World listening in to Pete's Beatles show

A West Midlands Beatles fanatic is entertaining listeners around the world with his own radio show dedicated to the Fab Four.

Pete Dicks of Brownhills started BeatlesandBeyond 10 years ago, recording in a makeshift studio in his cellar. Now it has been picked up by radio stations and played as far afield as New Zealand, Dubai, Australia and India. The 56-year-old said: "The dream is for it to become a career and everything is in place for that to happen, I just need a partner to help get it off the ground."

The married father-of-one said: "I was only really interested in classical music until 1967 when I heard the Sgt Pepper's album which blended pop and classical.

"The remit of BeatlesandBeyond is to inform, entertain and educate the listener about the amazing effect that four guys from Liverpool had on the world."

Since launching in 1999 BeatlesandBeyond has been played on numerous stations and led self-employed Mr Dicks to meet Yoko Ono, ex-Beatles drummer Pete Best and be friends with Julia Baird - Lennon's half sister. It is recorded on a computer before being sent to radio stations via MP3 files and broadcast on the airwaves and internet.

Wife Janet said: "He works really hard on it and has interviewed some very famous people. He often disappears to the cellar to record the show and I will take him down a cup of tea."

The show cannot play more than three Beatles tracks in a row by law so BeatlesandBeyond is made up of anything and everything to do with the legends.

Mr Dicks said: "If it is connected to The Beatles in any way then I will use it."

It includes solo works of John, Paul, George and Ringo as well as cover versions of their songs; Apple, Dark Horse and Ringo Records label records; tribute bands, interviews and more.ÊThe show has been recommended by Liverpool's Beatles Story Experience. The show's website is www.beatlesandbeyond.com