For over a decade, the exact cause of the spectacular falling out between former radio partners Chris Moyles and Dave Vitty, known as Comedy Dave, remained largely unknown. Now, sources confirm that a photograph taken during a 2011 holiday in Cyprus was the catalyst that permanently severed their 15-year friendship.
The image, captured outside a bar in Paphos, featured Moyles alongside Jayne Sharp, Vitty's wife at the time. Vitty had announced his divorce from Sharp five months prior, and while there was no suggestion of a romantic relationship between Moyles and Sharp, Vitty reportedly felt "utterly betrayed" by the photograph. Insiders stated that the incident "permanently ended" Vitty's relationship with both Moyles and Sharp.
During their final months working together, the on-air partners reportedly sat in silence in the studio, pointedly ignoring each other as music played. Sources close to the radio station described the situation as "impossible" for all involved. BBC executives, concerned by the increasingly "fiery and toxic" relationship between the two, reportedly accelerated plans to replace Moyles on the Radio 1 Breakfast show a year earlier than scheduled. Nick Grimshaw, then 27, ultimately took over the program.
Moyles later commented on his departure, suggesting that the public narrative focused on him being "too old" for the role, rather than the behind-the-scenes rift. He expressed frustration with how the situation was handled, noting the subsequent dip in listening figures for Grimshaw's show.
Moyles and Vitty first met in 1997 when Moyles was hosting an overnight show on Radio 1 and Vitty worked as a technical operative. Their friendship, forged through shared shift patterns and frequent pub visits, led to Vitty joining Moyles's show. Their on-air chemistry became a hallmark, and they became one of radio's longest-running duos, attracting 7.9 million weekly listeners with their pub jokes and stunts, including a 52-hour on-air challenge in 2011.
Following the fallout, Vitty did not join Moyles when he moved to Radio X. Moyles has since relocated to Highgate, London, with his partner, artist-manager Tiffany Austin. Vitty, who remains single, has focused on behind-the-scenes work, establishing his production company Stripey Horse in 2014. He has held roles as a producer at Hits Radio Manchester and is currently a senior producer at The Content Works. When asked about his relationship with Vitty in a 2016 interview, Moyles declined to comment further, stating only that they had not spoken in a while and that the matter was "no one's business."