If you had called him MAKE, he would have cut you off!!

Mike Dickin was the best thing on Talksport and I have hardly listened to the station since his departure. His mid-morning show was fabulous and I always hoped it would return. The younger, (supposedly) more fashionable replacements are pale imitations of the real thing. His shows (on Talksport, I didn't hear him anywhere else) were always entertaining.

Although I have no interest in old records, I always found his 'record valuation' segments complusive listening (I think he also did an excellent motoring segment with Mike Rutherford (although I may be wrong)). His phone-ins were always brilliant and his voice was fabulous. I am sad tonight. RIP Mike and God bless his family.
Last edited by c3pod4qp : 20-12-2006 at 04:33

I always find it sad when those who hide behind feeble arguments adopt righteous and worthy opinions about those whom they've probably never met met.


The fact that we're all discussing Mike Dickin, might hint to those uncharitable old sods who've been a little rude here, that he was much more than a 'that was - this is', listenable broadcaster - who'll have more in the way of obit's than those who've been nasty about him here.

I used to listen to him back in the days when LBC resembled LBC. I repaired many a cart machine (it was a long time ago) to the accompaniment of his drive talk prog.

I only met the chap twice - but I formed the opinion on the first day (at talkSPORT) that he'd managed to make a rather good living from the art of being a curmudgeon, and that my opinion of him, if offered, would make little difference to his task at TS.

It would be nice to read some positive items about him on this thread.

Cheap criticism people of might be easy - but it's not always entertaining and stimulating.

Which Mike Dickin alway was.
Last edited by fdp : 20-12-2006 at 04:38

It's now looking like Mike had a heart attack whilst driving. I'm sure he'd feel absolutely terrible if he knew a 6-car pile up was down to him, but as far as I know there were only a couple more people who were hurt and neither were left critical.

This really has been tragic, and I'm sure many people will have spent most of yesterday shocked by the news and talking about it, but only a day or two later will it start to really hit home that the man's gone.

It'll be hard not to spare a thought for the family during Christmas dinner...

So sad!

I will miss him. He was the best presenter on Talksport.

First listened to him, when I stumbles across him on LBC during the 80's.

I didn't believe even Mike believed some of the things he was saying. I think it's easier to hide on the radio where the vast majority only hear an anonymous (yet very distinctive) voice. That's not to say he wasn't highly effective, however. In fact i'd say he managed to really bring out some great talking points which he managed by rattling a few people enough into joining in. I think a perfect example of this was when he was discussing dyslexia and in his view he believed it was just another word for idleness.

Beneath it all though Mike wasn't just a loud mouth - he was highly intelligent and very articulate with a slightly smug air about him. I think he knew only too well how to stimulate the listeners into phoning in and in doing so he was one of Talksport's biggest assets.

Very sad news. Tragic. Rest in Peace, Mike Dickin. The wireless airwaves will never be the same.

Condolences to your family, friends and colleagues.

Over the past 20 years plus now, I've always used late night talk shows to send me to sleep. This isn't a slight on the presenters, it's just something that works.

Being in Salford that's given me the option of Key103/Piccadilly, GMR/Radio Manchester etc. For the main it's always been Stanage, Reeve or whomever was on Key103 at the time. With the talk shows leaving Key on a Friday till either the Monday or Sunday, it left a gap, which has been filled by talksport over the years.

Mike Dicken was in my humble opinion a calmer, and less in your face James Stanage. He didn't enjoy anyone who didn't agree with what he was talking about, they often got less air time than anyone and wouldn't stand for people who were quite nervous about talking on the radio. Taking those minor points away and he was a very good talk show host. Perhaps is diversity in the later years wasn't as wide as it once was, as a lot of the time I've listened I've heard debates recycled on a regular basis, but the quality was often quite good.

I'll miss Mike Dicken on a Friday and Saturday night, and I wish this hadn't have happened, but when the radio in the sky needs a new presenter, it took one of the better ones this time.

I listened to James Whale last night, he seemed stumped for words at the start of his show, over Mike's tragic death. Even Steve Allen over at LBC did a fair amount of reminiscing. Mike worked there for 10 years, so Steve said.

I'm still gutted this morning. It's weird, I feel as if someone close to me has died, can't seem to shake it off, such was the presence of Mike.

