Stephen says his goodbye to radio

Award-winning broadcaster Stephen Rhodes is planning a grand finale to his radio career as motor neurone disease takes an increasing toll on the voice that made him famous.

The father-of-three from Eaton Bray said: “My final programme will go out on BBC 3CR on Monday, December 28. It’s a compilation of a lot of the undercover work I did over the years as a consumer journalist.”

And ever the jester, he joked: “There’s plenty of abuse being shouted at me – I love it, it takes me back.”

When Stephen was diagnosed with MND last year and told he had as little as two years left to live, he immediately went into campaign mode raising awareness about the disease for which there is no known cause or cure.

He said: “I’ve always been a noisy old geezer and now I’m going to be a noisy old geezer for MND.

“It’s a horrible nasty old thing and I want people to think about it and give it their support.”

BBC 3CR editor Laura Moss said: “Stephen is a fearless broadcaster who always puts his audience first. He pioneered the consumer phone-in and became a champion for people who had nowhere else to turn for help with their consumer problems.

“We’re delighted that he’s appearing on BBC 3CR on Monday December 28 at 12pm.”

She added: “We were devastated to hear he has motor neurone disease but feel that it’s fitting and poignant that what could well be his last show will be for BBC 3CR.”