It was already a bit coming: Wietze de Jager loses his morning show at Radio 538 after his somewhat embarrassing request for a shorter working week. “So, now he has five days of Dad Day.”
Wietze de Jager has been making Radio 538’s morning show together with Klaas van der Eerden since the beginning of last year. They succeeded Frank Dane, who failed as successor to Edwin Evers. Last September, Wietze caused astonishment by more or less throwing in the towel after just nine months.
“What an amateur!”
The 34-year-old Wietze then decided to shout on the radio that he would like a dad’s day and only wants to make radio four days a week. The eight-minute radio complaint caused bad blood, because he already had three children at the start of the program and therefore knew what he was getting into.
Radio columnist Patrick Kicken was ruthless for Wietze: “If you are going to discuss this on-air during a hit list for eight minutes, you are just an amateur. (…) You just came to watch that morning at 538. Your mission is now to do everything possible to win souls, not to sit down and act pathetic!”
Wietze is out
Now, half a year later, Radio 538 appears to be choosing eggs for its money and going for a motivated radio DJ. Wietze, whose lover is expecting a fourth baby, is dumped. It is sold as something that has been decided in ‘joint agreement’, but of course critics don’t believe that at all.
Wietze says in an official response: “Making a daily program in the early morning – and everything that comes with it – requires 24/7 attention. Continually finding the right balance with family life is something I have often shared with the listeners. This was the reason for Radio 538 to start a conversation.”
Earlier than planned
He continues: “Together with the channel, we came to the conclusion that I simply cannot yet oversee the long-term commitment to a morning show in this phase of my family. That’s why we decided to stop earlier than planned. It is now a logical moment to hand over the presentation of the morning show, so that the new team can start after the summer.”
“For me, another place in programming will follow with a better balance between making radio and family. It was with great pleasure that I made the morning show, I am proud of our team -and of course Klaas and Mart in particular- and grateful for the great cooperation with them. We will continue until summer with undiminished energy.”
Klaas is bummed
Klaas is talking about it. “I am of course incredibly sorry that our great adventure ends too soon, but I respect the choice and understand Wietze’s private situation.”
He continues: “In the coming period I will first think carefully about what the future has in store for me inside or outside 538, but the past period has shown that we can achieve something good and, in addition, my love for radio but has fueled more.”
New trio
The morning show of Radio Veronica with Tim Klijn and the former sidekicks of Edwin Evers (Rick Romijn and Niels van Baarlen) will move to Radio 538 after the summer. “All three of us have worked at Radio 538 for many years. The fact that we are now returning to the familiar base feels like coming home.”
They continue: “Although we are having a great time at Radio Veronica, there is still green purple blood flowing through our veins. We are therefore very much looking forward to blasting with the team in the 538 morning. We are really looking forward to it!”
daddy day
RTL Boulevard expert Rob Goossens finds it painful for Wietze. “Radio DJ Wietze de Jager previously fantasized about a dad’s day, but his employer 538 gets no less than five,” he tweets.
Story boss Guido den Aantrekker: “You can only become great if you go for it 100 percent.”
And radio columnist Patrick Kicken writes: “Finally, they wake up at Radio 538 and give Wietze de Jager a lot of papa days after the summer. (…) A wise lesson for the decision makers and Wietze himself: think before you leap, letting someone with three young children do the morning show is asking for trouble.”