Broadcaster Liz Kershaw has paid an emotional tribute to her brother, former BBC Radio 1 DJ Andy Kershaw, who has died at the age of 66 following a cancer diagnosis earlier this year. The veteran broadcaster, who spent nearly three decades with the BBC, was remembered by his sister as her "best friend" in a poignant social media post.
A Legacy in Broadcasting
Andy Kershaw began his illustrious career at the BBC in 1984 as the host of the iconic rock music programme Old Grey Whistle Test. He later joined Radio 1 in 1985 as a successor to the legendary John Peel, where he hosted his own show until 2000. Kershaw was celebrated for his eclectic musical taste, regularly featuring non-mainstream and world music on his weekly programme, bringing diverse sounds to mainstream radio audiences.
International Reporting and Awards
Beyond music, Kershaw established himself as a respected international correspondent for the BBC. He travelled extensively to cover conflicts and cultural stories, contributing to Radio 4 programmes including From Our Own Correspondent, The Today Programme, and The World Tonight. His notable coverage included the 1994 Rwandan genocide and reporting from Sierra Leone during the final stages of its civil war in 2001.
Kershaw also produced groundbreaking radio diaries from North Korea, which the BBC noted were among the first programmes ever recorded inside the secretive nation. Throughout his career, the Rochdale-born broadcaster received multiple Sony Radio Academy Awards, recognizing his significant contributions to broadcasting and his role in popularizing world music.
Personal Challenges and Later Career
After leaving Radio 1, Kershaw joined BBC Radio 3 in 2001 but departed in 2007 following a series of personal difficulties. These included the breakdown of his long-term relationship with Juliette Banner, with whom he had two children during their 17-year partnership, and a jail sentence for breaching a restraining order.
Kershaw later returned to the BBC in 2010 to co-host the Music Planet programme with Lucy Duran, and again in 2020 for a brief stint on Radio 3 presenting The Kershaw Tapes. In recent years, he launched his own podcast featuring guests such as Robyn Hitchcock, The Burner Band, and Martin Carthy, demonstrating his enduring passion for music and broadcasting.
Cancer Diagnosis and Final Months
In January of this year, Kershaw revealed he was undergoing cancer treatment after tumours were discovered in his spine the previous August, severely limiting his mobility. Despite his diagnosis, he maintained a positive outlook, joking in a statement that he was "determined not to die before Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Ant'n'Dec."
A Sister's Tribute
Following his death, Liz Kershaw, herself one of the UK's longest-serving female national radio DJs, shared a heartfelt message on social media. "Thank you for all your messages of affection for Our Andtew and kindness today. I've lost my best friend," she wrote, accompanying her words with a photograph of her with her arm around her younger brother.
The broadcasting community and listeners alike are mourning the loss of a distinctive voice in British radio, remembered for his musical curation, international reporting, and unwavering dedication to his craft throughout a career spanning nearly four decades.
