An accomplished radio broadcaster from Bolton – who was diagnosed with ADHD aged 10 – created a real buzz when he spoke to pupils at a Tameside state school.

Year 9 students at St Thomas More RC College in Denton heard how Darryl Morris’s love for radio began when he was a pupil at Rivington and Blackrod High School. The event was organised by State Talking.

His enthusiasm for the school’s fledgling radio station – plus time spent working at community radio station Hall i’th’ Wood FM – gained him the BBC World Service Young Broadcaster of the Year award. He later went on to meet the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown during a reception at 10 Downing Street whilst in the school’s sixth form.

Currently hosting the weekend late show on Times Radio, Darryl, who is in his early 30s, started off his broadcasting career with the BBC. Over the last decade, he has held on and off air positions with most of the north west’s major stations, including Key 103, The Hits Radio, BBC Radio Manchester, Capital Radio, Galaxy, XFM and Liverpool’s Radio City Talk. Before moving to Times Radio, the Bolton Wanderers season ticket holder hosted the early breakfast show on talkRADIO.

Cathy O’Mullane, assistant headteacher, St Thomas More, said: “We loved meeting Darryl and are grateful to him for sharing his story with our staff and Year 9 pupils.

“There was a real buzz after the event and lots of pupils (and staff) were talking about his journey as it really resonated with them.”

Fran Kennedy, founder, State Talking, said: “Darryl’s story is so relatable: from struggling at school because of his ADHD, to discovering what he loved and excelled at and going on to have an amazing career in radio.

“It is no wonder Greater Manchester state school pupils really respond to State Talking speakers and leave them thinking ‘one day that could be me!’”