Irish broadcasting legend Gerry Kelly has died at his home aged 77, the BBC reports. The Ballymena-born TV and radio host was best known for presenting a weekly talk show on UTV from 1989 to 2005, which featured interviews with some of the biggest names in entertainment, sport and politics.
Career highlights
Kelly hosted several other popular UTV programmes, including Lifestyle, Kelly’s People, Kelly on Tour and Kelly on the Road. In 2009, he began a Saturday show on BBC Radio Ulster, and in 2014 he also took on a Friday afternoon slot. He stepped down from the Friday show in October 2019 and continued with his weekend show until the end of the year. Most recently, he helmed a new chat show series with students at Belfast Met.
Tributes pour in
Former colleagues and co-stars have been paying tribute. UTV co-worker Adrian Logan remembered him as 'larger than life'. 'Everybody in the place just loved him. He treated everybody fairly and equally, he was such a good fella,' Logan said.
BBC presenter Ralph McLean praised Kelly as a 'natural broadcaster' and a 'gentleman', while radio host George Jones called him a 'great friend'. Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said she was 'so sorry' to hear of his death, writing that he had 'a face and a voice that so many generations were familiar with'. She added: 'He interviewed so many, many hundreds of people across decades including his famous clip with a young Rory McIlroy and the wash machine!'
Memorable interviews
Kelly interviewed golf champion Rory McIlroy in 1999 when he was just nine years old, after he won the world under-10s championship. In 2000, he interviewed football icon George Best in his highest-rated episode, attracting 367,000 viewers.
Kelly left UTV after his show was axed in September 2005, with UTV citing a conflict with the ITV schedule over the 9pm slot. His final episode aired on December 16, 2005. Despite the cancellation, Kelly insisted there was no bad blood, telling the Belfast Telegraph in 2008: 'I’m leaving UTV on amicable terms, and I have nothing but the highest regard for them. As far as I’m concerned, they gave me one of the best jobs in the world, and I’m grateful to them for that.'
Health and family
In February 2018, Kelly revealed he had been diagnosed with cancer two years prior. He reported that his tumour had been removed successfully and he had completed six sessions of chemotherapy. Kelly is survived by his wife and their two daughters.
