A MIDLANDS broadcasting legend has revealed he will wave goodbye to regional news in July after almost half a century in front of the cameras.
ITV Central’s legendary broadcaster Bob Warman is one of the network’s longest serving news anchors and has presented regional news in the Central/Midlands region since 1973.
He joined in the days of Central’s predecessor ATV in April 1973 – the same year which saw the end of the American War in Vietnam and when Britain joined the Common Market.
Since then, Bob has covered every single type of story from the Birmingham pub bombings to the closure of the world famous Longbridge car works – as well as fronting up charity marathons.
“I still remember one Telethon where after 24 hours of adrenaline filled broadcasting I ended up singing ‘he ain’t heavy, he’s my brother’, with Allan Clarke from The Hollies.”
“Whether it was viewers ringing in to ask me to stop, or some other reason, I’ll never know, but it raised a huge amount of money for local charities and I am proud of that.”
Born in the Chuckery in Walsall, Bob went to school in Shrewsbury before cutting his teeth on the Walsall Observer when the editor gave him three weeks to see “whether we like you and you like us”.
He is the president of the Birmingham Press Club and a Life Vice President of the Journalists’ Charity.
He is also a patron of Acorns Children’s Hospice.
“By any measure it’s been a long stint in front of the camera and I will miss my colleagues and the hundreds of thousands of viewers who’ve remained loyal to ITV News over the years,” he said.
His final show will be Monday, July 4.
