MP urges radio bosses to keep Dicky Dodd on air as Signal 107 taken over

Pat McFadden said it would be a "tragedy" if the popular presenter was axed from his weekday morning slot on Signal 107, and that it was crucial that radio stations retained their "local character".

Dicky's show is set to be a victim of the station's integration into the Hits Radio Brand Network, which will see a reduction in local content as it is rebranded as Greatest Hits Radio.

It comes after Signal was one of more than 50 stations taken over by Bauer Media last year.

Mr McFadden, the Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East, said he has written to Bauer chief executive Graham Bryce urging him to keep Dicky Dodd on the airwaves.

He said: "It would be a tragedy if Dicky Dodd was taken from our airwaves due to the takeover of Signal 107.

"He’s the voice of the station. Dicky knows everyone in Wolverhampton and he’s been a big part of the city for so many years.

"He is also a man who gives generously of his own time for charity and community events. He’s a wonderful presenter and we don’t want to lose him.

"Our local radio stations have to retain their local character and that means keeping presenters like Dicky.

"If every radio station sounds the same, what will be the point of listening to them?"

A petition calling on the station to "listen to their listeners" and keep Dicky on has received hundreds of signatures.

It was set up by Susan Robert, who said people in the city would "retune their radios" if the presenter was taken off air.

Bosses at Bauer say a new breakfast show will be introduced to coincide with the transition to Greatest Hits Radio in September. They also plan to air a regional drive-time show on the station.

Fans of the Dicky have been given a boost after it emerged that Bauer recently rowed back over a similar move to axe local presenters and programmes at a radio station in Wales.

The firm's decision to change the name of Swansea Sound and replace long-standing local presenters led to a fierce public backlash, with singer Bonnie Tyler among those to support a campaign against the move.

MPs tabled a motion in the Welsh Parliament saying that the station had "established itself a place in the hearts of the local community with its coverage of local news, sports and charity events".

Bauer eventually backed down and kept on local presenters, although the station's name was still changed.

Of the 56 FM radio licences Bauer bought last year, only three are to remain as "stand-alone" stations.

The firm said that Lincs FM in Lincolnshire, Pirate FM in Cornwall, and Bristol's Sam FM all served areas with "different characteristics and communities" from other parts of England.