I haven't managed to track down details of his accident, only what has already been seen. I'm wondering if the fog we have had recently was a contributing factor, especially around the area of Bodmin, which is prone to such conditions anyway? Nor did I see a mention in any news bulletins, teletext news or on-line newspapers.

If anyone wants to add a tribute or memory that will be passed to Mike's family, they have a condolence book for him on the Talksport website.
Last edited by Radiomaniac : 20-12-2006 at 08:52

Top Guy, Radio Legend, great listen, Night-times will never be the same.

Whale did seem lost for words at first but did excellently as he normally does do on solemn occasions. In his handover with the evening presenters at 9.40 James recounted a excellent story of phone call he had with Mike after he (James) had got out of hospital after his cancer treatment.

James gave the impression it was a very quick phone call as "Mike wasn't one for sentiment" but Mike basically asked him was James ok for money and if he needed any to let Mike know. Then Mike said goodbye and put the phone down!

Maybe MD was in real-life likeas he was on the radio, which in this age is a very rare thing

This makes me cherish the current presenters I admire (Whaley being my absolute favourite) even more.

Being a radio fanatic, I really can't take it when another great legend goes.

Steve Allen said this morning, that Mike was the same off air as on but enjoyed a good laugh and a good drink! He said sometimes he came into LBC and Mike would be lying on his desk recovering from the night before.

One amazing thing Steve said was that Mike was a caravan owner!! I don't know if this is really true but when I think how often Mike berated caravan owners, this made me laugh. Maybe he liked a joke at our expense, bless 'im.

Really, really shocked at this news.

Some of you may not have realised that Mike broadcast most of his shows live from his farmhouse on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall. The accident happened at a place called Temple on the main A30 (London - Penzance trunk road), only a few miles from his home.

My thoughts are with his family at this sad time

Friday & Saturday nights will never be the same again.

RIP Mike.

Disappointed that two main nationals i read - The Times & The Sun - only gave the story a few inches in today's paper. As a former Fleet Street journalist and national radio broadcaster over the last decade i expected more. No obituary in the Times today, i sincerely hope there is one in tomorrow's edition.

Looking forward to James Whale Mike Dickin Tribute show on Thursday at 10PM.

LBC are quoting his age to be 63.

Was devastated to hear the news yesterday. I've got out of the habit of listening to TalkSport through change in lifestyle but remember it fondly.

Only one man can replace MD - Bring Back Boyd!

Mike Dickin RIP.

Indeed. I didn't listen to him for the last few years of his life, but one of the things that was great about him on LBC was that Mike always provided a counter-argument to whatever the caller said.

In the early Nineties I used to listen to Mike Dickin on LBC whilst making my son's tea. Dickin was like the opinionated friend we all love to share a pint with, knowing we're right but admiring his tenacity and his outrage at the simple idiocies that offend him.

Sorry to hear of his untimely death.

Christ, no! Don't you remember Dickin and Whale almost lynching Boyd, during a Clash of the Titans? Boyd is the anti-Dicken.

Upsetting as it is to have lost such a great, and honest, radio voice as Mike Dickin, I imagine he'd enjoy the irony of his catchphrase, which is sadly still true 'my health is not in question.'

Who will TS replace him with. I have a horrible feeling that it will be Mendozza.

The TS book of condolence is pretty busy, it was impossible to get onto it yesterday, its still quite heavy traffic now

I always had a lovely vision of Mike, like some old-fashioned country squire, living in the depths of misty Bodmin, in a fantastic traditional old manor house, with stables. I shall forever imagine him (whether it was true or not) in his weekend tweeds, whiskey in hand, faithful hound at his side, looking out of the windows at the land he dearly loved.

I am so pleased he was able to broadcast from his home in his latter years. I remember the anxiety he suffered at being away from home and having to live in London in the week, when he broadcast from the Oxford Street studios. He was like a fish out of water.

I just can't get over the tragedy of Mike dying in a car crash, after all the many years of talking about cars and driving, and also his biggest story of being the one to break the Diana crash.
Last edited by Radiomaniac : 20-12-2006 at 12:09

Ian Collins spoke very highly of him last night. He correctly pointed out that he wasn't so much angry most of the time but incredulous - which I think is the word that sums up how a lot of us have felt over the last few years in this country. Mike expressed that as well as anyone.

Whoever it is, there is no pleasure in succeeding someone in such circumstances as this.

I would hope that they would use Charlie Wolf. The two of them were good friends I understand.