It’s a real joy to host the show!: What it's like to be a radio show host

Every Sunday morning thousands tune in to Black Country Radio for the Omma n’ Chain Show presented by Billy Spakemon.

He aims to showcase all aspects of Black Country life as well as provide a platform for talented musicians, singers, actors and poets from across the area.

The only rule he has for the show is that every guest, performer or piece of music must come from the Black Country – although he admits to occasionally ‘letting in the odd Brummie or two’.

“It’s a real joy to present this show – it’s a Black Country show for Black Country people. It may be me presenting it but it’s all about giving other people a voice to show us their talents, talk about something they are passionate about or tell us their life story,” says Billy, who’s real name is Dr Brian Dakin.

His radio career started just five years ago when he was approached about presenting a show on Black Country Community Radio (BCCR). “I had never thought about doing something like this before. With no technical ability I was obviously apprehensive but I had ideas about what I wanted to do. At the time my great mentor Dr Carl Chinn was ending his run on Radio WM.

“I always saw his show as being of the people and for the people and I wanted to frame my show along the same lines but take it a step further with all the music and spoken word drama coming from local people. This would mean creating our own playlist and hopefully progressing to live guests.

“I put the idea to Dave Brownhill, who ran the radio station and Steve Welch, who did my initial interview. Both were keen and with their guidance, the Omma n’ Chain Show got off the ground.

“The programme went out late in the evening but when BCCR merged with The Bridge Radio to form Black Country Radio, I was asked to host a two-hour Sunday afternoon programme,” explains the 65-year-old writer and performer.

Since then the show, currently being produced by 20-year-old university student Scott Eeles at the radio’s base at The Waterfront in Brierley Hill, has gone from strength to strength.

“We are inundated by folks who send CDs and recordings of their work in to us. I will always play it because that’s the whole reason for doing the show. We replace the station’s regular playlist with our own playlist of Black Country music.

“A lot of people don’t realise the quality of the music being made by people in the Black Country – it’s phenomenal. I’m proud to be able to play it on the show,” says Billy, who spent four years as a professional footballer for Swindon Town FC before 38 years in the flooring trade.

As well as performers, they welcome a wide range of other guests to speak about their lives or something happening in the community.

“What is great about the Black Country is that people are generally interested in each other’s lives and concerns. Everyone is so open and honest – I don’t think you find that anywhere else,” says Billy, who lives in Oldbury.

One of his most memorable visitors to the studio was Michael Doyle, who spent decades working in Walsall’s leather industry.

“When I first spoke to him about coming on the show he said he didn’t know if he had anything to say. But he came in, started talking about growing up in the leather industry and it was like listening to a Dickens’ novel.

“How he described everything was so vibrant and colourful, it was like you were there. I’ve had him on the show three times now because he is such an interesting bloke,” Billy tells us.

He also works on community creative arts projects through Aston University where he is a research associate.

One of them has been a First World War project with staff and pupils at St Michaels CE High School in Rowley Regis. And he was able to combine his two interests when he invited a group of disabled students from the school to be guests on his show to talk about their campaign to raise £5,000 for adapted pieces of exercise equipment for their gym.

“They loved it and felt like celebrities for the day,” says Billy, who has also been involved in the Black Country Festival.

He has also started work on a creative writing and performance project at Halas Homes Day Centre in Halesowen, which caters for adults with learning difficulties.

They will be performing a pantomime in December and he hopes to also welcome them to the studio later in the year.

The Sunday show, which is recorded on a Thursday, includes regular items such as a ‘gardening tip of the week’ ‘car tip of the week’ and ‘your favourite ‘suc’.

In the future, Billy says he would like to develop the show further by offering a theatre hour with performances commissioned and written especially for the show.

“I would also love to do a children’s hour and have children’s stories read aloud. It’s all about being part of the community and offering a reflection of the Black Country and what people care about,” he adds.