Central Television news anchorman Bob Warman is considering running to be Birmingham’s first elected mayor.
The 64-year-old presenter confirmed he has been asked by “influential” business leaders to put himself forward for the powerful role.
Mr Warman stressed that he has not yet decided to enter the contest, but is giving the matter serious thought.
If he does decide to run, Mr Warman is likely to present himself as a non-political independent choice to run the city council, which is Europe’s largest local authority.
He told the Birmingham Post: “The fact of the matter is I have been approached by a number of influential people who have suggested that they would lend me support if I was to run as mayor.”
He is reluctant to identify his potential backers, but said: “These are people I have a lot of time for. They want to see Birmingham move ahead, they don’t want to see it bogged down in politics.”
He would become only the third candidate to declare for the mayoral election, which is likely to be in 2013 if a referendum next year supports the idea.
The two current runners are former Erdington Labour MP Sion Simon and retired policeman Ray Egan, famous for dressing as John Bull.
Mr Warman, whose television career spans almost 50 years, has also previously set up his own PR company in Birmingham.
He said he was often asked by viewers whether he would consider standing for mayor.
He added: “Every time the subject comes up a number of ordinary members of the public say ‘what about it?’
“But there is quite a gap between being influenced by that support and really deciding if I want to run for it.”
He would almost certainly have to stand down as a television news presenter as soon as he put his name forward for the mayoral contest.
“It would mean having to give up what I do now, which I very much enjoy.
“I would have to give it some very serious consideration,” he conceded.
Mr Warman said he had the experience of life to be able to do a good job for Birmingham and he did not think his age would count against him.
He added: “Age doesn’t come into it. I enjoy work and I am not going to hang my boots up. People expect me to be going off to mow the grass, but I’m not going to go and mow the grass.”
