BBC
Following his sacking, Butler was snapped up more or less immediately by the BBC local TV news programme "Midlands Today" often reporting on the lighter items and demonstrating a much softer side to his nature than anyone had hitherto seen. He also presented his successful local TV shows "Sporting Butler", "Boating Butler" and "Biking Butler", travelling around the region meeting people with an interesting story to tell.
In 1987, Tony Inchley was appointed Manager of ailing BBC Radio WM, at a time when the BBC was under pressure from the government to justify its provision of local radio services. Inchley swiftly revamped the BBC station's output, hiring a number of personalities and recruiting Butler to restart his Friday night football phone-in in direct competition with BRMB's George Gavin, Butler's former deputy.
Butler was subsequently promoted to host the prestigious breakfast show, replacing Ed Doolan, (who then began his hugely popular lunchtime show). Under Butler, Radio WM's breakfast show was a mix of current affairs, information and phone-in competitions, the presenter able to show his versatility switching from interviewing politicians to chatting with callers. He gave away egg cups and mugs to the same callers week in week out. He continued to host the Friday night football phone-in.
Butler was still unable to shake off his controversial image though; in 1989 Radio WM’s reporters found themselves banned from covering Wolverhampton Wanderers games after the club accused Butler of making racist comments about one of their black players, Shane Westley.
When Tony Inchley announced his retirement Butler felt his time was up, so he decided to leave.
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