WM Features

Midlands radio personality Phil Upton joined BBC WM in 2006. He started his Breakfast Show on Monday 2nd October.

Phil presenting BBC WM's Breakfast Show

All about Phil

Born in Kings Norton, Phil - a lifelong Aston Villa fan - arrived at BBC WM around the time of his 40th birthday. He said his move to WM coincides with this milestone in his life.

"When the opportunity to host the WM Breakfast Show came up, I jumped at it. To be able to represent, campaign and champion this area, in an environment where that is encouraged and fostered was too good to pass up!"

After going through school at Kings Norton Green, Turves Green Boys and Matthew Boulton Technical College, Phil got his first experience of radio while studying at Birmingham Polytechnic (now UCE, Perry Barr) and knew instantly it was the career for him.

Phil - ditching the chopper for the bike

"From 1987 until 2006 I've worked for big local commercial stations in Birmingham and the BBC always represented the pinnacle of broadcasting. The idea that they wanted me for their flagship show was incredibly flattering."

Phil lives in Warwickshire with his wife Katherine, son James and daughter Charlotte. His concerns for their future will form a good deal of the subject matter for his new WM Breakfast Show.

"For every parent and grandparent where and how our children are educated, how safe they are and the world they will inherit dominates our thinking.

"It‘s a basic instinct in us all that we should leave to our children something better than we had for ourselves.

"Helping build a city and the environment in which we all live is one of the most important contributions I can make. If that means grilling our leaders to build a better New Street Station, or challenging them to continue the energy and vitality that got Bullring developed and built, then that is a cause I will follow on my programmes."

Campaigns

So far Phil has campaigned for;

A 50m pool for Birmingham
To restore tour buses for Birmingham and introduce one for the Black Country
To bring back Speedway to Perry Barr
Getting Thomas Attwood's statue restored and moved to a more prominent location
Headed the search for the Great Greasy Spoon of Birmingham & The Black Country.

BBC WM Kidney Kids Appeal

Listen Again

Don't forget you can listen again to Phil by clicking on the 'Listen Again' button on the right hand side of the page.

Contact Phil

If you want to get in touch with Phil;