BBC Radio Merseyside phone-in presenter Roger Phillips to retire from show

Roger Phillips joined BBC Radio Merseyside in 1978

Veteran BBC Radio Merseyside presenter Roger Phillips has announced his retirement from the lunchtime phone-in, 42 years after joining the station.

Mr Phillips, who began presenting the show in 1978, will record his final programme on 28 August.

He told listeners he had been "missing out on my grandson, not being able to see as much of him as I wish".

The station's editor Andrew Bowman said "his decision to retire leaves a big hole".

"Roger has been at the heart of BBC Radio Merseyside for decades," he continued.

"He's been a wonderful presenter, journalist and ambassador for the radio station and the region he is so passionate about."

'New adventures'

Assistant editor Pauline McAdam added: "He is the face and voice of some of the city's biggest moments of celebration or commemoration.

"We'll all miss him but we know he's going to love his new adventures as a granddad. Maybe this time he'll get a word in edgeways."

The broadcaster has won many awards and was granted Liverpool's highest accolade - Citizen of Honour - in 2017.

Mr Phillips, who was born in Manchester but moved to Liverpool in the early 70s as an actor, said he is not entirely leaving his radio "family" and would "still be around".

"I'm going to do bits and pieces once Covid-19 is over," said the presenter, who worked as a hackney cab driver, before "falling by chance" into local radio.

Over the years, Mr Phillips has interviewed hundreds of leading politicians including the current prime minister Boris Johnson.

Back in 2004, Mr Johnson, who was then editor of The Spectator magazine, apologised to the people of Liverpool on the Roger Phillips show after an article suggesting the city was wallowing in "disproportionate" grief for British hostage Ken Bigley, who was murdered in Iraq.