Tony Butler
Encyclopedia
Tony Butler is a Birmingham
based UK sports broadcaster and one of the first stars of local radio in Britain, known for a distinctive local accent and sometimes controversial style. In 2007, he was honoured by the Sony Radio Academy with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
on May 15, 1935. He began his journalistic career in local papers in Birmingham before beginning to contribute to BBC
national and regional radio in the 1960s. His strong regional accent caused problems at the staid BBC
and he later recalled how he was encouraged to soften his natural accent. At one point the BBC
even provided elocution lessons.
radio stations, Butler was encouraged to act naturally on the air, emphasising rather than hiding his accent.
After being sent on a tour of radio stations in Canada
and the U.S.
, Butler noticed the success of the forthright North America
n broadcasters and, back in the UK, he began to develop a similar aggressive manner
on the air, offering controversial opinions and arguing with callers to his shows. In another innovation imported from the across the Atlantic, Butler began to offer sports fans the opportunity to call into his shows with their opinions of their teams’ performances, giving birth to his boast that he was the inventor of the football
phone-in.
Butler's much repeated catchphrase "On 'yer bike" was used to cut off callers whose opinions he disagreed with, whilst his competitions would tax listeners with questions such as "How many yards of elastic are there in a golf ball?". During live coverage of football
games, fans were encouraged to "get out their prayer mats" in order to help their ailing teams. Similar encouragement was offered through frequent playing of “The Butler Theme Tune” (in reality Hurricane Smith's "Theme from an Unmade Silent Movie").
Butler's outspokenness and unique radio shows soon made him one of Birmingham
's most recognised voices. It helped that the late 1970s and early 80s were a particularly good time for local sport, with five of the West Midlands
' teams enjoying top flight football
. Butler and his team of reporters were also able to cover memorable European campaigns for Aston Villa
, West Bromwich Albion
and Wolverhampton Wanderers
. Well known locally, Butler's abrasive style was also brought to national attention after being worked into the routines of Birmingham comic Jasper Carrott
, who often liked to poke fun at the homespun nature of BRMB's programming at the time.
In 1984, Butler was sacked from BRMB after a row with fellow broadcaster Brian Savin, who is disabled. Savin had sent a note to Butler complaining about coverage of a cricket match overrunning into his show; Butler was said to have found the content of the note offensive and confronted Savin, pulling him out of his chair during the ensuing argument. The dismissal of such a high profile personality was front page news in Birmingham, and programmes on BRMB were severely affected as some of Butler's former colleagues walked out on strike.
Butler later commented that the matter had been blown out of all proportion, claiming that he remained friends with Savin. He preferred to attribute the sacking to a general falling-out with BRMB management.
local TV news programme "Midlands Today" often reporting on the lighter items and demonstrating a much softer side to his nature than anyone had hitherto seen. He also presented his successful local TV shows "Sporting Butler", "Boating Butler" and "Biking Butler", travelling around the region meeting people with an interesting story to tell.
In 1987, Tony Inchley was appointed Manager of ailing BBC Radio WM
, at a time when the BBC
was under pressure from the government to justify its provision of local radio services. Inchley swiftly revamped the BBC
station's output, hiring a number of personalities and recruiting Butler to restart his Friday night football phone-in in direct competition with BRMB's George Gavin, Butler's former deputy.
Butler was subsequently promoted to host the prestigious breakfast show, replacing Ed Doolan
, (who then began his hugely popular lunchtime show). Under Butler, Radio WM
's breakfast show was a mix of current affairs, information and phone-in competitions, the presenter able to show his versatility switching from interviewing politicians to chatting with callers. He gave away egg cups and mugs to the same callers week in week out. He continued to host the Friday night football phone-in.
Butler was still unable to shake off his controversial image though; in 1989 Radio WM
’s reporters found themselves banned from covering Wolverhampton Wanderers
games after the club accused Butler of making racist comments about one of their black players, Shane Westley.
When Tony Inchley announced his retirement Butler felt his time was up, so he decided to leave.
group saw the end to most of the locally produced programming and so in 1998, Butler made his way back to Radio WM
. Firstly, presenting a Saturday lunchtime show, before taking over his current Monday - Thursday evening football phone in show from 7-8pm and the Sportsnight show on Mondays from 8-10pm.
