Former Radio One DJ Mayo, 50, has hosted an acclaimed weekday afternoon show on the station since 2001. But speculation is growing that he will replace Chris Evans in the Radio Two drivetime slot from next January, just over a year ahead of Five Live's transfer to MediaCity.
The vacancy has been created by ex-Manchester Piccadilly host Evans himself moving to replace Terry Wogan on the breakfast show.
London-based Mayo is reported to have told colleagues that he does not want to live and work full time in Greater Manchester.
His decision to leave Five Live will be a blow to the network. Mayo's mix of topical debate, news, reviews and interviews has proved a big hit with listeners.
A member of the Radio Academy Hall of Fame, he won two Broadcaster of the Year awards in 2008.
Five Live presenters Nicky Campbell and Peter Allen have already said they will work in Salford. But others, including Bury-raised Victoria Derbyshire, have yet to reveal their intentions.
Five departments, including BBC Sport, Five Live and Children's, are due to move north in a phased operation from Easter 2011. The switch involves 1400 staff posts
Relocation experts say any acceptance figure over 40 per cent is high for such a large scale move.
So far 45 per cent of senior employees have said they will go to Salford, with a final round of staff decisions to come this autumn.
Five Live breakfast show co-host Campbell plans to commute to work, returning to his London home at weekends.
Earlier this year he said it was ridiculous to say his 9am weekday phone-in could not be broadcast from Salford. "It's not as if I am going to Helmand province," he explained.
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George Roper (08/09/2009 at 11:18)
Horatio Dogsbody, Flixton (08/09/2009 at 11:35)
Guten Tag, Manchester (08/09/2009 at 11:44)
Edina Clouds, GREAT Manchester (08/09/2009 at 12:20)
Oldfashioned style,we don't want him in Manchester or on the drive time show.
Let's have Stewart Maconie and get away from the southern bias in the BBC.
arthur sixpence, wythenshawe (08/09/2009 at 12:57)
bigboy (08/09/2009 at 13:22)
Mark, South Manchester (08/09/2009 at 13:27)
Gary SK13 (08/09/2009 at 13:30)
Garsinho, Manchester (08/09/2009 at 13:56)
Garsinho, Manchester (08/09/2009 at 14:13)
Crumpsall-Lass, Crumpsall (08/09/2009 at 15:34)
ebble, manchester (08/09/2009 at 16:36)
If second rate presenters like Mayo can afford to give up jobs on Radio 5 rather than move north I dread to think what quality of person will replace them.
The whole Salford thing is a mess anyway. It's only because the BBC is ultimately controlled by the government that it is happening at all. No private broadcaster would dream of such a move.
Andanotherthing, Mcr (08/09/2009 at 16:57)
Crumpsall-Lass, Crumpsall
I don't see why you are taking it so personally. It matters not if you are moving south to north or north to south. It is a big decision that affects not just yourself but the entire family.
Guten Tag, Manchester (08/09/2009 at 17:23)
Nick connor (08/09/2009 at 17:39)
Technobabble, Manchester (08/09/2009 at 18:04)
ebble, manchester"
Ah yes, was wondering when you'd pop up.
1) The Salford Quays project is moving along nicely, exactly were it should be thank you very much. Not back for such a large project, and in a recession too.
2) The BBC is NOT controlled by the government, though the control freaks in New Labour probably wish it were otherwise.
3) True, no private broadcaster would dream of the move, because their profit margins are their top priority, not the best interests of British broadcasting. Only the BBC is in a position to force the issue, and get high-end TV and Radio production out of the black-hole that is London, and share it with the rest of the country; after all, is Manchester not England's second city? If Mr Mayo doesn't want to come here, let him go to Hounslow, and get a job with Sky, they don't employ anyone anywhere else.
wolftone, salford (08/09/2009 at 21:56)
Acid, Chadderton (09/09/2009 at 00:03)
Munkey Boy, Audenshaw (09/09/2009 at 00:18)
So long as people aren't staying because of their prejudice against Manchester, then everyone has a choice of where they work.
It's a brave move to be applauded by the BBC if you ask me, and to be honest once the "big names" actually get to experience Manchester for themselves, we (as a city) may well start getting better press and more of it.
S P In exile, Tameside (09/09/2009 at 02:11)
C.O. Jones (09/09/2009 at 08:57)
Having worked in the smoke, i can fully understand why a lot of the people currently employed with the BBC in London are not making the move. The perception of Manchester to many outside the M60 is not as great as many people within the M60 may actually think it is..
ebble, manchester (09/09/2009 at 13:43)
It's a move forced on the BBC for political reasons and the corporation is putting on a brave face.
You really can't blame Mayo or others for staying in London and having nothing to do with government 'encouragement' for BBC moves to the provinces.
Take a look here if you think the BBC could decide not to move to Salford without the government getting involved.
www.guardian.co.uk/media/2006/dec/04/broadcasting.bbc
Justified True Belief , - ... (09/09/2009 at 14:55)
I have said this before and I will say it again, the whole civil service (Parliament) and related public sectors (including the BBC) should be removed from the most expansive city in Western Europe (Europe).
The fact that certain people are choosing not to move is irrelevant, over time they will all be forgotten. Plus I would pay money to get Victoria Derbyshire off the radio; she is without doubt the worse presenter on radio today. Her level of probing question is embarrassing, hardly Paxman-esque.
flipper, anywhere else but manchester please (09/09/2009 at 18:26)
Gary SK13 (10/09/2009 at 13:28)