BBC radio DJ Andy Kershaw dies aged 66

The DJ spent almost three decades working for the corporation, and was best known for his Radio 1 show, which ran from 1985 to 2000.

It was reported in January that Kershaw was undergoing cancer treatment after tumours, which were severely limiting his mobility, were discovered in his spine last August.

Kershaw started his career at the BBC in 1984 as the host of its rock music show Old Grey Whistle Test, and later co-presented the corporation’s television coverage of Live Aid.

The DJ joined Radio 1 and became known for his eclectic taste in music, often featuring non-mainstream sounds on his weekly programme.

Kershaw travelled around the world to cover conflicts and cultural stories for the BBC, contributing to Radio 4 shows including From Our Own Correspondent, the Today programme and The World Tonight.

His coverage included the 1994 Rwanda genocide, and reporting from Sierra Leone in 2001 during the final stages of its civil war.

Kershaw also documented radio diaries from North Korea which, according to the BBC, were among the first programmes to be recorded inside the country.

The Rochdale-born broadcaster received multiple Sony Radio Academy Awards throughout his career, and was celebrated for bringing world music and specialised genres to mainstream radio.

The veteran DJ joined BBC Radio 3 in 2001 but left the post in 2007, having faced a series of personal problems after his long-term relationship broke down and he was jailed for breaking a restraining order.

Kershaw was in a 17-year relationship with Juliette Banner, and the pair had two children together. The couple lived on the Isle of Man before eventually separating.

He returned to the BBC in 2010 to host its Music Planet programme alongside Lucy Duran, and again in 2020 for a brief stint on Radio 3 presenting The Kershaw Tapes.

Kershaw continued his career as a broadcaster in recent years, having launched his own podcast which featured guests such as Robyn Hitchcock, The Burner Band and Martin Carthy.

His sister Liz is one of the longest serving female national radio DJs in the UK, having been at the BBC for more than 30 years.