Overstrung

There's still considerable twitchiness at Wogan House, as the dissolution of Mayo and Whiley will impact in unpredictable ways on the rest of the evening schedule.

Whiley has been given 7-9pm Monday to Thursday, to incorporate live performances. All other things being equal, this squeezes the current 8pm to 10pm line-up, which features what remains of the network's proud tradition of specialist music. Talent currently occupying those slots includes Bob Harris (twice) on country music, Jamie Cullum, Jools Holland, Cerys Matthews, Mark Radcliffe (folk) and Tony Blackburn (oldies/soul). 8pm to 10pm is where the station also carries documentaries and specials, in order to fulfil other quotas.

Putting more women at the mike was one driver in the current shake-up, but Carnie and Shennan also have to contribute to BBC-wide savings. Simon Mayo was on £340k and Jo Whiley on £170k before their arranged radio marriage. Some of Simon's salary came (and will still come) from his Radio 5Live film show with Mark Kermode. You might guess that, if you were evening things up, Mayo and Whiley might have been promised £250k each - quite a cut for Simon. And a pointer to the obvious - there'll be a single, female presenter for Drivetime from January. On less than £340k.