Axed Ghanaian DJ accuses BBC of failing black community

Bonsu: ' There's nothing out there for black people who want talk radio that examines the issues affecting them'

A black BBC London radio presenter sacked for being too "intellectual" for the station has accused the corporation of failing to address the issues affecting the Afro-Caribbean community and is considering setting up a rival station.

Henry Bonsu, an Oxford graduate whose Sunday night show on BBC London - formerly known as GLR - included interviews with prominent figures in the black community, said he had been inundated with messages of support since he announced live on air that he was being axed from the station.

He accused the BBC of failing to provide a highbrow alternative for black people and said there was a growing demand for a station that addressed black issues in an intelligent way.

"I won't go gently into that good night. The desire for a talk radio station specialising in black issues is very strong. Since my show was axed I've had emails from doctors and lawyers, all asking what they can do to help," said Bonsu.

"Choice FM was about getting black music on the air and the BBC responded to that by launching 1Xtra. There's the Asian Network for the Asian community, but there's nothing out there for black people who want to listen to talk radio that examines the issues affecting them."

Mr Bonsu said he was considering launching a commercial station to fill the gap in the market, although he stressed that the idea was in the early stages.

"I've built up years of knowledge of black issues and I've had a number of emails saying I should do something," he said.

BBC London said Bonsu was being replaced because he had failed to "connect" with audiences, and listening figures for his slot had been low. The station's website advertised Bonsu's show as offering "intelligent debate".

But the station's managing editor, David Robey, said the presenter's "intellectual approach" did not fit with the station's agenda.

"It was a question of fitting in with our personality and style, which can be seen and heard in characters like Vanessa Feltz and Danny Baker," he said.

"They are big, full-on, opinionated people. They are highly articulate and intelligent, a description that also applies to Henry, but they are also quite rooted. I feel Henry's approach has been too intellectual, not quite colloquial enough."

But the presenter said he had not been given enough time to prove that the highbrow format could work."I thought I would be given more time. I started the show on September 19 and was told two weeks ago the BBC was ending it, so I've only had one Rajar," he said, adding that low ratings had been a "station-wide problem" until recently.

"BBC London was off the radar before they brought in well-known presenters like Danny Baker and had a rebrand," he said.

Bonsu worked for BBC London for four and a half years, including a stint as presenter of the station's drivetime show.

Among his more controversial guests have been Winston Silcott, whose conviction for the murder of PC Keith Blakelock was overturned in 1991, and the black radical author Professor Tony Martin, whose book The Jewish Onslaught about "the Jewish role in the black Holocaust" caused an outcry.

He will be replaced by Amina Taylor, the editor of Pride magazine, who has already guest presented shows for BBC London.

Ironically the station is also taking on another recently ousted black presenter, Geoff Schumann, who will host a Saturday lunchtime show.

Schumann was axed from the breakfast show on black London radio station Choice FM after it was taken over by Capital Radio last week.

Capital said the company wanted to make the breakfast show more "female friendly".