The broadcasting world is mourning the loss of Brian Hayes, the pioneering Australian-born presenter who helped define the sound of British phone-in radio. Hayes has died at the age of 87.
A broadcasting career that shaped a genre
News of his passing was shared by his former LBC colleague, Steve Allen, who posted a tribute on X, formerly Twitter. Allen wrote: “Brian Hayes has passed away, what a legend RIP.”
Born in Perth, Western Australia in 1937, Hayes began his journalism career there before making the pivotal move to the United Kingdom in the early 1970s. His career in British radio, spanning more than five decades, established him as one of the most recognisable voices on the airwaves.
His UK journey began at Capitol Radio in 1973, where he first worked as a producer before stepping in front of the microphone. His big break came in 1976 when he joined LBC to present its morning phone-in programme.
The architect of the modern phone-in
At LBC, Hayes was instrumental in developing the station's identity. He is widely credited with moving the phone-in format away from light chatter and towards a more substantive, yet conversational, style. He engaged listeners in serious debate, holding callers to account while maintaining professionalism.
This approach made him a star of the network, and he remained a key voice at LBC until 1990. He then moved to BBC Radio 2, where he took the helm of the breakfast show Good Morning UK!
The 1990s also saw him present the popular BBC phone-in Hayes Over Britain, a programme that earned him a prestigious Gold Sony Award. His versatile career included presenting roles on BBC Radio 4 and Radio 5 Live.
Tributes from listeners and peers
Following the news, tributes have flooded in from those who worked with him and listened to him for years. A former colleague praised his unique style, stating: “Brian Hayes was the best phone-in presenter on British radio... Blunt and forthright on air, but knowledgeable, fair and balanced whether talking to Cabinet Ministers or George from Hampstead. Modern-day broadcasters take note.”
Fans recalled his commanding presence. One wrote: “Often holding callers to account, but being professional too. Radio has lost a true legend!” Another added: “Sad to hear of the death of Brian Hayes who was one of phone-in radio’s pioneers. His work at LBC in the 1970s and 1980s was peerless. A real radio giant.”
Hayes made a return to LBC in the 2000s for a Sunday night programme before eventually retiring from full-time broadcasting. His legacy is the robust, listener-driven talk radio format that remains a staple of UK broadcasting today.
