Caesar's goodbye kiss

Kiss 100's cult 'shock jock', Caesar the Geezer, has resigned from the dance music radio station blaming 'family difficulties' for his surprise departure.

The 37-year-old DJ (left) will leave the 4am to 7am daily talk-radio show he transformed from a graveyard slot into one of the most lively and controversial shows in London 'some time in June', after two years with the station. Kiss 100 has not named a replacement.

The DJ, whose real name is Chris Rogers, said the demands of the job meant he was spending little time with his fiancee, Susie, and his two sons, Alex, two, and Max, 18 months. 'I was getting home and going to bed at nine in the morning, and waking up as the boys were going to bed. Understandably, my fiancee and I were constantly having arguments.'

As for suggestions from Kiss that he was stepping down for health reasons, Caesar said: 'I'm definitely not ill.'

Despite the success of his early morning breakfast show (between 100,000 and 200,000 Londoners listen each week), the station consistently turned down his requests for a weekend show to allow him more time for his family.

'I've put up with it for two years on the understanding that I would be moved. It's very sad, but there's nothing personal. They're a fantastic bunch of people at Kiss, from the managing director to the cleaner.'

Mark Borkowski, the DJ's agent, said Caesar resigned last Friday, but was told to leave the station immediately. He feared the station's haste was related to rumours that the DJ was to be poached by Radio 1, a suggestion he flatly denied.

Caesar confirmed that he had had talks with Matthew Bannister, controller of Radio 1, but added: 'No firm offer has been made.'

Caesar, a former law student, began his career with the Kent radio station, Invicta, 10 years ago. He got his nickname after appearing at a Capital Radio party dressed in a toga.

(Photograph omitted)