. As part of the sports team, he presented the local sports bulletins on the channel, as well as going out to interview sporting figures across the West Midlands. He also hosted a live phone-in show on the channel every Friday night called 'Butler's Sports Special'. He remained at Birmingham Live until its closure in November 1999.
His outburst prompted a barrage of complaints from listeners, and led the BBC to issue an apology.
The announcement was made within days of Orion taking control of BRMB and Gold. It is believed that Butler will be a regular fixture of their expanded coverage during the 2009/10 season.
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
based UK sports broadcaster and one of the first stars of local radio in Britain, known for a distinctive local accent and sometimes controversial style. In 2007, he was honoured by the Sony Radio Academy with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Early career
Tony Butler was born in WolverhamptonWolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
on May 15, 1935. He began his journalistic career in local papers in Birmingham before beginning to contribute to BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
national and regional radio in the 1960s. His strong regional accent caused problems at the staid BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and he later recalled how he was encouraged to soften his natural accent. At one point the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
even provided elocution lessons.
BRMB
In 1974, he was hired to be the first sports editor at Birmingham's new independent (i.e. non-BBC) radio station BRMB, one of a handful of commercial stations to launch at that time. With BRMB striving to offer something different from the established BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
radio stations, Butler was encouraged to act naturally on the air, emphasising rather than hiding his accent.
After being sent on a tour of radio stations in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Butler noticed the success of the forthright North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n broadcasters and, back in the UK, he began to develop a similar aggressive manner
Shock jock
Shock jock is a slang term used to describe a type of any radio broadcaster who attracts attention using humor that a significant portion of the listening audience may find offensive. The term is usually used pejoratively to describe provocative or irreverent broadcasters whose mannerisms,...
on the air, offering controversial opinions and arguing with callers to his shows. In another innovation imported from the across the Atlantic, Butler began to offer sports fans the opportunity to call into his shows with their opinions of their teams’ performances, giving birth to his boast that he was the inventor of the football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
phone-in.
Butler's much repeated catchphrase "On 'yer bike" was used to cut off callers whose opinions he disagreed with, whilst his competitions would tax listeners with questions such as "How many yards of elastic are there in a golf ball?". During live coverage of football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
games, fans were encouraged to "get out their prayer mats" in order to help their ailing teams. Similar encouragement was offered through frequent playing of “The Butler Theme Tune” (in reality Hurricane Smith's "Theme from an Unmade Silent Movie").
Butler's outspokenness and unique radio shows soon made him one of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
's most recognised voices. It helped that the late 1970s and early 80s were a particularly good time for local sport, with five of the West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
' teams enjoying top flight football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. Butler and his team of reporters were also able to cover memorable European campaigns for Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
and Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
. Well known locally, Butler's abrasive style was also brought to national attention after being worked into the routines of Birmingham comic Jasper Carrott
Jasper Carrott
Jasper Carrott OBE is a British comedian, actor, television presenter and personality.-Early life:...
, who often liked to poke fun at the homespun nature of BRMB's programming at the time.
In 1984, Butler was sacked from BRMB after a row with fellow broadcaster Brian Savin, who is disabled. Savin had sent a note to Butler complaining about coverage of a cricket match overrunning into his show; Butler was said to have found the content of the note offensive and confronted Savin, pulling him out of his chair during the ensuing argument. The dismissal of such a high profile personality was front page news in Birmingham, and programmes on BRMB were severely affected as some of Butler's former colleagues walked out on strike.
Butler later commented that the matter had been blown out of all proportion, claiming that he remained friends with Savin. He preferred to attribute the sacking to a general falling-out with BRMB management.
BBC
Following his sacking, Butler was snapped up more or less immediately by the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
local TV news programme "Midlands Today" often reporting on the lighter items and demonstrating a much softer side to his nature than anyone had hitherto seen. He also presented his successful local TV shows "Sporting Butler", "Boating Butler" and "Biking Butler", travelling around the region meeting people with an interesting story to tell.
In 1987, Tony Inchley was appointed Manager of ailing BBC Radio WM
BBC WM
BBC WM is the BBC Local Radio service for the West Midlands, South Staffordshire, north Worcestershire and north Warwickshire, operated by BBC Birmingham. Launched on 9 November 1970 as BBC Radio Birmingham, it broadcasts from central Birmingham on 95.6 FM, DAB and on the internet...
