Capital Radio has pulled the plug on a planned appearance by its breakfast host Johnny Vaughan on the rival station BBC Radio 5 Live.
The DJ had been due to take part in a round-table discussion on Radio 5 Live last night, in part to publicise the spin-off book from the station's long-running panel show Fighting Talk, which Vaughan used to present.
But Capital executives yesterday barred their breakfast presenter from going on the show.
It is understood they made the decision after the London station started receiving emails and texts from listeners saying they were excited about hearing Vaughan on Radio 5 Live.
Vaughan is a partner in the independent production company, World's End, that makes Fighting Talk and presented the first run of the irreverent Saturday-morning sporting quizshow in 2003. It is now fronted by Colin Murray.
The DJ had been due to take part in the Monday Night Club, a regular slot in the weeknight 5 Live Sport show, which runs from 7pm to 10pm.
"Johnny received emails to Capital from fans excited about his turn," said a source. "[But] when Capital got wind of Vaughan's appearance they promptly told him to cancel."
He is not the only Capital name with links with Fighting Talk. Richard Park, director of broadcasting at Capital's parent company, Global Radio, has made several appearances on the programme.
"It was when 5 Live played a whole load of trails saying he was going to be on the station that it really set the cat among the pigeons," said another insider. "Capital said this morning: 'You can't do it.'"
Vaughan has presented the breakfast show on Capital since 2004. He returned to the number one spot in London in the third quarter of this year with an average weekly audience of 862,000 listeners, according to the latest Rajar figures.
After a short-lived stint reuniting him with his former Big Breakfast partner Denise van Outen, he was joined by current co-presenter Lisa Snowdon in the summer.
A Capital Radio spokesman declined to comment.
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