James tunes in

John James, soon to be head of the College of Law's new Birmingham office, is ploughing his own money into radio station Big fm's bid for the West Midlands' second radio licence, which he describes as 'ahead of Cliff Richard's Christian radio bid'.

The proposal for the commercial station includes a weekly business programme and a show presented by Mr James himself.

If the bid is successful, Mr James will be fronting 'Memories and Milestones', based on Radio 4's Desert Island Disks, presented by his old University mate Sue Lawley.

If not, the idea will be sold off to Capital Radio.

For more on the solicitor we've dubbed 'Mr Birmingham'.