3:39pm UK, Wednesday June 23, 2004

Veteran DJ Tony Blackburn has been suspended from his radio show for repeatedly playing Cliff Richard records. 

Bosses at Classic Gold Digital fired off a furious email to the presenter telling him that playing Cliff tracks was against company policy.

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DJ Tony Blackburn

Blackburn responded by tearing up the warning live on air and defiantly playing two Cliff hits back to back - We Don't Talk Any More and Living Doll.

Within minutes the former Radio One presenter was suspended from the station. 

A friend of Blackburn said: "Tony is gutted he has been suspended over this. He has been told not to turn up for work tomorrow. 

"He doesn't set the playlist for his show, the station do. 

"But he defied the management because so many listeners have requested Cliff tracks." 

"Tony hopes the situation can be resolved so he can get back to his show." 

Problems began on Monday when I'm A Celebrity... winner Blackburn was called into a meeting and warned not to play any more Cliff songs. 

But the next day he played Summer Holiday - sparking an email row with head of programmes Paul Baker. 

"We shouldn't be playing Cliff Richard," Mr Baker wrote. 

"We might carry out research on him, but for now we have a policy decision that he doesn't match our brand values. 

"He's not on the playlist, and you must stop playing him."