Aside from an early appearance on BBC Radio 4's "Woman's Hour" when he was just two years old, Michael's professional broadcasting career started at BBC WM as the early morning newsreader in 1986.

He then moved onto Network radio, presenting "You & Yours" on BBC Radio 4 as well as reporting for BFBS Forces Radio and the BBC World Service.

In 1989 Michael joined "Countryfile", BBC 1's long-running rural affairs programme produced in the Midlands.

Two years later he became a presenter on "Top Gear" and went on to present two series of the popular canoeing series "Paddles Up."

That was followed by a spell presenting "The Midlands at Westminster".

It was while working on "Countryfile" that Michael became one of the first presenters of London's pioneering television news station, Channel One. But he clearly missed the bright lights of Birmingham - returning "home" in 1995 to join the "Midlands Today" presentation team.

Now, as well as presenting "Midlands Today", Michael works as a newsreader for BBC Radio 2 and BBC WM.

He has also worked as a presenter on Sky TV's Automotive Channel, and regularly presents concerts for the world-famous Philharmonia Orchestra in London.

He lives in Worcestershire with his wife, four daughters,
a cat, a rabbit and two chickens, and admits that he finds time for hobbies "fairly limited" but does confess to a fascination for older and bizarre cars - and an ambition to own a Cadillac hearse!

E-mail Michael.collie@bbc.co.uk