After sixteen years and over two hundred episodes of co-hosting popular BBC Radio 4 show The Infinite Monkey Cage, Robin Ince says he has been pressured into stepping down.
The announcement was made to a live audience during Ince's final recording of the show in Manchester last week. In a message to his fans, he says "this is the saddest day of my professional life."
His resignation follows an apparent fallout with the BBC over his political views. Ince has actively spoken out on topics including his support of trans rights, the neurodivergent community, and criticisms of Donald Trump. He explained that "unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for some time". Ince has suggested he was left with the choice to either stop airing these opinions, or walk away from presenting the show and that he "chose the latter".
The BBC have thanked Ince for his work on show and say they will announce more news soon. The corporation has not publicly stated their version of events, but it is believed to be at odds with Ince's.
The news was largely met by disappointment from his fans and some anger towards the BBC. One listener expressed "the fact that supporting trans people is incompatible with working for the BBC says everything about the BBC." Director of human rights consultancy, Stand For All, Dan Sohege, agreed "it's tragic that we are in a world where opposing transphobia and hate means having to resign, while being transphobic and hateful means getting regularly featured by national media outlets."
A devastated Ince said "though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire" and apologised to listeners to the show, adding "I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning." The show’s remaining host Professor Brian Cox is expected to continue on but there has been no indication of Ince’s replacement.
Some have tipped Dara Ó Briain to take over, however, he is likely to be tied up with other commitments. While Hannah Fry could have made a popular choice, her focus is now on the freshly-launched Goalhanger show, The Rest Is Science. Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock could emerge as another academic and brilliant presenter to sit alongside Cox. However the space that Ince has left is a comedian-shaped one. Recurring guests on The Infinite Monkey Cage include comedians Dave Gorman, Katy Brand, Ross Noble and Alan Davies; could any of them step up as a host?
It will certainly take a lot to meet listeners' expectations. One fan told Ince "I don't know how they might replace you and I don't think they should even try."
