Radio One legend Comedy Dave’s bitter feud with Chris Moyles over ‘betrayal’

Radio One legend Comedy Dave’s bitter feud with Chris Moyles over ‘betrayal’

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Chris Moyles ruled radio two decades ago sitting right next to him through much of his glory days was sidekick Comedy Dave

‘Comedy’ Dave Vitty (left) with Chris Moyles, after setting a world record for staying on air for more than 50 hours in 2011(Image: PA)

The BBC Radio One Breakfast show is one of the top jobs in the industry, given the task of cheering up millions of Brits on a lonely commute to work. Chris Moyles was given that tough task for the record length of eight years in the early 2000s – but he didn’t do it alone.

By his side throughout his entire time, serving as his sidekick when he hosted slots on Saturdays and weekday afternoons in the late 90s and early 2000s, and during his record tenure on the breakfast show from 2004 until 2012, was Dave Vitty – better known as Comedy Dave.

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Starting as a broadcast assistant, Dave worked his way up during his 16 years at Radio One before reaching his role as director of comedy. Together the duo even set a world record for the longest-ever continuous Radio One broadcast, staying on air for 52 hours for Comic Relief in 2011.

Chris Moyles and 'Comedy' Dave Vitty onstage at Radio One's Big Weekend 2011 at Carlisle Airport
Chris Moyles and ‘Comedy’ Dave Vitty onstage at Radio One’s Big Weekend 2011 at Carlisle Airport(Image: 2011 Getty Images)

But all good things must come to an end, and both Moylesy and Comedy Dave walked off into the sunset in 2012 when Chris chose to leave amid rumours he was about to be axed – handing over the keys to Nick Grimshaw. After a stint on stage in Jesus Christ Superstar, Chris started a new show on Radio X – but Comedy Dave was nowhere to be seen.

Jayne Sharp and Dave Vitty
Dave Vitty and ex-wife Jayne Sharp(Image: Getty)
DJ Chris Moyles , sidekick
Chris Moyles (right) and sidekick ‘Comedy’ Dave Vitty (right), with Fearne Cotton(Image: PA)

Their relationship seems to have come to an abrupt end in 2011 when Chris was caught on camera holidaying with Dave’s ex-wife, just months after their divorce. Chris was on holiday in Cyprus with his wife Kerry and his brother at the time – with no suggestion it was anything other than a friendship.

Nonetheless, Dave took the news extremely hard and things were never the same again. At the time an insider revealed: “They were so tight-knit but that changed almost overnight after Dave got wind of the friendship. Things deteriorated fast and it was never the same again.

” Dave has got absolutely no time for Chris any more, and they hardly spoke except when absolutely necessary for the show. To say there’s no love lost would be an understatement.

Dave experiences total betrayal. It’s unfortunate. Years later, they became best friends.

 Dave Vitty attends the TV Choice Awards in 2018
Dave Vitty attends the TV Choice Awards in 2018(Image: Getty Images)
 Gemma co-hosts the Key 103 Breakfast show with Gethin and Dave
Dave Vitty went on to co host a breakfast show with Gemma Atkinson and Gethin Jones(Image: GETTY )

But that doesn’t mean Dave has been absent from the airwaves. After leaving Radio One Dave began a show on Hits Radio Manchester alongside Gemma Atkinson. He moved on once again in 2021 now as a senior producer at The Content Works, a podcast company alongside presenter Des Paul.

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However, it is believed that he and his former on-air partner have remained distant. Chris told the Guardian they hadn’t spoken in a while in 2016.

Source: Mirror

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