RADIO veteran Tony Butler is back where his fame began during the 1970s – inside the BRMB studios.

After being sacked by the station in 1984 following an altercation with a colleague, outspoken Tony then reinvented himself on both radio and television courtesy of the BBC.

But he was deemed surplus to requirements at BBC WM at the end of last season.

With 60 years’ work across Midlands’ newspapers, radio and television behind him, the now 74-year-old has been hired by Tom Ross to co-host the Friday night, 6-7pm soccer phone-in on BRMB’s sister station, 1152am Gold.

Tony, who was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2008 Sony Awards, said: “I taught Tom everything... and he’s forgotten all of it!

“But I was pleased when he called me because I didn’t feel ready to bow out just yet.”

Silver Sony Award-winning Tom said: “Tony gave me my first job here in March 1981 so I thought I’d bring him back.

“Nobody, but nobody does football with the passion that we do – the NHS should a health warning on the show. The fun comes with the listeners choosing who is right, me or him.”