Radio legend Tony Butler dies aged 88-Meghna Amin-Entertainment – Metro

Radio legend Tony Butler has died aged 88 (Picture: Getty)

Radio legend Tony Butler has died aged 88.

The broadcaster presented BBC radio shows in Birmingham, including breakfast show BBC Radio WM.

The radio show announced on Twitter: ‘West Midlands broadcasting legend Tony Butler has died at the age of 88.

‘During a career spanning 50 years Tony was probably best known for inventing the Football Phone-In.’

Tributes have been shared online for the star, who was known for his phrase ‘on yer bike’.

VM’s Daz Hale wrote: ‘So sad to hear about the passing of Tony Butler. This is the man who , back in the 1970’s , INVENTED the Football Phone In. A great broadcaster who became a great friend . Rest in Peace Tone . Okay? Okay !’

Former England coach Vince Bartram wrote: ‘Sad to hear that Tony Butler has died. Any football fan from the Midlands in the 80’s/90’s would know his voice so well. The original football phone in and I remember as a young lad ringing in to talk about the Albion either on a Friday evening or after the game on a Saturday.’

Sports commentator Jim Rosenthal added: ‘Tony Butler…I was at BBC Radio Birmingham when Tony started at BRMB…’What are you going to do’ ? I asked him. ‘I’ll be totally different’ he replied. And he was. A brilliant innovator. RIP Tony.’

Butler gained more fame nationally as part of a routine by comedian Jasper Carrott.

The comic told BBC WM: ‘The wonderful thing about Tony is he had a wonderful sense of humour.’

‘He could give it out but he could also take it.’

He went on: ‘I used to go to the football on a Saturday afternoon, and the first thing you did when you got in your car was turn on Tony Butler, there were just some classics.

‘He was irrepressible, and of course he got into a lot of controversy with different things, but that was part of him, that’s what he was.’

‘I thought the world of him.’

In 2007, Butler was honoured with Sony Radio Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Butler began his journalistic career in local papers in Birmingham before moving to the BBC for national and regional radio in the 1960s.

He retired in 2012.

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