'Moody' Chris Moyles plays down BBC rant

(PA)

Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles today played down an on-air rant against the BBC for not paying him for two months, claiming he could be "moody" first thing in the morning.

Moyles accused his bosses of "a huge lack of respect" during his breakfast show yesterday, telling listeners he was "very, very angry" about the situation and had thought about not coming in to work.

But today he joked that he was "not a great morning person" and added that yesterday's diatribe was not his worst on-air rant.

He said: "I tried to explain to my boss yesterday that even though he put me on the breakfast show on Radio 1, actually, secretly, I'm very, very moody first thing in the morning. I'm not a great a morning person.

"That rant that I did yesterday, it's not the worst rant I've ever done on the air."

Moyles told listeners yesterday he had not been paid since July, claiming the corporation could not "be bothered" to pay him.

He talked for half an hour without playing any records, saying: "Why should I come in? It's a two-way street.

"What annoys me is the fact I mentioned it to people this week. Fix it, just get it fixed. It's a huge lack of respect and a massive FU to me."

Complaints from listeners who texted the show about the rant were dismissed by the DJ.

He told one who claimed the presenter should be grateful to have a well-paid job: "You know nothing about my life. And by the way, what, because I get paid more than you that means if I don't get paid for two months I should just go, 'Oh well'?"

Moyles suggested BBC bosses would not treat other broadcasters in the same way, saying: "Can you imagine if Terry Wogan had not got paid for two months, would you even think that would ever happen? It just wouldn't, would it?

"Do you ever think anyone would forget to pay Chris Evans for two months and nobody would panic about it?"

A BBC spokeswoman said Moyles' payments had been delayed because of a computer glitch and were being processed.