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BBC radio legend Andy Kershaw dies as tributes flood in for star after health battle

BBC Radio legend Andy Kershaw has died aged 66 after a battle with cancer, his family has confirmed, after the former Radio 1 star and Live Aid presenter passed away on April 16

[Andy Kershaw has died age 66]

Andy Kershaw has died age 66(Image: PA)

A BBC Radio legend has died aged 66 after a health battle. The former Radio 1 star and Live Aid presenter's family has confirmed the sad news, saying he passed away around on Thursday (April 16).

It had been announced earlier this year in January that broadcaster Andy Kershaw had been diagnosed with cancer and was sadly left unable to walk. He was a well-known host on Radio 1 for 15 years between 1985-2000 and best remembered for his eclectic music taste and for championing music from across the world.

He later went on to report for Radio 4, where he covered music and global conflicts, which included the 1994 Rwanda Genocide.

[Andy]

The star was suffering from a health battle(Image: Getty Images)

Andy's career took him from Rochdale beginnings to the heart of British broadcasting, with a few very unexpected detours along the way.

Born in 1959 in Rochdale, Andy went on to study at Leeds University before landing his first industry job in the early 1980s at Radio Aire in Leeds as a promotions manager. It was there he teamed up with veteran broadcaster Martin Kelner, beginning what would become a colourful career in music radio.

His big break came in 1984 when he was handed the presenting role on the BBCs iconic music show The Old Grey Whistle Test. Kershaw had reportedly been spotted while working as a roadie and driver for musician Billy Bragg, marking a rather unconventional route into prime-time TV.

Just a year later, he found himself on one of the biggest stages in music history, the BBCs coverage of Live Aid, the global charity mega-concert organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure that defined a generation.

[Kershaw has been undergoing treatment to help his condition]

Andy will be sorely missed

By 1985, Andy had also joined BBC Radio 1, where he was seen by some as a potential successor to legendary DJ John Peel. His sister, Liz Kershaw, also worked at the station during this era, making it something of a family affair in British radio.

However, by 2000, his late-night Radio 1 show was axed during a schedule shake-up, bringing his long-running run on the station to an end.

Afterwards, Andy moved into more hard-hitting journalism, reporting for BBC Radio 4 and contributing to programmes such as Today, while travelling extensively to cover global music scenes, politics, and conflict zones.

He later worked with BBC Radio 3, where he famously said he "continued to ignore categories and mix it all up". During this period, he also embarked on a musical and cultural journey through Iraq, Iran, and North Korea, reinforcing his reputation as one of broadcastings most fearless and unpredictable voices.

[Andy]

Tributes have poured in for the host(Image: Press Association)

Andy was also off air for several years following a series of personal issues that saw his career come to a sudden halt.

The DJ later served time in 2008, spending three months in jail for breaching a restraining order relating to Juliette Banner, the mother of his two children. He was later handed a suspended six-month sentence after further breaches.

After stepping back from broadcasting, Kershaw made a return in 2011 with a BBC music series tied to Human Planet. The programme, Music Planet, saw him and co-presenter Lucy Duran travel to remote locations to record traditional and "extraordinary" music.

That same year, he released his autobiography No Off Switch, offering a frank account of his life, career and controversies.

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