Former BBC Northern Ireland presenter Conor Bradford has died at the age of 72. The veteran broadcaster, who spent four decades on the airwaves, was best known for fronting Inside Ulster, Good Morning Ulster and Evening Extra. He passed away on October 6. His cause of death has not been revealed.
Colleagues pay tribute
Michael Cairns, who previously worked at BBC News NI, announced Bradford's death on X. "It's with sadness I share news from Conor Bradford's family that Conor passed away yesterday," he wrote. "An interviewer with a unique style, a master of both TV and radio presentation and superb social company, he held the lunchtime radio slot together during some of the worst times."
Tributes have flooded in online, with Adam Smyth, director of BBC Northern Ireland, describing him as an "absolute one-off". "His on-air and off-air personas were exactly the same; flamboyant, witty, warm and curious - he was a pleasure to produce," he said. "His passing will be met with great sadness by everyone fortunate enough to have worked with him."
Career break and illness
Bradford was forced to take a career break after falling ill in 2017. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph in 2018, the radio presenter revealed he contracted Hepatitis C – a blood-borne viral infection that causes liver inflammation. His weight plummeted, with doctors believing Hepatitis C could have been in his body for as long as 20 years.
"I could have had it for many years apparently without knowing about it and it suddenly turned nasty and had damaged my liver quite badly. I was kept in hospital while they did tests. I lost a great deal of weight," he told the publication. "I didn't look very well, although I didn't feel unwell, but I could see the way people were looking at me - my friends and family - that they thought I didn't look great."
Bradford was put on a three-month course of anti-viral pills and finally started to feel better. He returned to BBC NI in 2018 before retiring in 2022.
Earlier life and further tributes
Before beginning his career at the BBC, Bradford worked several different jobs, including working as a trainee broker at Lloyds, on an oil rig and in an antique shop. He was the son of the politician Roy Bradford, who served as a UUP councillor and mayor of North Down.
Irish broadcaster Michael Kelly branded the BBC host "an utter professional" and "absolute gentleman". "You'd want to have your homework done before he'd interview you, he had a razor-sharp bluffer monitor," he added. BBC Political Correspondent Jayne McCormack penned: "What a gent he was to younger staff in the newsroom too. Always game for a laugh and made 5am starts on GMU much more enjoyable." BBC reporter Claire Graham added: "Conor, what an icon. Fantastic delivery, so much time for us younger ones and when entering the world of broadcasting, that means so much. Thoughts with his family and friends."
