Andy Kershaw, the broadcaster who brought world music to mainstream audiences on BBC Radio 1 and reported from conflict zones, has died aged 66 after treatment for cancer. His sister, fellow DJ Liz Kershaw, led tributes, describing him as a "brilliant broadcaster" and a "loving brother".
Kershaw began his national broadcasting career on television, joining the presenting team of Whistle Test on BBC Two in 1984. The following year, he helped host the Live Aid concert from Wembley. He then moved to Radio 1, where he presented a weekly evening show from 1985, championing music from Malawi, the Congo and South Africa, and sharing an office with John Peel.
Over 15 years at Radio 1, Kershaw travelled the world for music specials, from Elvis Presley memorial tours to Zimbabwe. He also reported for Radio 4 from Haiti, Rwanda, Angola and Sierra Leone. On Radio 3, he co-presented World Routes and later Music Planet, and made documentaries in North Korea, Iran and Turkmenistan.
His career was disrupted after a relationship breakdown in 2006, leading to a restraining order and several jail terms for breaching it. He was homeless for a time but eventually returned to broadcasting. Tributes have praised his passion for world music and fearless journalism.
