It is with deep sadness we have to report that on the 16th February 2026 following a short illness Wythenshawe FM presenter Anthony Odell sadly passed away.

Anthony began broadcasting on Wythenshawe FM around 12 years ago as a guest presenter, alongside Chris Hoyles, on the Friday night ‘Rock Pit’ show.

As he got more involved and began looking to present his own show, he got a place on the WFM training course, before launching ‘The Vinyl Hour’ show on Saturday evenings in November 2016.

Initially an hour in length, it became popular, each week receiving a large number of requested tracks. This led to an extension to 2 hours. For many years it occupied the 4-6pm slot, before last year moving back an hour to allow for Saturday Afternoon football coverage to precede it.

His beloved wife Shirley, whom he married in 2015, began making more and more guest appearances on the ‘Vinyl Hours’, before becoming co-host and later getting her own show, which Anthony supported her with, and Shirley is now also a regular presenter on the Disability Matters show.

His love of all kinds of music came across on air, and especially so on his late night ‘Rock Zone’, where he got to play the classic rock and metal that was his main passion. On this show he went out of his way to promote upcoming bands from both sides of the Atlantic.

Many of the bands he championed went out of their way, in return, to come on the show or down the line to chat to Anthony.

Off air he had his own mobile disco company South Manchester DJ, and had just won a Prestige Award for Manchester and North West England, where he was named ‘DJ of the Year’.

He will be remembered as a music lover, devoted and supportive husband and a big WFM personality.

WFM Programme Controller, Colin Owen says “Anthony will be remembered for his love of vinyl and music fairs. He took time and dedication each week to produce his shows.”

Presenter Denise Southworth remembers Anthony not just as a colleague but a personal friend, “what I admired about Anthony was that despite not having the easiest of lives, he was never bitter or angry, and was content living the simple life with his lovely wife, Shirley.”

The date of his funeral is yet to be announced.

We hope to publish a full obituary shortly and in due course broadcast a tribute show to Anthony.

Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends.

To quote one of his show promos, Anthony you will be missed, WFM "will never be the same again".