulfWeekly assistant editor and columnist, has been the gentle voice of 96.5 FM for around 17 years and has recently hosted the AM to PM Show, particularly popular with expat housewives relaxing after the morning school-run.
Paul, who joined the station in 1996, once hosted The Breakfast Show and more recently The Lunch Box and Ian has been one of the longest-standing members of the team, clocking up a staggering 39 years of service and taking in every slot from morning through to entertaining commuters on their way back home from work.
It is understood that the seasoned broadcasters were all on part-time contracts and some had seen their air time slashed in recent weeks.
Salah added: “They have contracts until the end of this year. They are part-timers, not like the full-timers that we have to keep, and their work depends on when we need them. For example, you will hear Marie-Claire on Saturday sitting in for DJ Andrew Swing as he is on leave.
“Their contracts are not terminated.
“I want to be optimistic about the situation. We are passing through a difficult time but things will get better I think. We have been through several discussions about the situation and we are trying to keep people with us and we are trying to do the best for everyone.”
Marie-Claire and Paul declined to comment but The Fish was more frank about developments.
He said: “I am upset about it and also surprised. It’s common knowledge that we were recruiting four months ago and then everything went pear-shaped.
“In February we had to take a 30 per cent pay cut.
“I’m going to miss the fans terribly and interacting with them. They have been a great part of the show.
“It’s something I will definitely miss and it will always be part of me that I had the privilege in working in such a great environment and talking to so many people.
“I’ve had great experiences. It’s a shame it had to end. One door closes and another opens ... but it’s a shame.”
The 56-year-old from Riffa now hopes to develop his English teaching career.
GulfWeekly’s sister publication, the Gulf Daily News, recently reported that sources had revealed that the government-run station’s budget had been cut by 75 per cent, resulting in shows after 6pm being cancelled and replaced with prepared playlists.
The news was described as ‘even more surprising’ given the announcement last September that the station would revamp its corporate identity, recruit new talent, develop its broadcast style and introduce new content.
Salah has confirmed that all manned evening shows remain off air, adding: “We couldn’t put the new recruits on the roster due to the budget revision and until things get better we have put a hold on recruiting.”
Listeners have been voicing their disappointment on social media. One posted at the end of April thanking the veteran broadcasters for their daily shows. “You will be missed,” she said.
