reporters were also able to cover memorable European campaigns for Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Well known locally, Butler's abrasive style was also brought to national attention after being worked into the routines of Birmingham comic Jasper Carrott, who often liked to poke fun at the homespun nature of BRMB's programming at the time. In 1984, Butler was sacked from BRMB after a row with fellow broadcaster Brian Savin, who is disabled. Savin had sent a note to Butler complaining about coverage of a cricket match over-running into his show; Butler was said to have found the content of the note offensive and confronted Savin, pulling him out of his chair during the ensuing argument. The dismissal of such a high-profile personality was front-page news in Birmingham, and programmes on BRMB were severely affected as some of Butler's former colleagues walked out on strike. Butler later commented that the matter had been blown out of all proportion, claiming that he remained friends with Savin. He preferred to attribute the sacking to a general falling-out with BRMB management. 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