So is Johnny Vaughan set to lose his radio gig?

Radio DJ Johnny Vaughan may be the next breakfast radio casualty.

A huge question mark hangs over the former Big Breakfast presenter, with insiders predicting Capital Radio won't renew his contract when it expires in March.

Johnny, 44, took over from current Who Wants To Be A Millionaire presenter Chris Tarrant in April 2004, inheriting an impressive 1.37 million listeners — he now has just 782,000.

It is believed station bosses are poised to hand the show to Saturday morning host Craig Doyle, most famous for his six-year stint on BBC's Holiday programme.

Rumour has it Doyle has been in the studio in the afternoons after Johnny has gone home, working on pilots for when he takes over.

Our source at Leicester Square based Capital Radio revealed: "It's not looking too good for Johnny. They're waiting for the right moment to announce that he won't be staying.

"They just don't have the money to pay those sorts of fees with those figures."

In 2004 Johnny was awarded a three-year contract worth £1.5 million.

"Listening figures go up when Johnny Vaughan is on holiday and Craig Doyle steps in so he's the natural choice to take over. Doyle ticks all the boxes — he's clean-cut with a wife and baby, does all the mainstream telly programmes and will appear at all the premieres and high profile events — all opposite from Johnny Vaughan. And if you're paid that much money you're expected to play ball.

"Vaughan has been saying Capital doesn't advertise him enough but that's not true — there have been some huge, high profile ad campaigns."

It is understood that Vaughan will hear his fate on 1 February when the next RAJAR radio audience figures are released.

However,a spokeswoman for Johnny insists that he will be kept on. She said: "We cannot stress enough that there is no question over Johnny's future with the station."

A spokesman for Craig Doyle also denied the rumours. "There is no truth to it at all," she said.