BBC WM presenter Alex Lester's emotional goodbye as he steps down from breakfast show
BBC WM breakfast host Alex Lester has stepped down from the show after giving an emotional on-air farewell.
The popular presenter, known as The Dark Lord, is walking away from the show after two years at the helm.
Lester took over the show from Adrian Goldberg after previously presenting overnights on BBC Radio 2.
His career had first started with work experience on the then-BBC Radio Birmingham 42 years ago.
And he has been behind the microphone for an estimated 10,000 shows during his career.
He announced his farewell with just 13 minutes of his final programme to air on Friday.
The presenter said he was going to 'enjoy semi-retirement'.
He told listeners: "Forty two years ago this year I arrived on the scene as a pimply student fresh out of Birmingham Poly doing work experience at BBC Radio Birmingham, the ‘heart of the nation station’.
"I got cups of coffee on the breakfast show, generally helped out and made a nuisance of myself.
"And then I thought, you know what, this is just the way to go.
"What a wonderful way to earn a living for me to be doing this.
"Forty years later I found myself back here doing the breakfast show on BBC WM, still the ‘heart of the nation station’ formerly BBC Radio Birmingham, which has been a great privilege and a great pleasure.
"There’s been highs and lows in my career as well which has been fantastic.
"I just think it’s been terrific.
"So, what I’m doing, after more than 10,000 radio shows - which I worked out with The Dark Lady was about two and a half years on the radio - I thought it’s time for me to step off the merry-go-round a bit, so I’m leaving the breakfast show.
"But, may I say thank you to you, to Lou..." before he started to choke-up before adding: "She’s 'gone' as well, oh dear, I was practising this all last night, to Leona, Olivia, the Steech, the Herminator, so many people have been involved in this programme.
"Too many to name, but they’re all wonderful.
"But thank you for such fun that we’ve had as well.
"So from me, Alex Lester, goodbye from the breakfast show."
He told listeners that he would continue to present his Saturday evening music show.
The station announced a new breakfast show duo with a presenter returning to her roots.
Sam Meah, from Handsworth, is returning to the West Midlands and will present with listeners' favourite Daz Hale.
From January 14 they'll be waking up the region every weekday from 6am to 9am.
Samantha said: “I am so excited to be waking up the WM listeners, I have to warn you, my laugh is infectious, I love to gossip but my music taste is impeccable! I’m looking forward to having the best banter with Daz, this is a dream gig for me.”
Daz added: “I am thrilled to move over to the weekday breakfast show, this really is an honour for me.
"You can expect all my usual antics and fun, along with some serious news from across the West Midlands and of course lots of local chat with some music thrown in. I can’t wait to get stuck in with Sam.”
Sarah Harness, Editor of BBC WM said: “I’m thrilled with the new show.
"Sam and Daz are going to be an absolute treat for listeners, they’re a dream combination together."
