91Èȱ¬

Ed Doolan, Radio WM's veteran presenter, is to host a new-look Sunday show and reduce his weekday appearances to one from the autumn.

The presenter, originally from Australia but who regards Birmingham as his home, told listeners on his show today (22.2.11) that he was not retiring but had decided it was time to take things a little easier.

"With the milestone of SEVEN ZERO looming ahead there are some decisions that need to be made. I am not retiring, resigning or calling it a day," he stressed, "but I simply cannot continue the current work schedule of seven days a week – some live, some not – as it is unfair to those of you who have to prop me up."

Later this year, Ed will step down from four lunchtime news shows a week but will continue with the Friday Lunchtime Show. At that time Ed will launch the new-look Sunday Funday show on Sundays between 8am and 11am.

"I really want to have a go at the new Sunday show," enthuses Ed. "It will feature material from my own archives, 'The Other Sides Of', some lively studio and phone-in debates, as well as consumer phone-ins. We're also planning a series of specials but more about that in September!"

Ed began broadcasting to Birmingham in February 1974 and joined 91Èȱ¬ WM in 1982.

He was one of the first 40 inductees in the Radio Academy's all-time Hall of Fame alongside Tony Hancock, Richard Dimbleby, Alistair Cooke and John Peel.

He has interviewed world leaders such as Nelson Mandela and every Prime Minister since Macmillan, except for Harold Wilson, as well as big name celebrities like William Roache and Sir Cliff Richard.

WM Managing Editor Keith Beech said: "Ed is an important part of this radio station and I am delighted he has agreed to do the new Sunday show.

"When he presented that slot previously it was amongst the most listened-to shows of its day. I am sure that the new-look programme will be an appointment to listen for very many people across the area."

CB