Former BBC Radio 1 DJ and Live Aid presenter Andy Kershaw has announced that he is battling cancer. The Lancashire-born broadcaster revealed that doctors discovered tumours in his spine last August, leaving him unable to walk.
Speaking on his podcast, which he described as a 'reborn' version of his renowned radio show, Kershaw said: 'I am in good spirits, feeling very positive and planning another podcast. I am determined not to die before Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and Ant’n’Dec. That should keep me going for a while.'
Friend Peter Everett, who produces The Andy Kershaw Podcast, said: 'My friend Andy has been going through a difficult time. Last August he was diagnosed with cancer, mainly affecting his spine and making him unable to walk. Since then he has been undergoing treatment, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, physiotherapy and a lot of scans and painkillers.'
Kershaw began his career at Radio Aire in Leeds as promotions manager, forming a partnership with veteran broadcaster Martin Kelner. In 1984, he was asked to present BBC TV’s flagship rock programme, The Old Grey Whistle Test, and the following year he co-presented the BBC’s television coverage of Live Aid. He was later hired by Radio 1 as a successor to legendary DJ John Peel, travelling the world covering conflicts and music, and was a regular contributor to Radio 4, reporting on the 1994 Rwanda Genocide.
In recent years, he launched The Andy Kershaw Podcast, a fortnightly independent music show, in 2021 after losing most of his work during the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the challenges, Everett noted that Kershaw remains positive and plans to continue the podcast.
