Terry's back on the air

He will be the new voice on the city's Juice 107.2 FM radio station, presenting the breakfast show from 7am to 10am, Monday to Friday.

The well-known 51-year-old presenter will return to the airwaves for the Brighton-based station on September 26.

The current presenter of the breakfast show Mark Brooks, known as Brooksy, is leaving to further his career.

Terry, the Brighton born and bred entertainer, was broadcasting 18 months ago for rival Southern FM, where he had built up a cult following with his Last Bus To Whitehawk late-night show.

His return to the airwaves is a coup for Brighton-based Juice, which has been gradually building up its share of the listening audience.

The former postman, who admits to being "totally in love" with what he calls "the peculiar city of Brighton and Hove" is delighted to be back on air.

He said: "It will be strange doing an early-morning show instead of a late-night show but my body clock will adjust.

"I don't think there will be so many drunks phoning in but you never know with these new licensing laws. I have been brought in to raise the listening age of the station's audience.

"The show will be wacky, there will be plenty of comment from me about the funny things in this city, along with the music of the moment and, of course, plenty of news and travel.

"The main thing is the show reflects what Brighton and Hove is. The show is not about me, it will be a team effort along with producers Graham Lovett and Cheryl Piper."

He intends to watch what he says after being forced to stop making comments about Germans while working for Southern FM.

Terry said: "I know I am controversial and I will continue to be so. I can be rude but there is a vast difference between a late-night show and an early-morning show, when people are getting the children ready for school and trying to get to work on time, instead of winding down for the day.

"People will have less time to listen to what I have to say. But I will pick up on controversial local matters."

Daniel Nathan, director of Juice, said: "We are delighted to have Terry. He will be our milkman of human kindness. There is a sense of confidence at Juice now we have secured him. This is not the first time we have tried to tempt Terry to join us."

Terry quit Southern FM in April 2004 after going through a divorce from his wife, Emma, 20 years his junior, with whom he has a four-year-old son Harry.

At the time, he said: "Working at Southern FM has been the most enjoyable and satisfying working period of my life. I am very sad to go."

During his six years at the station, he was nominated for three Sony Awards, the equivalent of the Oscars in the broadcasting industry. In 2002, Last Bus To Whitehawk won the Sony Gold Award beating national DJs such as Jonathan Ross.

He since moved from his home in Rottingdean to nearby Saltdean.

Terry insists he is not joining Juice to declare war on the Southern FM Breakfast Show programme, presented by Nicky Keig-Shevlin and Danny Pike.

"I don't regard myself as being in competition but I would hope my audience share increases while I am at Juice."

Terry will still have time to play cricket at the weekends, where he is the opening bat for Sunday side Brighton and Hove Crescent, although he is currently nursing a bruised finger.

He still intends to continue with his popular Brighton: The Musical shows at The Dome and is currently thinking up new comedy songs to go with place names in the city, including one about Saltdean.

But from the end of this month, the man they call "Mr Brighton" is back on air.