Metro Radio shock jock Tony Horne turns author

Jul 17 2011 by Coreena Ford, Sunday Sun

MOTORMOUTH radio DJ Tony Horne has been silenced after a “life changing” experience.

The controversial DJ who won an army of listeners with his wind-ups and near-the-knuckle opinions shocked the region last week after parting company with Metro Radio after six years on the breakfast show.

The station announced his snap departure online saying Tony was leaving to explore other career opportunities.

They revealed Brian Moore would stand in on the flagship show from July 24, with Anna Foster continuing as co-host.

The 40-year-old dad-of-three first joined Metro Radio in 1995 but left in 2000 after a fall out with the management to go Century Radio in the North West.

Four years later the MD at the time, Sally Aitchison, bought him back to the region and over the last six years the veteran radio presenter has entertained and infuriated listeners in equal measure, prompting his Tony Horne In The Morning show to run media campaigns under the slogan ‘Love Him or Hate Him’.

Last night, Tony’s departure garnered mixed reactions from listeners when Metro Radio announced the news on their Facebook page.

Many listeners were upset to hear he had left, posting messages such as: “Gutted! Good luck in whatever your next venture is!”, “Sob ! Who will I wake up to now? I’ll never get out of bed again!”.

Since his departure Tony has remained tight-lipped on his shock departure, but it’s understood he has been considering writing full-time for some time.