Popular DJ Jonathan Abel will be joining Vibe FM starting tomorrow, the former face of 89.7 Bay told The Sunday Times.

Mr Abel and his co-host on the Abel and Elinor breakfast show - Elinor Barbara - had quietly resigned from Bay Radio in the second week of December.

"I needed a change; to freshen up things. I enjoyed every second at Bay - I wouldn't have done it for six years otherwise. I resigned from my dream. But now I feel it's time to move away from personality radio, and I want to go back to having my own show," Mr Abel said.

Those familiar with the radio scene will not be surprised by the move, as the DJ's new station was set up by former Bay stalwarts Terry Farrugia, Gianni Zammit and the late Justin Chircop.

Mr Abel insists, however, that he was not poached by Vibe, even though he had remained in close contact with the station's management due to his friendship with Mr Farrugia.

Mr Abel quashed suggestions that he might have left the breakfast show due to the programme's early morning slot, as had been suggested by his former employer Kevin Decesare.

"Tiredness is definitely not an issue," the DJ said, adding that he never had a problem waking up.

Talks are still underway and it is still undecided if Mr Abel will be hosting the breakfast show.

Even though he admitted disappointment, the DJ's words do not reflect any animosity towards his former employers and the station which made him a household name.

When contacted, former co-host Elinor Barbara said she had no immediate plans for the future; Mr Abel, meanwhile, did not exclude any future collaboration with Ms Barbara.