Regional Press Awards winner becomes BBC breakfast show host

Rakeem Omar

A former Regional Press Awards winner has become the new presenter of a BBC radio breakfast show.

BBC Radio WM has unveiled Rakeem Omar, formerly of the Birmingham Mail, as the host of its 6am until 10am programme.

Rakeem, pictured, worked for the Mail as a community reporter between May 2019 and June last year.

During his time there, he won the Reporting Communities Award at the 2019 Regional Press Awards.

Rakeem concurrently worked for BBC Radio WM as a producer and has also presented its Tuesday evening show.

He began his new job on Tuesday, replacing Elise Evans.

Speaking to Radio Today, he said: “I can’t believe this is happening. I started on BBC Radio WM as a guest on the evening shows so to be taking over the breakfast show is so surreal.

“I feel blessed for to be able to wake the people of the West Midlands up. I’m ready to take on this amazing opportunity and start this new radio journey.”

Patrick Hart, executive editor at BBC Radio WM, said: “We’re really excited to have secured Rakeem’s services for our new breakfast show, his vibrant style and delivery is just what we need as we seek to bring an even bigger audience to BBC Radio WM.

“We’ll bring the stories that matter in a new exciting format across the West Midlands.”