WM Presenters

Les Ross is a West Midlands radio legend - and he's back at BBC WM - the station where it all started.

Les was born and bred in Handsworth. After leaving school his first job was with IBM, but it wasn't long before he forsook the world of computers for a post with the Birmingham Parks Department, working as an administrator at Witton cemetery!

Les Ross onboard the 'Les Ross'

In 1965 he won through several qualifying rounds to become national DJ of the Year beating Johnny Walker into second place - not bad for a fifteen year old.

The break he'd been waiting for came in 1970 when he was appointed resident DJ of a new city night club. At last he was a full time professional.

Then on 9th November that year, BBC Radio Birmingham - now BBC WM - chose Les from a host of applicants to co-host the Saturday Morning Show. This proved to be so popular that he was immediately offered a contract to present the Breakfast Show which opened the station's transmissions every weekday at 5am.

Les launches his new book club

With his popularity growing, in June 1975 he was invited to join Radio Tees, one of the new commercial radio stations, as presenter of their Breakfast Show. Reluctantly, the BBC released him from his contract and his was the first voice to be heard on commercial radio on Teeside.

A year later he was approached by BRMB, Birmingham's commercial radio station, who wanted him to come home and present their Breakfast Show in place of Adrian Juste who was leaving to join Radio One. The rest is history!

Since that move, Les Ross has won nearly every accolade going, including three Sony Awards, an MBE, a Variety Club Award, an NTC Special Services to Radio award and a place in the Radio Academy's hall of fame. He's now hosting the afternoon programme Monday to Friday from 1pm-4pm.

Get in touch

If you want to get in touch with Les;