IPSWICH: Radio Suffolk’s best-known star is to leave his flagship morning show, we can exclusively reveal today.

IPSWICH: Radio Suffolk’s best-known star is to leave his flagship morning show, we can exclusively reveal today.

Voice of the morning airwaves, Mark Murphy, is moving from Radio Suffolk’s award-winning breakfast show in the early autumn.

But the broadcaster will not be leaving the station, based at St Matthews Street in Ipswich. He will take up a mid-morning slot, causing a mini reshuffle amongst presenters.

Popular morning presenter James Hazell will move from midweek to weekends in the first part of a reorganisation masterminded by station managing editor, Peter Cook, who has worked in both commercial and BBC sectors of the radio industry.

Mr Cook said: “Mark and I have agreed that, after 11 years on the breakfast show, he’ll take over the weekday mid-morning programme where he’ll bring his unique style, his campaigning and his profile to the listeners at that time of day.

“He’s an outstanding presenter and I think he’ll make that show a great success. James Hazell will take his energetic style and great humour to the mid-morning show on Saturday and Sunday and I think he’ll be a terrific addition to our weekend line-up.

“We will announce details of the new breakfast show presenter soon.”

Speculation is now rife about Mark’s successor, with nationally known names, living locally, being touted. Cook will be torn between a former big hitter from the national scene or a “big fish from the Suffolk pond”, as one media insider said last night.

Ipswich born and bred Mark, who has been at the station since day one and whose partner is fellow presenter Lesley Dolphin, is passionate about Suffolk and the county town where he was born.

He is current president of The Rotary Club of Ipswich East and has been a past host of both The Evening Star’s Ipswich and Suffolk Press Ball and the Star’s Stars of Suffolk spectacular, in association with Suffolk County Council.

His trademark “Mark Murphy’s Ugly Mug” slogan has led to Radio Suffolk producing drinking mugs with the presenter’s logo on them – and they have become hot property around the county.

One local radio expert said today: “Mark has held the breakfast slot for 11 years, which is an incredible feat and now he will bring his skills to bear on the mid-morning slot.”

He took over the breakfast chair when previous host, the much-loved Chris Opperman, left the station in 2000.

Mark is a big fan of Ipswich Town and is a Portman Road season ticket holder.

Just last week the former Evening Star columnist was praised at Suffolk Constabulary’s annual awards, winning honours for anti-litter and knife amnesty campaigns. His new show starts in September.

- What do you think? Let us know by leaving a comment below