When radio stars lose it

After yesterday’s on-air diatribe against his employers, Danny Baker joins a long list of DJs whose anger, foul-ups or general unpleasantness made their bosses cringe.

During yesterday’s afternoon show on BBC London, Danny Baker railed against the managerial decision to axe his show, and the way he had been dealt with.

The star, who returned to work last year after chemotherapy, said: "By the way, nice way to treat a bloke who had cancer."

He also called BBC bosses "weasels" for axing his Danny’s BBC London programme, saying: "You know what, we're cutting this down to size for you with abacuses because that's what it's about.

"I hope their abacus comes undone and they choke on the beads."

Here are some other radio hosts who Baker joins in radio folklore:

Kyle Sandilands

Australian DJ Kyle Sandilands caused an advertising exodus from his station 2DayFM after calling a critical TV reviewer a “fat slag.”

Sandilands, who once questioned a 14-year-old girl about her sexual history on-air, went on: "You haven’t got that much titty to be wearing that low cut a blouse. Watch your mouth girl, or I will hunt you down."

Car giant Holden soon pulled its lucrative sponsorship of the show, followed later by retailer Good Guys. The incident reportedly cost the station $10 million in ad revenue.

Stephen Crittenden

Crittenden, religion reporter for Australia’s ABC station, gave a reaction not unlike Baker’s when he was told a raft of the station’s regular programmes would be axed.

He told listeners: "The decision to axe one of this network's most distinctive and important programmes has been approved by the director of ABC Radio, Sue Howard, and it will condemn Radio National to even greater irrelevance."

"The ABC's specialist units have been under attack for years, but the decapitation of the flagship programme of the religion department effectively spells the death of religion at the ABC."

Chris Moyles

In 2010 Chris Moyles opened his Radio 1 breakfast show with a half-hour tirade against the station, which he accused of a "huge lack of respect", because he hadn’t been paid for two months. He called the non-payment a "massive F-you to me".

He said he knew who was responsible for the delay, and called them a "moronic div".

"Do you know what, I wasn't going to come in today. I hate the fact I've been put into a position by Radio1 and the BBC that I don't want to be in,” he said.

"I'm very, very angry- very, very angry- at being put into this position. I can't tell you how furious I am.”

Mark Esterhuysen

In September 2011 South African radio presenter Mark Esterhuysen opened the news bulletin saying "Good morning, I'm Mark Esterhuysen.”

After clearing his throat, he leapt into a 40-second rant, in which he deployed 13 f-words, aimed at police officers accused of murdering a member of the public, controversial politician Julius Malema and the country's right-wing Afrikaner AWB party.

The 23-year-old also complained about being stuck on his network's 'graveyard shift' before inviting listeners to follow his blog and storming out of the studio.

Jim Naughtie and Nicky Campbell

The BBC had more trouble in 2012, when Radio 5Live presenter Nicky Campbell tripped over his lines on a story about the West Kent Hunt, with predictably amusing and profane consequences.

Later that year, Today presenter Jim Naughtie had similar trouble with the name of the Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt.

Nick Ferrari

In 2003 LBC presenter Nick Ferrari was criticised by the broadcasting standards commission for encouraging racism against asylum seekers.

A listener’s complaint that Ferrari encouraged listeners who made racist comments was upheld by the Broadcasting Standards Commission.