, at a time when the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
was under pressure from the government to justify its provision of local radio services. Inchley swiftly revamped the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
station's output, hiring a number of personalities and recruiting Butler to restart his Friday night football phone-in in direct competition with BRMB's George Gavin, Butler's former deputy.
Butler was subsequently promoted to host the prestigious breakfast show, replacing Ed Doolan
Ed Doolan
Edwin Myer Doolan is an Australian born naturalised British radio presenter who is a twenty-eight year veteran of the BBC and was awarded the MBE in 1998...
, (who then began his hugely popular lunchtime show). Under Butler, Radio WM
BBC WM
BBC WM is the BBC Local Radio service for the West Midlands, South Staffordshire, north Worcestershire and north Warwickshire, operated by BBC Birmingham. Launched on 9 November 1970 as BBC Radio Birmingham, it broadcasts from central Birmingham on 95.6 FM, DAB and on the internet...
's breakfast show was a mix of current affairs, information and phone-in competitions, the presenter able to show his versatility switching from interviewing politicians to chatting with callers. He gave away egg cups and mugs to the same callers week in week out. He continued to host the Friday night football phone-in.
Butler was still unable to shake off his controversial image though; in 1989 Radio WM
BBC WM
BBC WM is the BBC Local Radio service for the West Midlands, South Staffordshire, north Worcestershire and north Warwickshire, operated by BBC Birmingham. Launched on 9 November 1970 as BBC Radio Birmingham, it broadcasts from central Birmingham on 95.6 FM, DAB and on the internet...
’s reporters found themselves banned from covering Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
games after the club accused Butler of making racist comments about one of their black players, Shane Westley.
When Tony Inchley announced his retirement Butler felt his time was up, so he decided to leave.
Xtra AM
In 1994 Butler moved back to commercial radio, hosting the breakfast show on BRMB spin-off station Xtra-AM, giving him the opportunity to play more music. During this time he also co-hosted Xtra's Friday night football phone-in, along with sports editor Tom Ross.Back to the BBC
The purchase of Xtra-AM by the Capital RadioCapital Radio
Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...
group saw the end to most of the locally produced programming and so in 1998, Butler made his way back to Radio WM
BBC WM
BBC WM is the BBC Local Radio service for the West Midlands, South Staffordshire, north Worcestershire and north Warwickshire, operated by BBC Birmingham. Launched on 9 November 1970 as BBC Radio Birmingham, it broadcasts from central Birmingham on 95.6 FM, DAB and on the internet...
. Firstly, presenting a Saturday lunchtime show, before taking over his current Monday - Thursday evening football phone in show from 7-8pm and the Sportsnight show on Mondays from 8-10pm.
Birmingham Live TV
In 1998 Butler joined local cable TV station Birmingham Live TV, a regional affiliate of MGN's L!VE TVL!VE TV
L!VE TV was a British television station that was operated by MGN on cable television from 15 August 1995 - 31 October 1999. It was later revived for Sky Digital from 2003...
. As part of the sports team, he presented the local sports bulletins on the channel, as well as going out to interview sporting figures across the West Midlands. He also hosted a live phone-in show on the channel every Friday night called 'Butler's Sports Special'. He remained at Birmingham Live until its closure in November 1999.
Controversy at BBC West Midlands
Tony Butler courted additional controversy on a BBC West Midlands radio programme, broadcast on 28 March 2007. He stated that women should not be in war zones and, commenting on kidnapped British sailor Faye Turney, said that were she decapitated, "it would serve her right."His outburst prompted a barrage of complaints from listeners, and led the BBC to issue an apology.
Retirement
Butler announced in April 2009, that he would retire at the end of the 2008/2009 football season, commenting “I think you know when it’s time to retire, and I’m on my bike.”Return to Commercial Radio
In August 2009, it was announced by Tom Ross that Butler would be returning to the Gold airwaves to co-host the football phone in on Friday nights on Gold.The announcement was made within days of Orion taking control of BRMB and Gold. It is believed that Butler will be a regular fixture of their expanded coverage during the 2009/10 season.