Wesley Smith was always going to be a newsreader – as a child he did a paper round to buy a TV camera and make his own news reports from his bedroom.

But having been axed from Central TV he is now forging his own way. Katherine MacAlister reports on Wesley’s fame, fortune and groupies.

It is strange being interviewed, it’s like having the tables turned on you which is slightly daunting,” Wesley Smith laughs.

But then Wesley is trying his hand at lots of new ventures and finding that life on the other side of the camera isn’t all bad.

Wesley was the face of our local ITV news for 22 years, interviewing three Prime Ministers, appearing in Morse and even taking to the stage as a John Travolta look-alike, until cuts made him redundant last year and he had to reassess his career.

“It could have gone one of two ways,” Wesley says. “I could have got really depressed, gone into a shell and become a lost cause.

“But I have always been a positive person, and now I had the opportunity to try other things, and it has all turned out fine.

“I had never worked in radio before or edited, or run my own desk like I do now. I had always been in front of the camera following the autocue, but I was also a journalist and writer and I just had to get on with it.

“And as one door shut several others opened and I’m happy to take on the challenges as they come along. So I’m happy. It’s marvellous really to have had a career for that long in TV and I have no bitterness.”

Instead, Wesley’s numerous fans can now hear him on Radio Oxford on Saturdays.

“I love the discipline of doing things live, like the radio, it gives you an edge,” the 47-year-old says.

“And I thank the Oxford Mail’s ‘Save Wesley’ campaign for that because the BBC became more aware that I was there.”

Or you can go to the Didcot Cornerstone Arts Centre on Saturday night to hear his Audience With.. about how he got into this line of work.

“It is my first formal talk, so just the one every 25 years,” he jokes. “I don’t know what to expect. But I suppose I hope people will come along who want to hear about the life and times.”

And as Wesley’s fans are notorious, there should be no problem there. So how does he deal with his ardent female admirers? “I suppose the majority of my fans are female,” he admits coyly. “And I get sent a lot of jam. There has also been the odd occasion where I’ve been followed around the supermarket.”

Oh do tell us more Wesley!

“Well, I remember an incident in M&S when I was rushing to get in and out quickly when I became aware of a couple of ladies following me. At first I thought ‘I haven’t got time for this’.

“But you have to make time because its all part of the territory. So we had a nice chat and they had a good look in my basket,” he laughs.

So does Wesley find the attention intrusive? “No,” he smiles. “They allowed me into their homes every night so you owe them a bit of your time. And it’s gratifying to get a good response – there have rarely been any incidents that have made me feel uncomfortable.”

As for the Alan Partridge comparisons, Wesley just laughs.

“It’s good entertainment and in this job you have to be able to look back and smile. Besides, all the stations need to fill their airtime and it’s a difficult job keeping people entertained. But I was constantly amazed by my support from local people – there was even a band called ‘Wesley Smith is Cool’ back in the 90s.” So why the massive fan base? “Maybe because I’m unconventional? But the best thing is when someone walks past you on the street and just says ‘alright Wes’.”

* An Audience With Wesley Smith is at Didcot’s Cornerstone Arts Centre on Saturday night. Call the box office on 01235 515144.