Andy Kershaw, the celebrated BBC broadcaster and world music champion, has passed away at the age of 66, his family confirmed on Thursday evening.
The presenter had revealed in January that he was battling cancer and had lost the ability to walk.
Throughout his career, Kershaw became one of British radio’s most distinctive voices, spending 15 years at Radio 1 from 1985 and earning recognition for his eclectic musical tastes.
Beyond music programming, he later transitioned to journalism at Radio 4, covering both international music scenes and major global conflicts, including reporting on the 1994 Rwanda Genocide.
Mr Kershaw was born in Rochdale in 1959 and went on to study at Leeds University before entering the broadcasting industry.
His professional journey began during the early 1980s at Radio Aire in Leeds, where he took on the role of promotions manager and established a working relationship with the experienced presenter Martin Kelner.
The broadcaster’s big break came in 1984 when he was selected to present The Old Grey Whistle Test, the BBC’s premier television rock programme.
Remarkably, he had been discovered while serving as a roadie and driver for the musician Billy Bragg.
Andy Kershaw
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PA
This opportunity proved transformative, launching him from behind-the-scenes work into the spotlight of British music broadcasting.
The following year brought another career-defining moment when Kershaw served as one of the BBC’s television presenters for Live Aid, the landmark charity concert organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for Ethiopian famine relief.
His move to Radio 1 came in the summer of 1985, where many regarded him as a potential heir to the legendary John Peel.
During his tenure at the station, his sister Liz Kershaw also broadcast there between 1987 and 1992.