BBC radio chaos as hosts 'refuse to work together' after 'fall out over insulting email'
BBC Radio 5 Live is said to have been sent in to "chaos" after an alleged falling out between two of the station's hosts. Co-presenters Tony Livesey and Clare McDonnell have been involved in a bitter row, according to new reports, throwing the future of their 5Live drivetime show - which they have presented together since February 2022 - into uncertainty.
Reports claim Tony and Clare's fall out emerged after an alleged message was sent by Tony to his co-host. In it, it's claimed the 60 year old was unkind about her presenting ability. It's now been said that Clare, 57, is refusing to work with Tony again following the alleged unkind message. A source claimed she had received a message in which he was "slagging her off", adding that she was left "livid" by the remarks.
Speaking to The Sun, the source said: "“Clare received a message from Tony basically slagging her off and she was livid. She no longer wants to work with him and that has caused total chaos at the station.
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"People are being shifted all over the shop and into different slots, which isn’t going down well. Clare is well within her right to be angry — but it’s made the atmosphere at 5 Live really frosty. It has become a nightmare there.” OK! has contacted the BBC for comment.
Clare and Tony have not appeared on the show together lately. Instead, they have alternated their slots, with Johnny l'Anso joining Clare on Monday and Tuesday this week. Tony took over the hot seat on Wednesday and Thursday and was joined by Leila Nathoo.
Tony will be leaving his drivetime role in December and will go back to the late shift. He will soon be on the 10pm -1am slot in which he first began on the station in 2010. The change, according to the source, is a "massive kick in the teeth" for Tony.
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The insider added: “Tony has lost a really good gig because of that message to Clare. It’s a massive kick in the teeth for him. Clare is happy she was listened to by station bosses and thinks Tony has got exactly what he deserves.”
Tony is set to be replaced in the drivetime slot by Chris Warburton. He has been co-hosting the Weekend Breakfast show for 10 years and will now move to work alongside Clare, who will be staying in the slot.
