Former Raidio 1 'jock' Dave Lee Travis has once more stunned friends and colleagues alike by sensationally walking out during a meeting with the Burmese pro-democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi. And it's not the first time the 'Hairy Cornflake' has thrown in the towel in a high profile manner. Older readers may remember that he caused a media storm when he quit his popular radio show live on air and in high dudgeon back in 1993.
The bearded DJ was due to meet Ms Suu Kyi, a self proclaimed fan of his BBC World Service radio show that she was understood to have listened to during her time under house arrest in Burma, as part of a planned tour of BBC's Broadcasting House earlier today. And at first things looked to be fine with both Ms Suu Kyi and Mr Travis shaking hands and smiling warmly at one another. But very soon after the initial introductions onlookers were stunned when without any warning whatsoever DLT strode from the room looking peeved.
Speaking later an emotional Travis told reporters, "Pro-democracy figures are changing in this world and I'm not happy with it. Changes are being made here which go against my principles, and I just cannot agree with them. Time was you knew where you stood with the likes of Nelson Mandella, but now what do we have? A mere slip of a girl and she's accorded the same levels of world admiration as he once had. Really folks, if that's the way it's going to be then it's time for me to go. It's been a blast, but so long."
Former colleagues on Radio 1 were quick to close ranks and come to Travis's defence. Tony Blackburn said, "Dave's got high principles and if it didn't feel right for him then he just couldn't live a lie like that." And Deal or no Deal host, Noel Edmonds who often had Travis as a guest on his once popular Noel's House Party added, "That's Dave for you. He doesn't suffer fools and he's his own man at the end of the day." Mr Blobby another House Party regular and drinking buddy of Travis was unavailable for comment, but his management released the following statement on his behalf, "Blobby blobby blobby."
