Phil Upton to leave BBC WM breakfast

Former BRMB and Heart presenter Phil Upton is stepping down as host of the BBC local radio breakfast show for the West Midlands.

He’ll leave the BBC WM morning show at the end of next month after more than five years on air.

Phil said: “It’s been a privilege to host Breakfast on BBC WM these last five and a half years. Recent events in my personal and family life mean that now is a good time for me to take some time away from day-to-day frontline radio presenting – something I’ve done pretty much non-stop for the last 23 years. I’m looking forward to making more films for BBC Inside Out and continuing to be a part of the BBC family. I very much hope to return to radio in the future.”

Phil worked at BRMB in 1989 and had a spell at 100.7 Heart FM in the late 90s/early 2000s before returning to BRMB. He joined BBC WM in 2006.

Phil adds: “The production team at BBC WM are talented, professional and passionate and I have been blessed to work with them. I’m confident I leave BBC WM in safe hands. In the meantime I’m looking forward to waking up with my children on Monday mornings and taking them to school, something I’ve definitely missed.”

No replacement has yet been announced for the BBC WM breakfast show.

Gareth Roberts, Managing Editor, BBC WM, said: “I’d like to thank Phil for everything he has done for BBC WM during the past five years, he is a real professional who has put plenty of enthusiasm and hard work into the programme – getting up in the middle of the night and presenting a three hour show every day takes real dedication, we wish him all the best for the future.”