Dicky Dodd back on the Wolverhampton airwaves

The radio presenter volunteered this week to cover the breakfast show on Wolverhampton Community Radio (WCR) and joked it was "nice to have a purpose again".

Dicky, aged 46, hosted his final breakfast show for Signal 107 at the end of August, after 20 years of being a familiar voice in thousands of Black Country households.

During lockdown it was announced he had been made redundant from his role as Signal had moved to integrate with the Hits Radio Brand Network.

Hundreds signed a petition begging bosses to keep him on – but Dicky said he was looking forward to starting a "new chapter" of his career.

He had planned to take the whole of September as holiday – but quickly found himself pulled back into the radio world.

Purpose

"I was asked to cover this week for the breakfast show at WCR at Newhampton Arts Centre," he said. "There's potential for more too.

"It's been really nice. I thought I'd have the whole of September off but this came off – I had people messaging saying I obviously couldn't keep away.

"So I was setting my alarm again for 4.30am. It was nice to have a purpose again.

"Within the first few days of finishing Signal I just felt weird. My wife and kids went to work and school and I was in bed, it was a weird feeling.

"I was very lucky I was able to work through lockdown and kept my normality.

"Now I can see how people were really affected, it can really affect mental health.

"It's nice to have a routine and get back on air. The great thing about being on WCR is it's really local – and I know the area.

"It's extra special being able to broadcast in your own city."

He added: "The reaction from the listeners has been immense, the amount of messages I've received and texts has been phenomenal. People have followed me to WCR, that's really special.

"It's a great station for Wolverhampton – there's a need for local radio for our city. I hope it continues."